Florida's Upbeat Democratic Delegation

Florida Democrats -- accustomed to being in the political spotlight since 2000 when they believe they really elected Al Gore President -- are getting used to be playing second banana -- still clinging to the hope they will play a major 27-electoral-vote role in an Obama 2008 victory but vastly confident that they -- for the first time in many years -- will elect a Congressional delegation with a huge state-wide victory.

Karen Thurman, of Orlando, the State's Democratic party chief, is among the main cheerleaders, despite the fact the Florida delegation to the Denver nominating convention goes to the Mile High City with only half a vote per delegate and being housed in suburban hotels far from the convention action at the downtown Pepsi Center, which will be near housing temporarily occupied by early Obama victory states.

Nevertheless, there is a whole lot of confidence among the Florida Denver-trekkers, anxious to show the nation (and their home base) that the Sunshine State could pick up as many as seven Congressional seats in November. A variety of polls and election sampling are being cited for the buoyancy.

Meanwhile, Sen. Barack Obama's Campaign for Change opened its Florida headquarters to the public this week. Central operations and senior staff members for Obama for America and Obama's Campaign for Change will be based in the office, which is located at Tampa's Ybor City neighborhood. Florida Campaign Director Steven Schale will lead Obama's efforts in the state.

The Campaign for Change is a project of the Florida Democratic Party, led by top staffers who will work to harness the enthusiasm of Obama's grassroots-level supporters and organize them in communities across Florida -- "neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend and colleague to colleague" -- working for the benefit of Democratic candidates up and down the ticket.

The location of the headquarters in the old-fashioned, historic Latino neighborhood, was significant, staffers are telling everyone. The latest polls among Hispanics in Florida from the latest Quinnipiac University swing state poll taken on June 18 show a slight edge for Obama but 8 percent "undecided."

But, as close as the presidential poll is, in at least seven key contests playing out across the Sunshine State, Florida has emerged as the top battle ground for House races in the 2008 election cycle.

According to Eric Jotkoff, Democratic State Headquarters Communications Director, today Democrats in key Congressional races have announced that their campaigns have raised more money than Republican incumbents. Combined with the fact that new voter registration numbers show an overwhelmingly large swing towards the Democratic party, "these figures prove that Democratic momentum is sweeping the state heading into the height of campaign season."

"With at least seven key campaigns, Florida has emerged as the top battle ground... And now, many of our Democratic challengers have once again out-raised their Republican opponents. It's not rocket science -- it simply proves that Floridians are fed up with the Republican party and will do what it takes to bring change, by electing Democrats in November."

Miami Republican incumbents fared particularly poorly, being out raised by all three Democratic challengers. Former Hialeah Mayor/Democrat Raul Martinez raised more than $600,000, compared to GOP's Lincoln Diaz-Balart's $481,558. Democrat Annette Taddeo raised $321,000, as opposed to Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's $300,929, and popular former Miami-Dade Dem party leader Joe Garcia raised $513,049 against Republican Mario Diaz-Balart's $392,103.

Even in the critical I-4 corridor of Central Florida (crisscrossing Orlando to Tampa), Republicans are showing signs of weakness. Last week, it was reported that Suzanne Kosmas out raised the GOP's Tom Feeney for the third quarter in a row and has $140,000 more cash on hand than Feeney. "Now we learn that Feeney was forced to spend $45,000 on legal bills last quarter because of his ties to convicted felon Jack Abramoff," Democrats bragged.

Adam Putnam, a top member of the Republican leadership, admitted that his fellow House Republican Ric Keller is also vulnerable, and the numbers agree: Keller was out-raised by the combined total of his opponents by nearly $70,000.

"We have out-registered Republicans by more than 100,000 new voters since January," said Jotkoff, "And our phones have been ringing off the hook with people wanting to volunteer. Floridians are enthusiastic about the change that the November elections are going to bring."

Big oil has also played a new role in the election year battle, Lifting a ban on offshore drilling will not bring down gas prices or solve the nation's addiction to oil, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Thursday, rebuking a proposal supported by his party's presidential nominee and his host, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist.

Politicians have been throwing out all kinds of ideas in response to skyrocketing fuel prices, from rethinking nuclear power to allowing offshore drilling, Schwarzenegger said at a climate change summit hosted by Crist.

"But anyone who tells you that (offshore drilling) will bring down our gas prices immediately or anytime soon is blowing smoke. America is so addicted to oil that it will take years to wean ourselves from it. Finding new ways to feed our addiction is not the answer," he said.

Dems say that the comments highlight the distance between Schwarzenegger and Republican nominee John McCain on energy policy. The governor spoke at an energy panel with McCain in California on Tuesday, but he didn't mention drilling.

