http://www.sptimes.com/2006/03/12/State/Democratic_rivals_dis.shtmlDemocratic rivals display a lesson in being gracious
By Times staff writers
Published March 12, 2006
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More than 150 Democratic activists turned out for a Democracy For America candidate forum Friday night in Largo featuring Democratic gubernatorial candidates Jim Davis and Rod Smith. They saw something unusual: Democratic rivals trying to avoid a circular firing squad.
U.S. Rep. Davis is taking heat for supporting the Patriot Act and missing a key vote extending it, while state Sen. Smith says he opposed the original Patriot Act as infringing too much on civil liberties. But when a heckler started yelling at Davis for his Patriot Act position, Smith jumped into the fray and won roaring applause.
"I hope we avoid a very destructive and rancorous primary because we've got a chance this time to win. I promise you this: I'm going to try to stay on the issues," the underdog state senator said. "There'll be votes congressman Davis took that (I) won't like, and there will be votes Rod Smith has taken that he (Davis) won't like. But ... I hope that in the end, we're not going to poke at one another when all that will do is do what we've been doing in much of America - and that's elect Republicans."
Smith, the Tallahassee politician, doesn't completely avoid jabs at Davis, the Washington politician. Recalling a Davis line about the need for "adult supervision" in Tallahassee, Smith said, "If Tallahassee needs adult supervision, Washington needs a spanking."
:applause: :woohoo: