Sink Questions McCollum's TV Ad

I support raising greater awareness against online sexual predators. I agree with CFO Alex Sink. Did Attorney General Bill McCollum need to spend $1.4 million on an ad campaign?

The ad features McCollum and was produced by his former campaign ad man. Sink's spokeswoman, Kyra Jennings, said, "The state is in the midst of a budget crisis right now, and the CFO is concerned that spending state funds on television ads at this time may not be the most appropriate use.''

The $1.4 million would have been better spent toward law enforcement. The ad will come and go from the airwaves. The Attorney General's office could have used that money to hire more staff or increase the cyber predator unit.

McCollum appears in the ad. This reminds me of former Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson spending $2 million on voter education. Johnson was up for re-election and sent out brochures with his face on it. It is a great way for Johnson raise awareness with voters and not spend money from his war chest. McCollum's TV ad smacks of the same kind of opportunism. Especially when either the Governor's mansion or a U.S. Senate seat will be in play in 2010.