In his bid to be his party’s nominee for governor, Democrat Chris King has tried to distinguish himself as the most progressive of the four candidates in the race. He has refused to take money from the state’s Big Sugar industry, and in recent weeks called for the abolishment of Florida’s death penalty and the legalization of marijuana.
Now, in a new political ad (see below) released early Wednesday, the Orlando-area businessman is promising to “shake up the old politics” and “stand up to the NRA.”
The :30 spot, called “Stand Up,” starts with the photo of a memorial outside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
“Two years ago, 49 people were murdered at Pulse nightclub –– and Rick Scott and the Legislature did nothing,” King says. “Then tragedy hit Parkland. But this time, a movement of young people refuses to accept the unacceptable.
The spot shows young protesters who took part in demonstrations and marches after the Parkland shootings.
“I want to shake up the old politics. I’ll stand up to the NRA and hold both parties accountable –– to ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, and require background checks on all gun sales,” King goes on to say.
Calls for gun control measures are nothing new to King. His campaign points out King called for an assault weapons ban in his first speech as a candidate for governor and called for gun reforms after the tragedy at Parkland.
King also has been recognized as a “Gun Sense Candidate” by Moms Demand Action, a group that urges state and federal officials to enact gun reform measures.
The new King spot, his second of the campaign, will begin airing Wednesday in the Gainesville, Jacksonville, Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Panama City and West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce television markets.
Earlier this month, the King campaign released its first television ad, “New Direction.”
Polls have consistently shown King in fourth place in the single digits. The most recent poll was an internal survey released Tuesday by the campaign of former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine.
The survey, conducted by Public Policy Polling, gives Levine a 10-point advantage over former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, 30 percent to 20 percent. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is third with 12 percent, while King received 6 percent.
