Status Florida: Can we win it (again)?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

Can we win Florida? I am very concerned about Florida for 3 reasons:

1. This AARP endorsed Drug Benefit issue may lose us some critical support in a critical constituency.

2. A lot of Jewish voters are happy Saddam is gone, and despite Dean's wife being Jewish, his less than hawkish stance on Iraq is sure to lose him some support there.

3. I understand most of the voters unjustly removed from the rolls by Choice Point are not yet restored, and that is a HUGE cause for concern no matter who is nominated. Also there's that worrisome electronic voting thing.

And then there's Jeb getting re-elected- favorite son status blah blah blah... I am not optimistic- even if we nominate the Bunyanesque Dean.

[quinnox]

1. Depends on the nominee

If it is Dean, forget about it.

If it is Clark or Edwards, it is very possible.

[cjbuchanan]

2. I think each one of them has a chance

I think it will be harder this time around because the Repugs are going to pull every dirty trick out of the bag as early as possible. Last I heard, they are still doing the scrub list. I'm going to guess they will add as many times as possible to it.

That said, it can be done, but we will have to run a very efficient campaign to do it.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. a "new" scrublist

good god you are right- playing catch up on their dirty tricks is futile. They got away with it once- what's to stop them again?
I am afraid Florida is a write off- unless Graham is on the ticket.

[mopinko]

4. if dems grow a spine

i am still, STILL pissed of that there was not an uprising in 2002. what the hell happened? if harris could get elected, i think it looks bleak.

[jumptheshadow]

5. Some points

1) The AARP may have endorsed something, but that doesn't mean seniors are happy with Bushco (or the AARP, for that matter). I've heard a lot of complaints from older people about the diminishing quality of Medicare since Bush took office. This will be the central issue, not the AARP.

2) You're assuming that Dean is going to be the nominee. He will be weaker in Florida than Clark, who has a greater number of natural constituencies there. Dean has a shot at winning the nomination, but one lead in New Hampshire (a neighboring state) and two union endorsements do not make a nomination.

If Clark runs, we have a great shot at picking up Florida.

3) Has there been any media coverage at all about the voter rolls in Florida? This should be a major cause for our party.

Does anybody know what the registration rules are in Florida. Is it easy for transients to register? Somebody in the state told me it is. She might be wrong, but if it's true then I'm concerned.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. The fact Jeb was re-elected speaks volumes

If voter anger couldn't turn him out then- I don't see how it will be re-kindled 4 years later.

[sventvkg]

7. I am from Palm Beach County FL and was there in 2000..

In civilized place like Palm Beach County, to some extent Broward and Dade, Jeb is not liked..He didn't win in the election. IT's just that most of FL is backwoods Bible Belt prime Redneck GOP territory. These are the people who voted Jeb back in even though it was public about him canceling their drug prescription plans!!!! Poor Poor misguided old people down there..Some of them have seen the err their ways and say they will NOT vote for George next year as a result. However, I feel the Brainwashed Majority of Rednecks will still vote GOP..We did win FL in 2000 as a whole on the Presidential level so that is encourageing, and I dont' think Jeb can pull off the kind of voter tampering that happened last time. So on the Governer level, I'm still pessimistic, but we DID have a record Democrat turn out in last years election to try to outst Bush and the level of anger against George has only increased. I think we will see a record voter turnout on both sides and I feel the election could be as close as it was percieved to be in 2000. I feel we can win FL however. That's my analysis!

[Bombtrack]

8. Only with Edwards or Clark or Kerry/Graham

Lieberman could also but we all know he won't get the nom in any scenario

It's doable.