Gore's remarks are death blow for Penelas' bid

[Scurrilous]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/8864746.htm

<snip>

"Is it too late to draft Al Gore for president?

Calling Alex Penelas "the single most treacherous and dishonest person I dealt with during the campaign anywhere in America," the former vice president has not only gut-shot Penelas' senate campaign but in all likelihood ended the political career of our ambitious mayor.
And it's not because Gore's words are so harsh. It's because they're true."

<snip>

"Raul Martinez believes the real reason Penelas abandoned Gore is that he cut a deal with leading Republicans earlier in the year. The Republicans wouldn't support Penelas' main rival in the mayoral election -- Republican Miguel Diaz de la Portilla -- and in return, Penelas would steer clear of the presidential election.

Penelas has always had an alliance with Dade Republicans and has even raised money for them. But in 2000, he crossed the line.

"I'm just surprised Al Gore hadn't said anything until now about it," said Martinez, a Democrat who has yet to endorse anyone in the Senate race. "This kills Alex. The hard-core Democratic voters who are going to vote on August 31 are not going to vote for him. Whatever inroads Alex made over the last year to win them back have just been lost."

[bluestateguy]

1. Mixed opinions

While I am glad that Gore torpedoed Alex Penelas, I hope that the Cubans don't decide to take it out on the eventual Democratic nominee or on John Kerry. We'll see.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. There may yet be a Cuban-American who they can vote for

Unfortunately, he is a Republican.

[Racenut20]

2. Another "Goring"

The person who ran such an enept campaign and gave away a gimmie Presidency, has now done his best to hand the Florida Senate seat to Republicans. This a Presidential candidate who couldn't carry his home state (not that he actually had one)

[democrat in Tallahassee]

3. betty castor can win that seat, i wasn't going to vote for

ole alex anyway. This is not the first time I've heard this.

[Devil Dog Dem]

4. Needed to be done!

Dems like Penelas need to have this done to them so they realize there will be repercussions for their acts of treason.

I support Gore on this.

[Scurrilous]

6. I agree,,,

...I think Gore said what needed to be said.

[Bombtrack]

7. Jim Defede continues to show what a hack he is.

This is what demagogues do. They decide who they want to demonize, and they devote themselves to never printing one word about a person that isn't spun in a comic-book-villain-like negative light. Penelas told my political science class that the reason Defede holds a grudge against him is his turning down of a 2 page /interview profile during his first mayoral run. You can believe him or not, but let's let the printed words speak for themselves. Defede is a bloated blowhard.