DCCC knocks Jolly on lobbyist background in first FL-13 ad

by Alexandra Jaffe - 01/21/14 8:36 AM ET

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is hitting Republican House candidate David Jolly for his lobbying background in its first ad in the Florida special election to replace the late Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.).

It’s backed by the $200,000 ad buy The Hill first reported last week.

{mosads}The ad hammers Jolly for “lobbying for special interests that received over $3 million in taxpayer-funded earmarks” and for a firm that “lobbied for hundreds of millions for a dictator in Pakistan as we face record debt.”

It includes a clip of Jolly defending his lobbying work, saying “I have been a registered lobbyist, and I’m proud of the work that I’ve done.”

“Lobbyist David Jolly’s proud. We pay the price,” the ad closes.

Jolly did defend his career during the GOP primary, framing it as work that helped companies create jobs.

But Democrats believe Jolly’s lobbying background is politically potent and have been hammering him on it since day one of the general election in Florida’s 13th District.

National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Katie Prill accused Sink of “hiding behind” super-PAC attacks in a response to the ad.

“Alex Sink is willing to say and do anything in order to distract voters from learning about her support of ObamaCare, which is already hurting Pinellas families and seniors. If Sink really wants to put Pinellas over politics, then it’s time for her to stop hiding behind Nancy Pelosi’s Democrat super-PACs and own up to her support of this devastating healthcare law,” Prill said.

On Monday, Jolly picked up one high-profile endorsement — from his former primary opponent, state Rep. Kathleen Peters, who had previously refused to back him and expressed criticism of the candidate, touching on his lobbying work, just last week.

On Monday, she said she “certainly support[s] the candidate that’s opposing” Democratic candidate Alex Sink, and said Jolly’s Washington experience will help him tackle hikes in flood insurance.

“He can be effective from the day he walks in,” she said.

Watch the DCCC’s ad: