Donald Trump’s campaign released a new television ad Monday directly attacking Sen. Marco Rubio, which is is set to air in Florida ahead of the state’s March 15 primary.
In the minute-long ad, Trump — who continues to top Rubio in the polls there — zeroes in on Rubio’s finances, going after him for his past transactions concerning a Republican Party of Florida credit card and his missed votes in the U.S. Senate.
“Corrupt Marco Rubio has spent years defrauding the people of Florida,” the ad’s narrator opens up.
Particularly, the ad cites Rubio having switched a vote for a bill after netting $200,000 by flipping a house to the mother of a relative, as well as his use of a Florida GOP credit card, an attack which was used against him by former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist during their Senate contest in 2010.
“On top of that he’s been a total no-show in the U.S. Senate with the worst voting record of all,” the ad continues.
“Marco Rubio — another corrupt, all-talk, no-action politician,” the ad concludes. Rubio and his campaign have consistently said that they will win the Sunshine State’s primary despite recent polling showing Trump ahead.
According to the latest Monmouth poll released Monday, Trump currently tops Rubio, 38 percent to 30 percent. However, early voting shows a silver lining for Rubio, who leads among those who have voted early with 48 percent support to Trump’s 23 percent.
In a statement about the ad, Trump argued that Rubio is a “total crook” and has “cheated” with the credit card use. He also said that he is doing Floridians “a great favor” by trying to expose him.
“Lightweight Senator Marco Rubio is a dishonest person. He has cheated with credit cards, and does favors for lobbyists,” Trump said. “In my opinion, he is a total crook and I am doing the people of Florida a great favor by further exposing him.”
“In addition to everything else, he is an absentee senator with one of the worst voting records in the history of the United States Senate, instead preferring to spend his time begging for campaign contributions,” Trump continued. “He takes his orders from the Republican establishment and super PACs who are spending millions of dollars to keep their puppet alive and well so he will continue to do what they say.”
Trump added that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie “exposed him” in the debate prior to the New Hampshire primary as a “choke artist,” and that his campaign is now “going a step further.”
