Poll: Tea party poses ‘real danger’ to GOP in Florida

[Duct Tape]

Aligning yourself too closely to the tea party could be a great way to lose an election in Florida, apparently. So says a recent poll by Gainesville, Florida based polling firm War Room Logistics. In the poll, registered Florida voters said 2:1 that the tea party did not represent their views. War Room's Alex Patton says this could pose "a real danger to Republican candidates".

Democrats and independents both gave the tea party the thumbs down, with independent voters holding unfavorable views of the nascent far-right movement 3-to-1. Typically Florida elections are decided by independent voters, and the only constituency still in favor of the recent tide of tea party politicians elected in the Fall of 2010 are Republicans, 68 percent of whom view the tea party favorably.

Patton says the risk for the GOP lies in embracing the tea party in order to win the primary election, then being pilloried in the general election by a population who find the tea party's views to be extreme and divisive. Primary elections, however, most often draw a party's most committed members, and in the Republicans' case, these are the voters most likely to support the tea party.

The Florida poll mirrors national Gallup polls that show only 33 percent of Americans holding favorable views of the Tea party. Pollster Dave Beattie says that one reason for the decline in popularity is that, "Republicans are parents, too, and they don't like cuts to the classroom."

Florida governor Rick Scott has earned voters' ire with draconian cuts to education as well as his decisions to turn down federal money for high speed rail and to drug test recipients of federal aid.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/06/23/poll-tea-party-poses-real-danger-to-gop-in-florida/

[lpbk2713]

1. Rick Scott could be a blessing in disguise.

The bad news is we have to put up with him for over three more years.

[polichick]

3. He sure is a big wake up call! (Maybe next time people won't elect a criminal.)

[peace frog]

10. Don't bet on it

The GOP have a stranglehold on this state and the Florida Democratic party is notoriously weak. Scott will be re-elected unless an extremely high profile, very popular opposition candidate runs against him. So far, such an opponent has not presented him/herself.

[polichick]

15. Floriduh (referring to the voters) is my beloved home state...

And I plan to be spending much more time there again soon - I can't wait to work to unseat this creep!

The good news is I've come across a bunch of Florida Republicans who despise the man - 'course they say they didn't vote for him in the first place.

[peace frog]

16. But there must be someone they want to vote *for*

not just *against* Scott, otherwise conservative voters in particular will vote Republican because they always have.

I suspect the opposition will lack what is essential to win: a Floridian who is extremely well-known and enormously popular among all voters. Without a clear winner in opposition, Rick Scott will be re-elected (even if it is by a slim margin).

[polichick]

17. Do you have any idea who could be drafted?

[peace frog]

18. Well, I'm old school so

I like Bob Graham, but at his advanced age it's doubtful he would be interested and has richly earned his retirement. Sad, because he's got the mojo to excite attention but as a former governor I'm not certain he could run again even if he cared to.

Charlie Crist, Scott's predecessor, is often mentioned as someone we would not be sorry to have back in the governor's office, but clearly he has moved on and who can blame him after the FL-GOP excoriated him so.

There are a few others who might spark interest but again it's a long shot. Florida is in the grip of RW ideologues who are determined to keep control of the state, and they have done and will continue to do all in their power to make it so. Put nothing past them, they will do whatever it takes to defeat any challenger Scott may have.

[polichick]

20. I like Graham too but you're right; he's too old. Have faith - people really are waking up...

I've been really surprised at the Republicans I've spoken with about Scott - they are disgusted. imo these sicko Republican governors may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

[peace frog]

21. No offense, but my faith is shot to hell

after so many years of increasing RW horrors with no sign of abatement no matter how unpopular Rick Scott may be. I believe miracles are possible but don't expect to witness one, sorry.

Best wishes for success if you do become politically active in Florida! Find the right candidate and who knows what could happen.

[JanMichael]

24. Dear god I miss Lawton Chiles...

...seriously the last serious and adult non-criminal governor in Florida.

