TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis will air the first television ads in Florida's Republican Senate primary with a spot criticizing Hillary Clinton that will be shown during the next two Republican Presidential debates and during Fox News coverage of the March 15 presidential primary elections.
The ad opens with footage of Clinton being interviewed. She's asked if she's always told the truth and she replies, "I've always tried to."
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DeSantis, of Ponte Veddra, then criticizes the former first lady, senator and secretary of state, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president.
"She thinks she's above the law. She's not. All public officials, including the secretary of state, must be held accountable, especially when their conduct puts our national security at risk," DeSantis says while speaking directly to the camera. "It's time we bring accountability to Washington, but I need your help to do it."
The theme is aimed at people who are tuning into to presidential campaign coverage, though DeSantis never actually says he's running for Senate. Instead, the ad relies on words below his image to name him as a candidate. DeSantis does point out that he's a Navy veteran and former prosecutor.
The campaign is spending at least $100,000 on ad time. It will run along the I-4 corridor, West Palm Beach and southwest Florida during the debates and statewide on Fox News during primary night coverage. Florida is one of five states holding primaries on March 15.
DeSantis is facing U.S. Rep. David Jolly, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera and businessmen Todd Wilcox and Carlos Beruff in the primary. U.S. Reps. Patrick Murphy and Alan Grayson are seeking the Democratic nomination. They're seeking the seat Republican Marco Rubio is giving up to run for president.