While Debbie Mucarsel-Powell Fights for Reproductive Rights, Rick Scott Continues to Hide From Floridians

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell continues to surge ahead with statewide support as she fights for Floridians’ freedoms. Meanwhile, Rick Scott practices his favorite skill – hiding from his constituents.

[Watch] MSNBC: The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell

• Lawrence O'Donnell: “Winning Florida could insulate Democrats from the possibility of losing in any of the reelection campaigns. Abortion is on the ballot in Florida, potentially driving up voter turnout in support of a popular amendment that would add reproductive rights to the state's constitution and permanently undo the abortion ban in Florida signed into law by Republican governor Ron DeSantis.”

• “Florida, Republican Senator Rick Scott seems afraid to debate his Democratic opponent, our next guest, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.”

• Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: “Look, an old and tired and corrupt politician being scared to debate a strong woman, a qualified woman with a clear vision to build a better state. Does it sound familiar?”

• “We have now accepted three debates. He has been dodging the question. He is obviously petrified and if I were him, I would be too. He can't defend his record on writing a plan that was actually a preamble for Project 2025 to end Social Security and Medicare.”

• “He has a record of pushing for a national abortion ban. He voted against access to IVF. And in Florida, our values are not those.”

• “This is a man that could care less about what happens to a woman's life when she's sent home to have a miscarriage, go into sepsis, lose half of her blood, and almost die.”

• “He has been speaking to young women and spreading disinformation that Democrats support crushing a baby’s skull. It's borderline abusive to the young women that are hearing this from this man. And that's why, as a mom, I can tell you my conviction of protecting our rights here in the state, our rights across the country, because Vice President Kamala Harris will not be able to codify Roe v. Wade if she doesn't have the votes. And I intend to be the fifty-first vote.”

• “We have been bringing in Democrats, Independents, Republicans, because we're talking about the issues that matter most. And that is why I know that we are ready to flip this state.”

The Hill: Democrats grow more optimistic about flipping Florida

• Democrats are increasingly optimistic about their chances in Florida’s presidential and Senate races as polls show a tightening race in the state.

• Mucarsel-Powell’s campaign is pushing a similar message, touting the former member of Congress as a fresh face in a state dominated by Republicans, while attacking Scott on issues related to abortion access, Social Security and Medicare.

• “There’s a lot of things moving in Florida,” said Lauren Chou, communications director for Mucarsel-Powell’s campaign. “There is a lot of new energy on the ground in Florida, a lot of hopefulness that I think comes with having fresh leaders.”

The Hill: Democrat in Florida Senate race raises more than $1M after poll showing dead heat

• Former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell’s (D-Fla.) Senate campaign said Wednesday it raised more than $1 million in the 48 hours after a poll from The Hill and Emerson College showed her tied with incumbent Sen. Rick Scott (R).

• Mucarsel-Powell’s campaign also said she brought in 13,000 first-time donors during the same period.

• “This surge in grassroots support confirms what we have been seeing across the state — Floridians are fed up with Rick Scott’s extremism and are eager for the freedom and economic opportunities that Debbie Mucarsel-Powell champions,” Mucarsel-Powell campaign manager Ben Waldon said in a statement.

Florida Politics: ‘Scared to debate’? Rick Scott takes more fire for campaign strategy

• “If I had backed a national abortion ban, written the plan to end Social Security and Medicare as we know them, and pushed to raise taxes on the middle class, I’d probably be scared to debate too,” said Mucarsel-Powell spokesperson Lauren Chou.

• Scott dodged a question about whether he would debate Mucarsel-Powell earlier Wednesday.

• “Floridians deserve a senator who will show up and answer for their record — something that Rick Scott is terrified to do,” Mucarsel-Powell said at the time.

Florida Phoenix: Rick Scott says he’s not ready to commit to debating Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

• Rick Scott said Wednesday that, if he were Donald Trump, he would do “as many debates as possible” against Kamala Harris.

• But when asked whether he’ll commit to at least one debate against his own Democratic opponent, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, the Florida Republican deflected.

• Mucarsel-Powell launched what she says will be a 75-stop tour across the state two weeks ago, which included stops in Orlando and Jacksonville last weekend.

Florida Politics: Debbie Mucarsel-Powell says dead heat poll brings fundraising to life

• Polling showing this year’s Senate race as essentially tied is boosting former Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell’s appeal to donors.

• That’s the message from her campaign, which has a million reasons to be happy about the impact of polling from Emerson College showing her 1 point behind Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

• Mucarsel-Powell raised nearly $5 million in Q2.

• Mucarsel-Powell is trying to bait Scott into a debate. His campaign has not committed to one yet. Hers is willing to do three.