Republicans enter Atwater-Bird ad war

You’d think with $2.5-million campaign war chest, Jeff Atwater wouldn’t need much campaign help. But, just in case, the Florida Republican Party is lending a hand by paying for mail and TV attacks against Atwater’s Democratic opponent Linda Bird, who has been getting advertising help from Florida Dems the past few weeks.

Now, as a general rule, it’s tough to go after a political newcomer like Bird, who doesn't have a voting record to attack -- unless you want to attack them for not having a record. (And “the experience card” hasn’t exactly played well with voters this year.)

So what do you do?

In this case, attack the candidate by attacking their party. The anti-Bird ads use statements by other Democrats made before Bird even entered the race to accuse Bird and “Bird’s tax allies” of wanting to raise sales taxes, property taxes and retirement taxes. The statements refer to Democratic proposals like closing tax loopholes and changing the Save Our Homes cap.

“We can’t afford higher taxes, lost jobs or Linda Bird,” the narrator concludes in the cable TV spot.

State Republican Party officials said even though Bird didn’t make most of the statements referenced in the ad, they think it’s fair to assume Bird would support similar proposals if elected.

“The Democratic Party is funding her campaign,” said Katie Gordon, press secretary for the Florida Republican Party. “So we have every reason to believe she will vote in lock-step with them”

But Bird says, “there’s a difference between the party and the candidate.”

“[Atwater] is the one that raised taxes, and he is lying again about a record that I do not have,” Bird said. “He’s the one that has a record, and he’s running away from his record….I have never been for any kind of sales tax increase, property tax increase or any taxes on savings.”

Ironically, Florida Democrats have sent a mailer that accuses Atwater of being the tax raiser in the race by voting for large industry reform bills that included provisions to increase car insurance rates, the Internet sales tax, insurance rates and phone rates.

Read more about the Atwater-Bird ad war here.