News: POLITICO Florida Playbook: Stealth campaign trashes Nikki Fried to Democrats

Monday, April 11, 2022

POLITICO Florida Playbook: Stealth campaign trashes Nikki Fried to Democrats

Apr 11, 2022

Good Monday morning.

True blue — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has occasionally flung criticism at her top Democratic rival for governor — Rep. Charlie Crist — by noting Crist's past stint as a Republican governor. She did it again this past weekend during an interview with West Palm Beach television station WPTV, when she said "the people of our state want a true Democrat" and contended Crist had been on the "other side" of many issues important to Democrats.

Live to tell — Well, someone out there wants to keep reminding Democrats about Fried's time when she was a lobbyist and donor who occasionally helped out Republicans. In March, and continuing into April, someone has been popping text messages into the phones of Democratic donors and lobbyists that with pictures and text assailing Fried.

Borderline — The latest one texted out last week featured a picture of a smiling Fried standing next to Shane Strum, who was DeSantis's chief of staff until last year. "There's #NothingNew about Nikki partying with her buddy, Ron Desantis' closest advisor & Chief of Staff Shane Strum." The texts — which play off Fried's campaign motto #Something New — have noted how she helped campaign for Republican state Sen. Manny Diaz, described as a "voucher king," and gave money to Republican Ashley Moody's campaign for attorney general.

Express yourself — So who's doing this? Well, the text messages have not included any campaign disclaimers. The campaigns for the two main Democrats running against Fried in the gubernatorial primary — Crist as well as state Sen. Annette Taddeo — have said they have nothing to do with the ongoing effort.

Vogue — When asked about the ongoing text campaign, Fried's senior adviser and strategic manager Matthew Van Name said, "I believe it was Miley Cyrus who said 'Haters hate because they see that you're doing better than them.'"

— WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis will hold a press conference in Tampa at the indoor training complex used by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch:gfineout@politico.com

DON'T MISS ANYTHING FROM THE 2022 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is excited to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage and insights from the 25th annual Global Conference. This year's event, May 1-4, brings together more than 3,000 of the world's most influential leaders, including 700+ speakers representing more than 80 countries. "Celebrating the Power of Connection" is this year's theme, setting the stage to connect influencers with the resources to change the world with leading experts and thinkers whose insight and creativity can implement that change. Whether you're attending in person or following along from somewhere else in the world, keep up with this year's conference with POLITICO's special edition "Global Insider" so you don't miss a beat. Subscribe today.

CAMPAIGN MODE

EASY MONEY — "DeSantis tops $100 million for Florida reelection race - and sends signal to the 2024 Republican field," by CNN's Steve Contorno: "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has raised more than $100 million for his reelection effort, the first gubernatorial candidate in the Sunshine State — and perhaps the entire country — to reach the nine-figure milestone solely through donations. The staggering sum not only gives DeSantis an unprecedented leg up on the Democrats attempting to unseat him this November, it also sends an indisputable message to the potential field of 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls that there is already a promising contender with deep support from major donors and grassroots voters alike."

ON OFFENSE — "Marco Rubio touts his COVID response record in Senate campaign attack ad against Val Demings," by Insider's Kimberly Leonard: "In a digital ad out Monday, the [Marco] Rubio campaign contrasts the senator's work on the PPP in March 2020, during the early days of the pandemic, with media interviews [Val] Demings took around the same time. In them, she was asked about the possibility of then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden picking her as his running mate."

AS PROMISED — " Florida appeals federal ruling that said state discriminated against Black voters," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Florida, along with national Republican groups, has officially appealed a federal court ruling that struck down portions of a 2021 election law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. Attorneys representing Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee, as well as two election supervisors and the Republican National Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee, filed their one-page notice of appeal late Thursday.

'THEY FEAR US' — " In NWFL visits, Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene say they plan to out RINOs in their way," by Northwest Florida Daily News Tom McLaughlin: "U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz seems to have found a new purpose for life in Congress. At the first of three Saturday speaking engagements — he would also travel to Milton and McDavid — Gaetz, just a year removed from publicly pondering leaving office, spoke of having embarked upon a mission to populate Congress with leaders who think like him and his cohort, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia."

— " Nikki Fried 'confident' she'll win Democratic primary," by WPTV's Peter Burke

— "Florida Republicans accepted donations from ex-congressman who sent lewd messages to underage boys even as party's right wing crusades against grooming ," by Insider's Kimberly Leonard

— "Nikki Fried's latest Ron DeSantis attack spotlights Alex Jones endorsement," by Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski

— "Mills vows to donate entire congressional salary to charity," by The Floridian's Javier Manjarres

— " GOP candidates gather at Disney World to protest company's stance on 'don't say gay' law," by Orlando Sentinel's Skyler Swisher

— "Val Demings urges Seminole Co. Democrats to exercise voting ," by Florida Politics Scott Powers

... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

TAX LOOPHOLE BATTLE AHEAD? — Panhandle Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz penned an op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel on Friday that urged state legislators to end a tax loophole that benefits large corporations such as …. Disney.

Flashback — Gaetz, who once served in the state House where Democrats routinely went after a tax loophole long favored by large Florida corporations, recalls how he opposed one effort sponsored by then State Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez, who is now a nominee for a job with the Department of Labor in the Biden administration. "Disney was among the companies that most utilized this tax loophole to screw the people of Florida," Gaetz wrote. "They sent an army of lobbyists to oppose the Rodriguez amendment. I was wrong to disagree with him at all. I regret my vote on that matter. The Florida Legislature should do what I did not — make Disney pay what they owe, based on the business they do in our state."

ROOM SERVICE — "Crypto industry helps write, and pass, its own agenda in state capitols," by The New York Times' Eric Lipton and David Yaffe-Belany: "The debate took less than four minutes. In the Florida House last month, legislators swiftly gave final approval to a bill that makes it easier to buy and sell cryptocurrency, eliminating a threat from a law intended to curb money laundering. One of the few pauses in the action came when two House members stood up to thank crypto industry 'stakeholders' for teaming with state officials to write a draft of the bill."

SETTLE IT ON THE FIELD? — " DeSantis pictures a Florida-Georgia 'cold war' if Stacey Abrams wins election," by Sun Sentinel's Lisa J. Huriash: "Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida would face a "Cold War" with Georgia if Democrat Stacey Abrams were to become Georgia's next governor. 'If Stacey Abrams is elected governor of Georgia, I just want to be honest, that will be a cold war between Florida and Georgia at that point,' DeSantis, a Republican, told an enthusiastic crowd Friday. 'I mean, I can't have Castro to my south and Abrams to my north. That'd be a disaster.'"

Ron DeSantis | AP Photo

HMM— "Last minute legislation could give more money to Publix, 7-Eleven and Circle K, but less to Florida students," by Seeking Rents Jason Garcia: "The move could mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra payments next year to companies like Sunshine, which owns around 400 stores. And it could mean even bigger windfalls for a handful of giant retail chains, including Publix, 7-Eleven and Circle K. But it could also mean millions of dollars less next year for Bright Futures Scholarships and other public-education programs that receiving funding from Lottery profits. The little-noticed provision was tucked into a 126-page budget bill near the end of this year's legislative session. It happened amid final budget negotiations between the House and Senate, where the decisions are made in secret and often without any public explanation."

PIECRUST PROMISE? — "Florida school testing will change, but despite DeSantis' promise, high stakes remain," by Palm Beach Post's Sonja Isger: "The statewide spring testing season has begun with thousands of students sitting this month for the last rounds of the soon-to-expire Florida Standards Assessments or FSAs. But while the end to FSAs has been a repeated bragging point for Gov. Ron DeSantis, the demise of year-end, high-stakes exams is not at hand. By law, the testing that will replace the FSA will continue to hold the keys to third grade promotion and high school graduation. The scores will also still be used to calculate grades for schools and districts."

— " Former Florida Elections Commission lawyer sentenced in child pornography case," by Tallahassee Democrat's Jeff Burlew

INTRODUCING DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED: Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today.

MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER

WAITING FOR THE FALLOUT — "Congressional redistricting fight: New maps could shake up Broward, Palm Beach counties," by Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: " But the outcome of the special legislative session on congressional redistricting that begins April 19 could also impact who wins two Broward-Palm Beach county congressional districts. One thing is certain: the borders of the six congressional districts that take in all or parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties will change before the August primaries and November general election."

A blunt assessment — "Political insiders don't see radical changes that would upend congressional campaigns and dramatically alter the chances of various candidates — but, until a statewide map is finalized, anything is possible. 'I feel genuinely bad for anyone running for Congress,' said Florida House Democratic leader Evan Jenne. 'It is a hot mess right now.'"

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

LEADERBOARD — "Florida has 3rd largest number of school book ban incidents," by Associated Press: "There have been more than 200 instances of public school districts in Florida banning books since last July, the third highest number of incidents of any state in the U.S., according to a report from an advocacy group for writing professionals. PEN America said in the report this week that Florida had 204 instances of book banning in seven school districts between July 2021 and March 2022. Only Texas and Pennsylvania had higher numbers."

GENTLE GIANTS— " Trying everything, even lettuce, to save Florida's beloved manatees," by New York Times' Patricia Mazzei : "The iconic manatee remains in trouble, and with it, a piece of Florida's identity. For more than a century, the state has had a contradictory relationship with nature. The Florida lifestyle is synonymous with outdoor pursuits — but also with sprawling development that damaged the natural plumbing of Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades, threatened the drinking water supply and left the state gravely vulnerable to climate change. Manatees had been something of a success story, their status upgraded to threatened from endangered in 2017 after years of educating boaters to avoid deadly strikes. Starvation has once again put them in peril."

CASH OR CHARGE?— "Space X launches 3 visitors to space station for $55M each," by Associated Press' Marcia Dunn: "SpaceX launched three rich businessmen and their astronaut escort to the International Space Station on Friday for more than a week's stay, as NASA joins Russia in hosting guests at the world's most expensive tourist destination. It's SpaceX's first private charter flight to the orbiting lab after two years of carrying astronauts there for NASA. Arriving at the space station Saturday are an American, a Canadian and an Israeli who run investment, real estate and other companies."

— " Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins dies after getting hit by a truck in South Florida. He was 24," by Miami Herald's Howard Cohen and Dave Wilson

— "' Billionaires pushing out the millionaires': South Florida's oceanfront homes soar to record prices," by Sun Sentinel's Wells Dusenbury

— "Florida groups canvass spring breakers to warn about fentanyl ," by Associated Press' Freida Frisaro

— "Florida citrus crop headed to lowest yield in decades," by News Service of Florida's Jim Turner

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— "2 Alabama men charged after 'takeover' of Florida beach town," by Associated Press: "Two Alabama men are accused of inciting or encouraging a riot after authorities said messages were spread online encouraging the spring break "takeover" of a Florida beach town, authorities said. More than 160 people were arrested, about 75 illegal guns were confiscated and several businesses closed during a wild weekend late last month in Panama City Beach, police said. Social media influencers and others promoted 'Panamaniac' on Facebook and other social media platforms, authorities said."

BIRTHDAYS: Florida State University professor emeritus Lance DeHaven-Smith

Follow us on Twitter