The U.S. Senate candidate's campaign will spend up to $300,000 on black media between now and the primary.
By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published June 23, 2004
TALLAHASSEE - U.S. Senate candidate Peter Deutsch on Tuesday launched a radio ad campaign aimed at African-Americans, who his supporters say could account for one of every four voters in the Aug. 31 Democratic primary.
The theme of the 60-second spot is that Deutsch "stood with us" when former President Bill Clinton faced impeachment and during the election "mess" in 2000. Deutsch of Hollywood has been harshly critical of Democratic rival Alex Penelas for not doing more to help Al Gore count votes, but the ad does not mention Deutsch's opponents by name.
But the ad stokes old grievances about uncounted black votes in 2000.
"When few stepped forward to tell the truth, Peter Deutsch told America what we already knew in Florida - that they refused to count tens of thousands of our votes to make George Bush president," the narrator says.
The ad carries the line, "He will not be turned around." A Deutsch media adviser, Gayle Andrews, said that's another way of telling black voters that Deutsch can be relied on as a champion of issues important to African-Americans.
Deutsch's ad was released in a conference call with two members of Congress who support him: Alcee Hastings of Miramar and Corrine Brown of Jacksonville. Both are well-known for getting their constituents to the polls in large numbers, and both have opposition in the Democratic primary, giving them an extra incentive to seek a high black turnout.
In addition, a number of black state lawmakers face primary opposition. Sen. Larcenia Bullard, D-Miami, faces a rematch with former state Rep. Ron Saunders in a district that stretches from suburban Miami to Key West.
Deutsch's rivals also have allies who are admired among African-Americans. Betty Castor has as allies black legislators, such as Sen. Les Miller of Tampa and Rep. Curtis Richardson of Tallahassee, as well as Janet Reno, a favorite of black voters who narrowly lost the Democratic nomination for governor two years ago.
Penelas, the mayor of Miami-Dade County, has the support of U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami and former Duval County Sheriff Nat Glover, who lost a bid for mayor of Jacksonville last year.
The ad links Deutsch with two of the most popular Democrats among blacks in Florida: Sen. Bob Graham, whose seat Deutsch hopes to occupy, and former President Bill Clinton. The spot says Deutsch "stood with Bob Graham to end discrimination" and "stood with us when the Republicans attacked President Bill Clinton."
Brown said Deutsch's decision to spend money on black radio this early demonstrates his commitment. She said politicians too often wait until the last minute to engage black voters.
"You can no longer barbecue a pig the weekend before the election and think you're going to turn out the African-American vote," Brown said.
Hastings said Deutsch has a track record of hiring minorities. His campaign manager, Craig Kirby, is African-American, as is a former chief of staff, Marcus Jadotte.
Andrews said the campaign will spend $250,000 to $300,000 on black media between now and the primary, including ads in black newspapers. She said many radio ads will run in the syndicated Tom Joyner morning show, and that different ads will surface in the coming weeks.
The ad will run statewide except for the two biggest markets, Tampa-St. Petersburg and Miami, because advertising costs are higher there. Andrews said ads will air in those two markets later.
As a state legislator in 1992, Deutsch played a key role in drawing the congressional districts that enabled Hastings and Brown to get to Congress in 1992. In November, a PAC controlled by Deutsch donated to the re-election campaigns of Hastings and Brown.
Penelas' spokeswoman, Danae Jones, said black voters will conclude that Penelas has the best record on issues that matter most to black families, such as his support for a living wage ordinance and universal prekindergarten.
"The black community in this state is as savvy as any other," she said. "They realize it's not about talk; it's about action."
