Why are Dems just giving up on the Senate Race in Fla? Kendrick Meeks?

[LeftyAndProud60]

He's the best we can do down there? Rubio is going to kill him

[JCMach1]

1. Who else are you going to recruit for this? Seriously!?!

Many Dems feel Crist will be hard to beat in any general election there, so most are not running.

Alex Sink (the CFO) who might have been tapped as she is the only Democratic Statewide office holder is running for Governor.

I think dems are thinking it a trade-off. Slide Crist into Martinez's seat and Sink has a really good chance to beat that toad, McCollum (a perennial Republican LOSER).

[LeftyAndProud60]

2. Rubio looks like he will beat Crist in the primary. Rubio can be defeated in a statewide election

IMO

[JCMach1]

3. I am skeptical... Crist has never lost a statewide election.

Will be bloody though.

Don't rule Meeks out of it... stranger things have happened. Although in an off-year election?

[LeftyAndProud60]

16. I think Crist would destroy someone in a state wide election, but a GOP primary? He's toast. nt

[KharmaTrain]

4. Would Crist Flip?

This primary sure looks bloody and Rubio's been gaining momentum and has the faux propaganda machine going for him 24/7. I'm not that impressed with Meeks...just the name makes one doubt his abilities. I wonder if Crist loses in the primary if he'll switch parties and run as a Democrat? Seems he's too "moderate" for the modern day GOOP and couldn't be any more "conservative" than a Ben Nelson.

[SteveM]

5. In the far reaches of my mind, that possibility exists...

Crist would have a good opportunity to make the jump if he works out a deal with Obama to get the Haitian "impact" funding Florida needs. Florida ain't Texas, having a diverse population of immigrants, retirees and a strong populist streak which Democrats seem to have turned away from in their quest for the mediocre center. As an example, Meeks has one big problem dragging after him like a bad fart:





Gun-control.

[KharmaTrain]

7. Very Good Points...

We're seeing here several external factors at play that are working against Democrats. Some may hate to admit it, but it's not moving further left but trying to grab the center to prevent the GOOP from making big gains in November. You bring up one big negative for Meeks; especially in the northern reaches of the state and I can also see a depressed black vote (many aren't too happy with President Obama's lack of action on the economy and reigning in the banks...as well as not standing up to the non-stop attacks on ACORN and the GOOP blaming the economic mess on low cost Fannie and Freddie loans). Meeks just doesn't seem to light a fire...and will be hard-pressed to fight a well funded and high profile challenger. Crist could be a real game changer here...while his hug with President Obama would hurt him in the GOOP primary, it could also help his bona fides with Democrats should he flip and frame Rubio as an estremist...with plenty of money and ammo to do it.

[unabelladonna]

8. being a recent transplant from the north

i've noticed that the retirees and populists don't care about the impact funds, they just don't want migration by haitians. check every LTTE and "comments" sections in local papers. it's a lose/lose proposition for the politicians.

[SteveM]

12. That's definitely one outlook, however...

the point is that Florida is a "nation of immigrants" which leavens the state to a great degree, making it less "Southern" than other states in many ways. The "populism" I speak of is broader than "migration by Haitians," it is a more sympathetic ear to economic justice, esp. social security, retirement benefits and health care. Is it San Francisco or Ann Arbor? No. But it isn't Texas.

My family "transplanted" to Florida in the late 1850s.

[peekaloo]

6. or a Bill Nelson for that matter.

Rubio's been MIA since the Bullet Train announcement. Seems he'd be front and center with the condemnation of Big Gubmint money but he's been quieter than a fish fart.

[Dappleganger]

9. I dunno, they act like we don't even exist.

:shrug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Same problem here in Kansas

It certainly doesn't help that leadership of our state party is dysfunctional.

But the DNC has given up on both our US Senate race and one of our congressional races (which is currently held by a blue dog who is retiring).

It's especially frustrating because Tim Kaine is from here. We didn't see Howard Dean give up on Vermont. Damn it.

[Dappleganger]

11. It's like the only time they pay attention is during national elections.

Hell, we have fucking ALAN GRAYSON down here...don't drop the ball!

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Howard Dean was the first DNC chair to open an office in my district!

Of course it is closed now so we are on our own in building our party.

[iceman66]

14. I've been wondering that for months!

An open seat in a state that Obama won should not just be written off.

If Howard Dean were still running the DNC this would not be happening!

[LeftyAndProud60]

15. Meeks seems like a nice guy, but he really doesn't stand out at all. I forgot Grayson was in FL.

Make it interesting and get that guy. The debates alone w/ him vs Rubio would be must see tv.