Lenny Curry, New Florida GOP Chairman: Electability 'Matters' In Presidential Primary (VIDEO)

ORLANDO -- The new chairman of the Florida Republican Party said voters in the Sunshine state are paying close attention to which GOP presidential nominee has the best shot of beating President Obama, and that electability is a top criteria in picking a candidate.

"It matters. Republicans, Independents and frustrated Democrats want to get rid of President Obama," said Lenny Curry, a 41-year-old business consultant from Jacksonville who has never held political office and was elected chairman of the party Friday night.

"I came into this opportunity under unfortunate circumstances. The former chairman, Dave Bittner, who was a friend and mentor, lost his battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. He asked the committee -- he endorsed me prior to him passing -- it was his intention that they would support me," Curry told The Huffington Post.

Electability has been one of the top arguments made by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for why he should be the party's nominee.

Curry was already on message in predicting, probably accurately, that Florida will play a significant role in the nominating process.

"Whoever wins Florida, I believe, will go on to be our nominee," he said.

Florida has not set a primary date yet but is expected to go fifth in the process, making it a crucial contest for the Republican candidates.

Curry understandably soft-pedaled when asked to weigh in on what Florida Republicans were saying about Texas Gov. Rick Perry's debate performance in Orlando on Thursday night. Party chairmen are expected to remain neutral, and Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) is a strong supporter of Perry's, though he has not made an endorsement.

"The presidential process is intentionally long," Curry said. "It's grueling. And that's intentional, and it's good for our country because it's not based on one good performance or one ok performance."

"You know you can't be a rock star for a day or have a bad day. It's long and it's grueling and it's about consistency. So I think all of our candidates did a good job at the debate. Some will have better days and nights than others. One will emerge victorious based on consistency," he said.

 

 

Comments

[psbintl]

11:52 AM on 09/26/2011

A question to all the members of the Tea Party posting here:

Why do you all claim to be patriotic Americans when you all support politician­s who, for the last three-plus years have done everything they could to obstruct this POTUS from helping the American people who are hurting right now. Yet you continue to collect and spend your own welfare and Medicare checks?!!

How is that being Patriotic?! How is that being American?!­!

Please explain!!

[Scott EngageAmerica]

10:13 AM on 09/26/2011

Perhaps if the presidential process wasn't so intentionally long and grueling, there would be more of an effort to actually govern and fix our nations problems instead of constantly campaigning for the next election.

[den1953]

09:28 AM on 09/26/2011

This must be why every Floridian with in earshot wants Governor Scott out of office he must be very well liked, the GOP in Florida is delusional!

[watoos013]

08:51 AM on 09/26/2011

Whoever Rove picks will be the nominee and Repubs will follow like lemmings.

[astro314]

07:52 AM on 09/26/2011

another nobody making rash statements

[Kiranitisme]

06:33 AM on 09/26/2011

How many voted in this "straw" poll and what is the total electorate population of Florida?

[sinnet1954]

06:58 AM on 09/26/2011

About 2700 voting in the straw poll and approximately 14.5M eligible voters in FL.

[Kiranitisme]

06:31 AM on 09/26/2011

So "electability" is the main platform and not the economy, jobs and infrastructure!

[centsable]

07:08 AM on 09/26/2011

A no brainer, even the RNC can't see these candidates winning, hence the begging for Chris Cristy to enter the race....who wisely says no.

[bmike]

01:25 AM on 09/26/2011

Many republicans are in shock after Cains win. Many Democrats are in shock seeing Cain win in a southern state.We may need to see Cain birth certificate to see if he is really black.

[Teeninchee]

08:47 AM on 09/26/2011

I don't think Florida considers itself a "Southern" state, though.

[Mausinn]

01:11 AM on 09/26/2011

If electability is the top priority for their choice, then why are they pushing so hard for Christie?

[radiodog]

01:01 AM on 09/26/2011

I am bummed. If the Republicans actually begin to worry about electability, this will not be nearly as entertaining.

[Sparkle125]

12:45 AM on 09/26/2011

Don't assume independents want to get rid of President Obama. Don't assume frustrated Democrats want to get rid of President Obama. I am an independent and there is not a single candidate on the other side I would vote for, even though Mitt Romney may be a fine candidate -- and Buddy Roemer may be an excellent candidate. The activist tea party is unlikely to give the nod to either of these sensible candidates. The reason I will not vote for any of them is they would still have to deal with the crazy-stubborn, "total destruction", needless "stupid-oath taking" bunch in the House and Senate. At least President Obama is now on to them as incapable of non-partisan action. As a second term president, he will have the American peoples' vote of confidence, and the GOTP will know the country supports him more than them.

[BBrianCC]

12:08 AM on 09/26/2011

Why is that gold tie of his SO LONG? (compensation maybe?)

[WalkForward]

12:08 AM on 09/26/2011

Oh yeah because the current candidates have a real chance of winning a national election.. *wink*

[OhMyBoehner]

11:25 PM on 09/25/2011

There goes the florida streak of always picking the next president cuz it's NOT going to be the pizza dude!

[OhMyBoehner]

10:50 PM on 09/25/2011

Okay - well if Lenny is right - CAIN will be our next president!

There goes that Florida streak!