And while Crist and Schwarzenegger have worked together on addressing climate change, Crist recently changed his mind to support offshore drilling. The Florida governor has been mentioned as a possible running mate for McCain, but says his change of heart has more to do with the economy.

Meanwhile, Floridians prepare to head to the Denver convention -- assured of a big lead in Congressional support, a keen hope that Florida will once again go blue, and mindful that even half a vote per delegate in a distant suburban hotel (mild punishment for having an early primary), will still put them in the action line of delivering a huge chunk of electoral votes in November.

Comments

[Deaninphilly]

Mr. Levitt, has someone in Florida myself I have a couple things to note. If the O campaign was trying to get the hispanic vote placing the headquarters in Ybor city is the last place to do it. You should know that Tampa has one of the lowest hispanic populations. Orlando has a larger population than Tampa. If the campaign was going after the hispanic population than Miami would be the place to do it.

Additionally Florida has always had more republicans than democrats located within the state. The major block was that most of these democrats were seasonal residents thereby leaving the state in republican control. What has shifted is that many people have made Florida their permanent residence and are now legally allowed to vote in the state.

I also don't know which circles of democrats you are moving with, but the bitterness towards the DNC to only count half the votes is still not sitting well with many. Many are supporting their local and state dems to gain control of the state but are not sending any money to the DNC.

[InfosolutionWiz]

I DISAGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS That many people are still bitter over the half vote!!!!!

I LIVE IN BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA, Coral Springs to be exact, and I can Testify With Tremendous Accuracy That "THE TIDE IS TURNING" Towards Democrat in This State.

As a matter of fact I am confident Sen. Obama will win this sate very easily if he goes on a quick 3 or 4 day bus tour.

MOST HISPANICS IN MIAMI ARE CUBANS WHO TEND TO VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY Republican, due to the fact that they do not have Immigration Struggles like Hispanics from other parts of the world. A Cuban is guranteed a Green Card once he or she foot touches dry land in the united states or its territories.

OBAMA WON MIAMI DADE COUNTY OVERWHELMINGLY IN THE Primaries out pacing even the votes John McBush receive from that county in the Republican primaries!!!

[Deaninphilly]

Yes, Cubans are the majority in south Florida and Puerto Ricans and South Americans are about split in Central Florida. You're point? That is exactly what I stated in my post, so I don't see what your arguing about.

You state you live in Broward and "the tide is turning", meaning what? You just proved my point by your own words that people are still bitter at the DNC. Perhaps you didn't fully read what I wrote, people can and do show bitterness towards the DNC while still supporting the local and state Democrats. You apparently failed to read and comprehend that part.

You also failed to read and comprehend where I stated why this state is turning democratic in status.

Please do read and comprehend before posting. Your own words show you did not disagree but validated my points. Additionally writing in CAPS does not make your point any more valid.

[soithoni]

Thank you Florida!!

We've missed you!!

Be sure to say "kissy-kissy" to Kathryn ("Chad") Harris!!

[colette]

Once again, this is news we are not hearing anywhere but from citizen journalists. So sick of listening to CNN and other news operations burble on about how "risky" Obama's trip to Iraq is (what if he didn't go? would that be LESS risky?), and how people still hate his wife, why he & McSame are still close in the national polling, etc. blah blah.

Here we have real news in Florida, which according to conventional wisdom, has a Demo party all pissed off because Hillary's straw votes weren't gospel. And guess what? under the radar, off the bus, whatever you call it, the Demos are thriving.

I'm praying and guessing that come election eve, a lot of the mainstream TV pundits are going to be amazed at the strength of Obama & his coat-tails......

[Ron333wood]

I don't understand why Florida De,pcrats are sttill being punished for what the Republican controlled state government did. I don't think that this election will be close enough for the Republicans to "steal" another election and it's going to take years to restore our economy, national prestige and reputation with other nations after the debacle known as "BUSH". I don't want to even think about how long it will take to repair the damage to the environmetn and change the American dependence on oil. Obama will have his work cut out for him and it's going to take some sacrifice to create a habitable planet for our great, great grandchildren.

[grumpygranny66]

Way to go Florida, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK...

[grumpygranny66]

Way to go Florida, just goes to show what you can accomplish when you unite your forces together.

I hope ALL your Democratic Challenger's win in November. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!!!!!!!

Just wished PUMA, and the others would come to their senses and unite. However, it's not too late for them to change their minds.

[CEPHALUS]

Puma is a republican organizati­on,registe­red to a republican operative,don't be fool by their misleading post.
Now ignore and forget them!