Tough-talking ads begin early in insurance race

By SHELBY OPPEL

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 23, 2000

TALLAHASSEE -- With the primary election 10 weeks away, Republican voters haven't even chosen their nominee for state insurance commissioner. But that isn't stopping the Democratic rival from slinging early mud.

South Florida legislator John Cosgrove, the only Democrat in the race, unveiled a campaign commercial Thursday that takes aim at Tom Gallagher, the newest and most favored of the three Republican candidates.

The 30-second spot, titled "Job-hopping Tom," is so focused on discrediting Gallagher that it doesn't even mention Cosgrove, except to note in fine print that Cosgrove paid for the ad.

Gallagher, the state education commissioner, was a U.S. Senate candidate until last week. Then, at the request of Gov. Jeb Bush and Republican Party leaders, he switched races to compete for the insurance commissioner's post.

Cosgrove's ad plays on that switch, portraying Gallagher as a political opportunist who doesn't want the post he seeks. The ad ends with TV footage of a tired-looking Gallagher answering questions at the news conference where he announced the move.

"Tom Gallagher doesn't even want to be insurance commissioner," an announcer says. "Why should we want him?"

Gallagher has run for governor twice and served as insurance commissioner between 1989 and 1995.

A campaign official for Gallagher said Thursday that he could not be reached for comment.

The ad opens with jingly, lighthearted music paired with quotes from news reports and editorials critical of Gallagher, and from his former and current rivals.

U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, a Longwood Republican seeking the open Senate seat, called Gallagher "sly" and "slick" in his own campaign ad; Cosgrove's ad repeats the charge. Former Rep. Tim Ireland, a Fort Myers Republican making his third run for insurance commissioner, is quoted calling Gallagher's switch "back-room dealmaking."

Rep. Greg Gay of Cape Coral is the other Republican in the race.

Cosgrove of Miami said he paid $2,000 to $3,000 to produce the ad. It will be aired beginning in July in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Tampa and Orlando, he said.

As a homeowner who "lost it all" during Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Cosgrove said Thursday he is the only candidate who wants to be the state's top insurance regulator for the right reasons.

Despite its negative tone, Cosgrove said he considers his first campaign commercial "a softball."

"The next one, I think we'll hit him in the face."

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