GOP wrangles to hold seats in a competitive environment
Feb 17, 2008GOP wrangles to hold seats in a competitive environment
John Kennedy and Aaron Deslatte
Capitol View
February 17, 2008
When it comes to who's on this year's ballot, Florida Republicans are fighting hard to resist their ideological preference for free markets.
Last week, a full-court press of Central Florida's GOP leadership helped clear the field for state Sen. Bill Posey of Rockledge to replace retiring U.S. Rep Dave Weldon, R-Indialantic.
Veteran state Rep. Stan Mayfield, an Indian River County Republican with budget clout in Tallahassee, had been poised to give Posey a costly primary fight, though half the voters in Weldon's District 15 are in Posey's home turf of Brevard County.
That threat was averted after GOP Chairman Jim Greer , U.S. Reps. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, and Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, and even Weldon himself urged Mayfield to sit out.
Posey could still face other Republican challengers in a primary, but no big names.
"This was truly a team decision, and I'm a team player," Mayfield said. "We came to the conclusion that Bill Posey has the clearest path to a November victory."
The state party went further, boasting the intervention "saved a Republican congressional seat."
The swift action, to try to hang onto a solid GOP seat, reflects the larger electoral challenges Republicans face this year.
The GOP had once targeted freshmen Democratic Reps. Tim Mahoney and Ron Klein, both of whom captured GOP seats centered in Broward and Palm Beach counties in 2006. Now, the party could have to spend big just to not lose ground in South Florida, where incumbents in three Miami-Dade districts face tough races.
That's on top of the three Central Florida seats, including Weldon's, that the nonpartisan Cook Political Report says could be competitive for Democrats this year.
Orlando Rep. Ric Keller and Feeney have drawn stiff challenges from Democrats who are off to solid fundraising starts.
Winter Garden Democrat Mike Smith has raised $366,000 in a crowded primary field vying to take on Keller. Likewise, Democrat Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach raised twice as much as Feeney in the last quarter of 2007.
Given these trends, Posey said it made no sense for Republicans to spend money in a primary, even though a potentially tough Democratic challenger -- former Brevard County Commissioner Nancy Higgs -- dropped out of the race Friday.
"If you've got to get into the ring with somebody tomorrow, you don't want to give up a pint of blood today," Posey said.
The state party was especially keen to avoid a repeat of the District 13 race in Sarasota in 2006, when a bruising primary almost catapulted Democrat Christine Jennings to victory.
"Why give [Democrats] a chance? Why not clear that field, make sure we keep that seat, and focus on our more targeted races?" said state GOP communications director Erin VanSickle.
"I think you're going to see more of it."
Indeed, since taking over the party last year, Greer of Oviedo has backed horses in several contested primaries.
He endorsed a friend, Chris Dorworth, in the state House primary race to replace Dave Mealor of Lake Mary. Along with future House Speakers Ray Sansom and Dean Cannon of Winter Park, he has backed Longwood businessman Scott Plakon over another Republican for the House District 37 seat that David Simmons is vacating this year.
This week, the state party is helping organize a Tallahassee fundraiser for another Republican candidate with primary opposition, District 64 candidate Phillip Walker of Lakeland.
"There are always situations where candidates will have the de facto support of the party," said Steve Schale, who oversees state House races for the Florida Democratic Party.
"But traditionally, they've been more autocratic with their voters than we have."
Not so, said VanSickle, who called Greer's endorsements part of "making the party far more relevant and proactive."
Cash-call time
Speaking of fundraisers, the approaching legislative session means it's time once again to tap big political givers. Over the next two weeks, lawmakers have scheduled more than two dozen events around the state.
Incoming Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson of Tallahassee hosted a $1,500-per-person fundraiser Saturday night at the Tampa Bay Lighting-Washington Capitals hockey game at the Forum.
The Florida Mainstream Democrats, a political committee that supports Democratic legislators, is hosting a $1,000-per-person party Wednesday at the capital city watering hole Clyde's & Costello's. The guest list includes 27 House and Senate Democrats, including freshmen Orlando Reps. Darren Soto and Scott Randolph.
Not to be outdone, Senate Republicans are hosting a lunch Friday at the South Beach Food & Wine Festival at the Hotel Victor, hosted by Senate President Ken Pruitt and President-designate Jeff Atwater.
It isn't all partisan competition for cash, though. Pruitt and Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller are hosting a bipartisan fundraiser Tuesday at the Governor's Club to benefit Miami Beach Democratic Sen. Gwen Margolis, who is running for Miami-Dade property appraiser. The position was previously appointed.
Florida lawmakers are banned from raising cash during the 60-day lawmaking session that starts March 4.
For more insider information and insights on Florida politics, go to Central Florida Political Pulse at OrlandoSentinel.com/politicalpulse. John Kennedy can be reached at jkennedy@orlandosentinel.com. Aaron Deslattte can be reached at adeslatte@orlandosentinel.com. Both also can be reached at 850-222-5564.
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