Deutsch using the same untruthful attack style on Castor as he did Penelas

[Bombtrack]

I really dislike this guy's awful/hostile primary campaign style. I'm not rooting for Castor to win the primary but she'd certainly be much better than this dip. -----

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/8496027.htm?1c

Deutsch questions Castor's ties to Emily's List

KEN THOMAS

Associated Press


MIAMI - U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch lashed out at Senate rival Betty Castor on Thursday, accusing her campaign of using "dirty" tactics and allowing an independent group to play an overly influential role in her campaign's organization.

Deutsch said Emily's List, a political action committee that helps female Democratic candidates who support reproductive rights, has indicated plans to independently spend money on Castor's behalf. He argued that would be a coordination of campaign activities - which is barred under campaign finance rules.

<snip>

White said Deutsch was "pursuing an attack strategy," noting that the congressman questioned the loyalties of Senate rival Alex Penelas last year. Deutsch accused the Miami-Dade County mayor of costing Al Gore the 2000 presidential election in Florida.

"He lashed out at Alex Penelas last summer and now he is attacking Betty Castor and the thousands of women who are supporting her campaign," White said.

<snip>

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I think Castor is a way, way, weaker candidate in the general election than Penelas, and does not even compare to the way Alex would help Kerry win the state, but it will make it much easier to join her campaign knowing she beat Deutsch if in fact she wins the primary as is the most likely scenario. However there is still time for the ad wars to really start, in which case Penelas could win it by turning out the hispanic community in the primary, both in South Florida and Orlando.

[DAGDA56]

1. Good analysis...I have been watching the bloodfest...

...on the Republican side so much, I've missed some of the stuff in my own party. (Really enjoying Bill McCollum attacking Mel Martinez for being a Gore supporting TRIAL LAWYER)

[Bombtrack]

2. If the moderators would either re-post this in the Florida forum

or allow me to do so that would be great. I don't think that's too big a request. I know you don't like too many duplicates but now that we have state forums just 2 of them don't seem unreasonable at least to me.

[Mika]

3. Penelas is an ass, a terra-ist panderer, supporter of kidnapping, & a liar

Jim DeFede:

Penelas ad on environment draws ire, laughs
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/columnists/jim_defede/8513063.htm

Alex Penelas has begun airing television commercials touting his commitment to the environment, particularly the Everglades. ''Florida's environment is key to our quality of life and to our economy,'' Penelas says in the new ad. ``In the Senate, I'll fight to ban off-shore drilling in Florida, to protect the Everglades, our coastline, our air and water and the workers who rely on those natural resources.''

Penelas' words quickly drew derision from environmentalists. ''He has no shame,'' screamed Barbara Lange, an environmental activist. ``How can he say that? What did he ever do for the environment? I can think of plenty of things he did or tried to do that would have hurt the environment. Like how about Homestead Air Force Base? He stood up in favor of an airport between two national parks. How bad can you get?''

For years, Penelas was the leading advocate for turning the base into a major commercial airport, despite its location between Everglades and Biscayne national parks. Every major environmental group in the country lined up against it.

-

And it wasn't just the environmental groups Penelas battled. ''Penelas was actually working against the recommendations of every single environmental agency in the government, including the U.S. Department of the Interior and the White House's CEQ ,'' said Alan Farago, who led the local effort against the project.

Even after the Clinton administration killed the plan, Penelas pleaded with the Bush administration to reverse the decision. Ultimately, even Bush said no to an airport on the edge of the Everglades.