Republican Governors Association spokesman Tim Murtaugh says the media buy is statewide on broadcast and cable, "six-figures" and "significant.'' It's the group's first ad of 2010, in which 37 states will host governor's races. "Florida is very important to us,'' Murtaugh said. "People will notice this ad.''

"The decision by Bill McCollum to bring his Washington style of politics to Florida and launch misleading, negative attack ads eight months before the election shows just how scared he is that voters clearly want a business leader with a vision for growing Florida's economy over a career Washington politician who helped create today's economic mess," said Sink Campaign Manager Paul Dunn. "With his decades in Congress and as a special interest lobbyist, career politician Bill McCollum is desperate to avoid being held accountable for his leading role in helping start today's economic crisis that has left over a million Floridians out of work, bankrupt, or forced out of their homes."

Beth Reinhard