Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Byrd airs new ads touting record

The House speaker tries to separate himself from a crowded field, but some of his leadership claims are shaky.

TALLAHASSEE - If you liked Johnnie Byrd in the Legislature, you'll love him in the U.S. Senate, he suggests in new campaign ads.

Byrd on Tuesday unveiled radio and TV commercials that seek to raise his profile in Florida's crowded Senate race. They are the first TV ads in the Republican primary campaign.

The spots began running on cable channels and talk radio stations in major markets, including Tampa-St. Petersburg, and will soon expand to network affiliates, Byrd's campaign said.

"The politicians in Washington could learn something from what we've done in Florida," Byrd says in one TV spot.

"Johnnie Byrd. He's done it in Florida. He'll do it in Washington," says the tag line in the ads.

Byrd is trying to break out of the pack of candidates in the wide-open primary race with a huge pool of undecided voters.

A St. Petersburg Times poll in March found Byrd favored by 4 percent of Republican voters, far behind former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum with 19 percent and former U.S. housing secretary Mel Martinez with 18 percent.

But 44 percent were undecided, and the GOP field has since grown to nine candidates.

Byrd campaign manager Wayne Garcia said most voters don't follow the details of a legislative session and Byrd wants to establish an identity as a tax-cutting conservative.

In one 60-second TV spot, Byrd takes credit for $8-billion in tax cuts, a balanced budget, and medical malpractice reform that "stopped the trial lawyers."

Byrd supported tax cuts that were initiated mostly by Gov. Jeb Bush. A balanced budget is required under the state Constitution. Despite Byrd's support for a $250,000 cap on most malpractice damages awards, the Senate insisted on a $500,000 cap in most cases.

Another ad credits Byrd with leading the fight for homeland security in Florida. In it, he introduces voters to his daughter, Melane, a U.S. Navy pilot.

Byrd's campaign declined to say how much the campaign spent on the commercials.

The ads can be viewed online on Byrd's campaign Web site, www.gojohnniego.com

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker endorsed McCollum Tuesday.

Baker, a friend and close ally of Gov. Jeb Bush, said he has known McCollum for years and is comfortable with his conservative philosophy.

"I've known him for a long time, and always felt highly of him from an integrity standpoint," Baker said.

Martinez also touted endorsements from four Republican state legislators, two of whom were once pledged to Byrd, Juan Zapata of Miami and Randy Johnson of Celebration.

Also joining Martinez's camp were Reps. Andy Gardiner of Orlando and Ralph Arza of Hialeah.

- Times political editor Adam C. Smith contributed to this report.