Left, right hit Marco Rubio with TV ads on immigration

Rubio is the target of a new round of ads from liberal group CAPS and conservative FAIR. | AP Photo

By: Byron Tau
June 19, 2013

Left, right hit Marco Rubio with TV ads on immigration By: Byron Tau June 19, 2013 A left-wing group and a right-wing group have found common cause: putting pressure on Sen. Marco Rubio over immigration reform.

The Florida Republican is the target of a new round of ad buys this week from the environmental sustainability group Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS) and the conservative Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

The two groups are both up with a flight of television ads targeting Rubio in the Orlando markets, according public records filed with the Federal Communications Commission. Both groups are using the same Washington D.C. media buyer, Davis & Company for ads airing on the same Orlando stations. Other CAPS ads are running in Tampa and elsewhere.

Spokespeople for both FAIR and CAPS said they’re not working together on the issue — they are simply opposed to the current immigration proposal and Rubio is at the center of the congressional drama.

“We’re focusing on Rubio” with the new ad buy, CAPS executive director Jo Wideman told POLITICO. Wideman said Rubio is backing away from his promise for additional border security — citing this week’s vote in favor of a border fence amendment.

CAPS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit group funded and run by environmental activists who oppose further population growth. The group focuses on the problems that immigration poses to land use, drought and crowding.

The group says its ad buy is to counter the influence of big national groups — like the Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Tax Reform, Mark Zuckerberg’s FWD.us and others who have spent significantly on television ads to try to get immigration reform across the finish line.

“The people who are pro-immigration are spending millions and millions,” Wideman said. “Why would they want to bring in so many workers when so many Americans are out of work?”

FAIR’s Florida ad buy too is aimed at the freshman senator.

“Rubio is front man for the Republicans on this bill,” said FAIR’s Ira Mehlman. “Some of the stuff he’s been saying on this doesn’t add up.”

FAIR advocates for increased border security and limiting legal and illegal immigration.

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