According to a report by the Pensacola News Journal, Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) campaigned in the city on Wednesday for incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), who is in a tough reelection battle with the state’s Republican governor, Rick Scott.
At a small rally at the Escambia Education Association headquarters in north Pensacola, Jones said that Alabamians voted on the “right side of history” when they elected him, and Floridians have the same opportunity on November 6.
Not only is Jones supporting Nelson, but he also stumped for socialist Democratic candidate for governor Andrew Gillum, the current mayor of Tallahassee.
“Florida has the opportunity not just to send Bill Nelson back where he deserves to be in the halls of the United States Senate,” Jones asserted. “You’ve got an even bigger goal. You can also be on the right side of history with electing Andrew Gillum as your next governor.”
Scott’s campaign issued a statement in response to the Jones/Nelson rally, blasting them for campaigning as Panhandle counties are recovering from Hurricane Michael, as well as for Nelson telling the Tampa Bay Times last week that “[I have] done everything I can do and they know to call me if they are getting any hiccups.”
“Sen. Nelson admitted last week that he’s unwilling and uninterested in helping the communities ravaged by Hurricane Michael and is focused instead on trying to save his own job,” Chris Hartline, a Scott campaign spokesman in the press release, said. “Meanwhile, Gov. Scott continues to help the Panhandle rebuild and recover.”
This comes after Jones on Tuesday attended a campaign event for Alabama’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. Jones and Maddox notably held a press conference at that event alongside state Sen. Hank Sanders, who has become embroiled in controversy after being linked to racially charged “Vote or Die” fliers, filled with “incendiary” images aimed to increase Democratic turnout.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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