Rahm Emanuel to host fundraiser for Kendrick Meek and Meek releases first TV ad

[JI7]

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will hold a fundraiser for Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.), who’s running for the Democratic nomination in Florida’s Senate race.

The event will take place Monday, Aug. 2, in Washington D.C., according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The administration officially supports Meek in his primary against billionaire Jeff Greene, but there’s been grumbling that the White House hasn’t done all it can to help the congressman.

Greene has spent a little more than $5.5 million of his own money on the race, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports. Meek has raised a little more than $7 million and has about $4 million cash on hand, according to second quarter FEC reports.

And that money has helped Greene make inroads. A St. Petersburg Times poll in May showed Meek leading Greene by 24 points. A Public Policy Polling survey taken last week showed Meek leading Greene by three points.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/110919-rahm-emanuel-to-host-fundraiser-for-kendrick-meek

[peekaloo]

1. I'll vote the way the tee vee tells me!

Back when Rubio blanketed the airwaves he was the favorite. Then ol' Monkey Face McCollum got air time and a cushion. Enter Charlie the Tuna actually doing his job and he's the darling, Star-Kist if you will. Lately the billionaires are all up in our faces railing against the "career politicians" and they've made inroads. Gonna be interesting to see the reaction to Meek.

[stevenleser]

2. Still too early to write off Meek. I'm more curious how the anti-Rahm anti-Obama folks will spin

this.

[DCBob]

3. I suspect they will dismiss it as not being enough or why didnt Biden or Obama show, etc, etc.

I wonder how much good Emanuel will do for Meek.. being as he is such a controversial figure. But at least Meek will get some free publicity out of it.

[JI7]

4. the article mentions that Biden has hosted a fundraiser for Meek already

so has bill clinton. and there are plans for clinton to come back and campaign for him before the primary.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. I agree.

Looks to me like the Repubs are beating themselves up pretty badly. Also, Crist's baggage problem is sure to be uncovered soon. Especially since his buddy with contacts to the mover and shakers in Central Florida is now planning a meet and greet for Alex Sink's opponent, Rick Scott.

This contact guy, btw, has been welcomed with open arms by the Dem trial lawyers in Central Florida. The guy knows people and practices his own brand of the law. Good ole boy lawyering. Which creates problems in the long run since good ole boy lawyering is arbitrary in practice. It's the reason why up is down, and forward is backward. Until we stop this form of lawyering in Central Florida, we will remain a backwater town.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/?p=16421

[Sebastian Doyle]

5. So does this mean the DLC has changed their mind about supporting the Republican Crist?

:shrug:

[demhistorian]

6. Did I miss the DLC endorsing Crist?

:shrug:

[Sebastian Doyle]

8. If you read all the pro-Crist threads here lately

it should have been obvious enough.

[demhistorian]

9. I have - how would threads on DU indicate a DLC backing?

Perhaps you can point to one thing

[Sebastian Doyle]

10. These threads follow the typical DLC script.

You know all about how Meek is "unelectable" and so Crist the "sensible centrist" is the "pragmatic choice" over the teabagging Batista fanboy Rubio.

[demhistorian]

11. That's pragmatism. So because some DUers are pragmatic, that means it's a DLC plot?

[Bodhi BloodWave]

13. its not a liberal or 'pure' stance, thus its DLC

Least thats how things seems to be for many these days.

Not saying thats the case in this instance, but it seems a fairly common mindset amongst some on DU.

Personally I consider Pragmatism an advantage but then I'm quite flexible on my views

[Sebastian Doyle]

15. Voting for a Republican is NOT pragmatism

Nor is running as a "Democrat" and then acting like a Republican once you're elected. But that IS the way of the DLC.

[demhistorian]

16. yet you've still failed to make your case - just as when you said -->

The DLC "drowned" Air America.

[Bluenorthwest]

17. Thinking you can predict the future is very much not pragmatic

And counting your Crists before they hatch might turn out to be the daftest thing done by Florida Democrats yet, and that's saying something.
I Predict you're gunna take a walk in the rain, and you're gunna get wet. I predict. Brought to you by the Pragmatic Prognosticator.

[Sebastian Doyle]

20. Now there's a song I totally forgot about!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lTVohhONFg

[jenmito]

21. Where did you see THAT? Every thread I've seen re: supporting Crist was if Greene was the Dem.

nominee. n/t

[Radical Activist]

12. I can't believe a candidate who raised $7 millions is being dismissed

as if he has no chance. The media campaign to marginalize Meek with poll numbers is a con job. Convincing Democrats that Meek can't win is Crist's only chance. Yet, any professional knows that polls taken 6 months before an election are meaningless, especially when one of the candidates isn't well known yet.