A truly decent person.

[peace frog]

26. Walkin' Lawton called himself "an old he-coon"

He definitely had the common touch and was beloved by old-time Crackers as well as more newly-arrived Floridians. Even my dad, a died-in-the-wool conservative who would be a teabagger were he living, loved old Lawton.

This is exactly the kind of Democratic candidate we need, one who is well-known and loved, and our only hope to defeat Rick Scott.

[StarsInHerHair]

25. perhaps Graham could speak at rallies for the person actually running for

office then? If he's a good speaker then I hope some Dem can get his help, it's worth it to win, yes?

[NICO9000]

4. Can he be recalled too?

[peace frog]

5. That's a big NOPE

There is no recall process in the state of Florida.

Wanna come live here? ;) Yeh, didn't think so.

[John Paul Jones]

6. Sunshine, palm tress, white sand...

What's not to like?

[infidel dog]

7. What's not to like?

Are you serious? Murderous, relentless heat and humidity, fire ants, ferocious biting and stinging insects, cultural vacuity, religious fundamentalism, rednecks, racists and fascists of every description, vicious law enforcement... I had the misfortune of living in Florida for two godawful years and hated every minute of it. The nearest bookstore was 40 miles away and the closest restaurant was called, I kid you not, "Barefeet n' Brew." Some nice people in a general population of f***ing savages, really. The only good thing about Florida is the citrus. Best on the planet. But I can get Florida oranges at my local grocery store, thank God. The only way I'd ever go back there is under a federal subpoena. And maybe not even then.

[demwing]

12. Are YOU serious?

the politics here currently are insane, and the racism in the North and central state is still pretty bad, but the heat isn't "murderous" - not like Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas. If you live near the beach, it isn't bad at all. And it's really only hot for the 3-4 months of summer - which happens to coincide with the rainy season.

There are bugs, and the ants are a nuisance, but nothing more.

St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Miami, the only cities I'm familiar with (I've been here two years) are hardly vacuous. St. Pete is a college town, and has nice museums (home of the largest Dali collection in the world) and a decent live music scene. There's a Book-A-Million across the street, a B&N a mile away, and the coolest, and biggest, indie bookstore in the state - "Haslams" (http://www.haslams.com/index.shtml) is only 5 minutes from downtown St Pete. The people here mostly very cool. Again, depends on where you hang out...

We haven't had a lick of oil wash up on shore, and every day at the beach is an adventure finding live whelk, sea horses, starfish, and of course, dolphins. My favorite beach is at Clearwater, just north of St Pete.

And holy crap, there's Key West!!! Just a day's drive away - amazing place, very liberal environment, and a non stop party. Hope you like lime :)

It isn't as bad as you make it sound - or maybe you just lived in the wrong city? I visited Kissimmee for a few months, and won't go back. Vomit.

[RagAss]

13. Where the hell did you live in Florida?

[Contrary1]

19. "White sand"

:rofl:

[Chovexani]

27. I guess that's what they're calling cocaine now

[A HERETIC I AM]

28. Just about the whitest sand beaches you'll find anywhere in the world.

Your use of the ROFL smiley aside, here's the proof;

Naples.


Clearwater.


Sanibel.


Too many to keep on, but a simple search proves the point.

PLENTY of snow white sand beaches in Florida.

[demwing]

14. I'm sure you've signed the petition to amend the state constitution?

All we need is 600,000 valid signatures to get the measure in front of the voters next year.

[Vincardog]

2. When will they admit that the TeaBaggers ARE the GOP base? There is no difference.

[Quantess]

8. ssssshh!

[bluestate10]

9. Sonny's evil bastard child is turning to take a bite out of the Corleone family. nt

[Initech]

11. The tea party = worst movement ever!!!!

[QC]

22. Kick

[Canuckistanian]

23. And that was a Gainesville polling company?

Isn't Gainesville a Tea Party stronghold?