Florida Pot Vote Seen Helping Democrat Become Governor

[Purveyor]

By Toluse Olorunnipa - Jan 14, 2014

The pot vote may decide the Florida governor’s race.

Democratic operatives are pushing a statewide referendum on medical marijuana that Republican Governor Rick Scott’s supporters say threatens to tilt the race against him. State Republicans have filed a legal challenge to keep the referendum off the ballot.

Democrats and marijuana activists across the country are monitoring Florida’s quest to become the first state in the South to legalize some marijuana use, watching to see if the issue has a spillover effect that may offer a blueprint for the 2016 elections.

“It’s an issue that the Democrats can use to pump up the youth vote,” said Alex Patton, a Republican political consultant and pollster based in Gainesville, Florida. “The politics of it are dangerous for the GOP.”

In previous elections, Republicans benefited from social issues being on the ballot. During President George W. Bush’s re-election campaign in 2004, 11 states voted on gay marriage bans. Karl Rove, Bush’s top strategist, denied engineering the ballot drives, while acknowledging the importance of social issues in fueling Republican turnout.

The architect of Florida’s medical marijuana initiative, Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, employs Charlie Crist, 57, the leading Democratic candidate for Florida governor, and serves as an adviser. No Democrat has won a governor’s race in Florida since 1994. Crist held the office for four years, ending in 2011, as a Republican. He later switched parties.

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-14/florida-pot-vote-seen-helping-democrat-become-governor.html

[packman]

1. If passed, it would open a new career for me

Making a buck out of dregs of weed

http://digg.com/video/dumpster-diving-for-weed

[djean111]

2. One can only hope. Anyway, I will be voting for Crist. Or whoever.

That's pretty much my voting these days - which one is the least bad. The enthusiasm days are history.
In this case, easy choice.

[VanillaRhapsody]

3. Florida is just mad that Colorado is stealing its Tourism mojo!

there is one way to fight Colorado Florida....but do you dare?

[TeamPooka]

4. win win