[Billy Burnett]

14. Meek, once AGAIN, will not campaign on behalf of Ds running against Rs Balart and Ros-Lehtinen.

:puke:

[havocmom]

18. So Rahm is fundraising for someone many DUers advocating against supporting?

Lots of DUers lately expressing how much better candidate recent Repuplican, now Independent Crist was than Meek. So now, Rahm is showing some love to Meek...

:rofl:

It's tough to know which script to follow anymore.

[stevenleser]

22. When you are making things up, I'm sure it is hard to keep following your fabrications

If you stopped creating straw men and actually listened to the opinions of people who disagreed with you, you wouldn't have these conundrums.

First, full disclosure of MY opinion as I have consistently stated it. I believe it is too early to abandon Meek. As the Democratic candidate, he is my preferred option and while it seems difficult to imagine right now, it would not be completely impossible for him to close the distance with Rubio and Crist.

That being said, I agree wholeheartedly with those who say that if it becomes clear that Meek cannot close the gap, that we should support Crist who is a moderate as opposed to far right Rubio.

Nowhere am I saying that Crist is preferable to Meek. I have never seen any DUer say that Crist is preferable to Meek. I've seen most of the threads where you were commenting on this havocmom and you and many others keep mischaracterizing what others are saying. If you stop doing that, your confusion will stop.

[havocmom]

23. It's a fair thing to ponder. People on DU have been dissing Meek for weeks

and singing the praises of Crist. Some people have questioned this gross violation of DU rules only to have threads locked or disappeared. You can say I make it up, but some have screen shots.

[ChiciB1]

24. Look, I LIVE In Florida & Will Vote In The Primary, But Take It From One

who has been quite perplexed about Meek!! If I didn't know about him because I'm informed, I'm betting that MOST here in Florida don't even have a clue!

Greene has covered this place with flyers everywhere! I think I get one a week, but I have YET to get one from Meek! NOT ONE!

I feel I HAVE to vote for him, but if I were to predict the final outcome, I sincerely believe CRIST is going to WIN! Too many of my "D" friends have already been deciding they WILL vote for him! Anything to keep Rubio from winning is basically the reason why!!

I KNOW what it means to be boxed in, but with Rubio on the scene too many see NO OTHER WAY!!

I'm only saying what I see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears!!

[Ross K]

19. Emanuel Can't

get anything right!

[quaker bill]

25. While the polling says otherwise

Meek still has the best chance of winning this. The polls will shift after the primary vote and Meek begins to campaign more seriously. He has the money to make a solid run.

Meek would have little chance against Charley Crist in a one on one, and a little better chance againt Rubio in a one on one. But with both Crist and Rubio on the ballot, the R side is split pretty close to down the middle. Crist concluded as much when he abandoned the R primary. None of the Rs I know will vote for Charley, that said, I am sure some will, particularly along the west coast, where Charley comes from. Marco Rubio on the other hand seems to have a firm grip on roughly 25 percent of the vote, mostly the Tea Party and fundy right. He has not been able to move the numbers up much, but Charley does not seem to be able to dent them either.

This leaves 75 percent of the vote in play between Charley and Kendrick, which makes 37.5+ percent the magic number. Charley has been posting 30+ percent polling numbers for some time, but I have not seen a 40. The best numbers I have seen for Charley are 35s, which just will not do it. Charley is a politician well known in FL and the reason he seems to be topping out in the mid 30s is related to what we know of him far more than any lack of familiarity. I do not think there is much Charley can do to move his numbers up, but his presence will keep Marco from moving his numbers much.

The only one out there with room to move his numbers is Meek. His advantage is that most people do not know him at this point, so he gets to do a campaign style introduction, he will be doing it late with sufficient funds. With the right touch, he can get a fair slice of the Obama electorate out to the polls. This group of new voters changed the composition of the Florida electorate significantly, in a way that fries pollsters "likely voter" models. If he can get this group out and core dem voters show up (I always do), then he can crack 40, which should be more than enough in the three way contest.

[MadBadger]

26. Grumblings the White House hasnt done all it can???

I'm sorry, but if Meek is just releasing his first TV Ad now, then the White House has certainly done enough up to this point