Fla. races suggest trouble for GOP

[DoYouEverWonder]

In three key U.S. House races - two in GOP strongholds - Democrats are gaining ground.

October 18, 2006

Want evidence of the grim challenge facing Republicans across the country? Just turn on your TV, and you'll soon hear battle cries from the candidates vying to replace Katherine Harris in Congress, Democrat Christine Jennings and Republican Vern Buchanan.

Only a few months ago, most political observers saw this heavily Republican Sarasota-area district as a virtual lock for the GOP. But after a bruising Republican primary, it's suddenly among the hottest races in the country. This in a district that President Bush won by nearly 10 percentage points in 2004.

"The environment was a lot better two years ago for Republicans than it is today," said Buchanan, a millionaire who's trailing Jennings despite having spent more than $3.6-million of his own money to date.

Even more startling in a state where most congressional seats are drawn to ensure Republican control, the 13th Congressional District is one of three U.S. House seats in Florida that Democrats seem on the verge of winning. Florida is now a central front in the battle over whether Democrats win control of Congress.

In the 16th District, stretching from Palm Beach to Charlotte counties, Republicans are struggling to hold a seat where disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley's name remains on the ballot.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/18/State/Fla_races_suggest_tro.shtml


Time to turn Florida blue again.

[seafan]

1. Yep, Florida is critical to the direction of our country.

The last sentence in the article, interviewing a woman on the street:

"A lot of people around here are kind of getting sick and tired of Republicans lately," the Bradenton Republican said, while loading her bags outside a Target. "But I believe in sticking with your party."

People exhibiting this type of thinking are dwindling to fewer and fewer numbers, thankfully.

[classysassy]

2. Have no fear Jeb is here

if we can't win it we'll steal it.

[jab105]

3. Crist is walking all over Davis for governor here...

n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. I know

I can't believe it. Davis decided to write off North FL because he doesn't have enough money. You would have no idea he was even running around here.

[jab105]

6. You are in Gainesville also, right?

I saw your remark in the Charlie Grapski thread (I've known Charlie since he sued over the University of FLorida campaign - a nice guy, but a bit...eccentric)...

Anyways, on TV-20, I see Crist literally every other minute...and I've seen almost nothing on Davis except for a 10 second ad that he doesn't like the FCAT and Crist does...that's it...

Alachua is blue, why write it off...I guess he figures since Rod Smith was from here??

Stupid, no one here even knows who in the world he is!! Are they having any debates or anything?

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. I heard Crist agreed to a 2nd debate?

I watched the Smith / Davis debate and I was not that impressed with Davis, but at this point we have to make the best with what we've got.

In regards to the Grapski issue, around town he's considered a joke. I just wish people wouldn't waste their time with him and his made up issues. We've got much bigger fish to fry 3 weeks before the election. At this point, I'm done getting beat up over someone who's not worth the wasted bandwidth.


PM me sometime. I'd love to meet some local DUers.

[tomreedtoon]

9. Welcome to the traditional Florida Democrat Wusses.

There have been a few good Democrats here, like Bob Graham and Bill Nelson. Then there are...all the others.

They run, I guess so they can say "I was a candidate for such-and-such an audience." Then they spend the next few years writing columns in the "free alternative newspapers" that supposedly uphold the liberal tradition (who actually uphold a lot of tattoo parlors and multi-sexual dating services).

It will be no surprise when "Jesus" Crist wins Jeb's seat and becomes Governor Duuuh Two. Because there IS no Democratic candidate for governor. Even as far south as Orlando, he has no ads, and if his main issue is the FCAT, I guess we're probably lucky he'll be a washout. Perhaps that football coach was right; there's nothing that inspires a man more than getting his ass kicked. If that's so, maybe this unknown Democratic candidate will be inspired - if he ever runs again.

[Tom Joad]

5. I thought it was the Ohio races that was causing GOPers concern?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/18/us/politics/18poll.html?hp&ex=1161230400&en=4d5ba620e9153e44&ei=5094&partner=homepage
The bellwether state of Ohio appears to have become hostile terrain for Republicans this year, with voters there overwhelmingly saying Democrats are more likely to help create jobs and concluding by a wide margin that Republicans in the state are more prone to political corruption than are Democrats, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

Or was it Rhode Island? Or the fact they only are 6% ahead in AZ? or well, like just about everwhere.

[CaroleG]

7. kick their butts