Bud Chiles to run as an independent (NPA) in FL for governor

[Dappleganger]

Lawton “Bud” Chiles III, the son of the late governor, announced Thursday that he plans to run for governor as an independent candidate.

A lifelong Democrat, Chiles is poised to test the theory that 2010 is the Year of the Outsider. Another high-profile candidate, Gov. Charlie Crist, recently left his party to run as an independent in the U.S. Senate race.

The move gives him additional time to raise money and build name recognition for November’s race between candidates from the two major parties. In opting out of the Democratic primary, he skipped a one-on-one battle with Alex Sink, the frontrunner for the nomination who has raised $6.1 million.

“The two parties are not the solution,” he said. “They’re caught up in this high-stakes game that pits big money against big money and leaves ordinary Floridians on the sidelines.”


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He definitely has my attention!

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2010/06/sources-chiles-plans-to-run-as-an-npa.html

[SteppingRazor]

1. Just when things were starting to look good for Sink.

The Rick Scott run created a competitive Republican primary, meaning that Alex Sink would face an opponent in the general election who had spent large portions of his cash reserves winning the bruising primary.

Now, she'll have votes siphoned off by Chiles, who will almost certainly hurt Sink FAR more than he hurts McCollum or Scott.

[Orangepeel]

2. Shit. Just what Florida needs (NOT)

Just when Alex Sink had almost caught up to McCullum, that homophobic, grandstanding, Clenis-hunting asshole.

[Dappleganger]

3. I know, it really changes the playing field.

I'm a Sink supporter, albeit with a degree of reluctance due to her DLC ways and ties to big business. The political parties (both Dem and Rep) are in huge disarray at this time in FL in this may just be 'the year of the independent'.