RPOF issues mailer depicting Democrat Gail Gottlieb as crazed domestic terrorist

When contacted early Monday afternoon, Gottlieb, a first-time candidate, said she knew politics could get rough, but she says at least negative charges should be backed up by facts. She has never lived or worked in New York City, an allegation the mailer states. She was incredulous that anyone would think the Sierra Club was a radical organization, or the AFL-CIO, of FCAN.

"To say that somehow protecting everyday people doesn't belong in Florida government, now that's a radical and extreme idea," she says.

She also says that one of the groups she worked for in D.C., Public Agenda, has a history of working with the very conservative Heritage Foundation.

“This mailer from Ross Spano is disgraceful and offensive, and is a bigoted attack against a strong woman candidate who has thoughtful ideas to improve the quality of life of the people of Brandon, Riverview, Valrico, and all of Florida,” said Chris Mitchell, chairman of the Hillsborough County Democratic Party. “Campaigns can be tough, but the Republican Party of Florida is way out of bounds in this despicable effort to slander a qualified woman leader.”