That was the marketing theme that Florida used several years ago to lure vacationers to the Sunshine State. It could apply just as well to today's political environment in Florida.
Florida is the state where Mark Foley (R FL-16), who resigned from Congress amidst allegations of pedophilia, had been the chair of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children.
Florida is the state where the Republican Party, the Party of family values, has nominated Charlie Crist, single, childless (?) and whispered to be gay candidate for Governor.
Florida is the state where the Republican nominee for the U.S Senate, Katherine Harris, is alternately known as Cruella DeVille, Kooky Katherine, or Representative A
Maybe we should just steal the Las Vegas motto, What Happens in Florida...
Follow along with me for "what a long, strange trip it's been" in Florida
The recent
resignation of Republican Congressman Mark Foley (FL-16) is just the latest in the strange, twisting story that has been Florida politics in the last several years. Florida has been on
path from blue to red to purple and (hopefully) to blue again over the last 14 years. The lowlight of that journey was the infamous 2000 election.
Now, six years later, Florida has again become the center of attention in another less than flattering fashion. But the Foley affair may have a silver lining for Florida. Ever the optimist, I among beginning to "see blue skies smiling at me, nothing but sunshine do I see."
In 2006 Florida will be electing a US Senator, a new Governor and 25 representatives to the US House of Representatives.
In the Senate race, Bill Nelson seems to be coasting to reelection over Katherine Harris, who has been linked to the Duke Cunningham scandal, and whose campaign has been imploding..
In the Governor's race, Democratic nominee Jim Davis, is facing off against Republican State Attorney General Charlie Crist. Davis, currently the Congressman from Fl-09, is facing an uphill battle to succeed term limited Jeb Bush. Davis, married to his first and only wife and the father of two children is facing Crist, single and childless,in a state where education is the top issue. The race had been shown as close, but two recent polls indicated that Crist is opening up a lead over Davis. Crist, enjoying the usual republican fund raising advantage, has been on the air non stop since the primary election on September 5th. Davis has yet to go up. But another recent poll shows that Davis has the opportunity to close the gap, because he is on the same side of the issues as a majority of Florida voters. And in yet another strange twist of Florida politics, Crist is alternatively fighting off rumors of being gay while also being accused as the father of an illegitimate child.
Until the resignation of Foley, Florida had a legitimate chance to pick up three Republican held seats in the Congressional races. Now that number has climbed to four. FL-16, which had been a safe Republican seat, is now looking more likely to go blue. Democrat Tim Mahoney is now being described as"the luckiest politician on the planet".
Fl-22 held by Republican Clay Shaw has been long predicted to be one of the fiercest contests in the country. Democratic challenger
State Senator Ron Klein, has the resources and political skills to give Shaw fits.
The race to replace Katherine Harris in FL-13 is surreally competitive. In a district where Democrats barely outnumber independents, Christine Jennings has a stunning 8 point lead over Republican nominee Vern Buchanan. Jennings, a retired banker and local civic leader has benefited from being on the Red to Blue list and the bruising Republican primary battle, where millionaire car dealer Buchanan's warts were exposed.
And in FL-09, Phyllis Busansky, also on the Red to Blue List, has been running a strong campaign. This is for the seat left open by the retirement of 24 year veteran Congressman Mike Billirakis. The Republican nominee is Gus Billirakis, son of the retiring Congressman. Busansky has recently launched an aggressive TV ad highlighting another serious issue for Floridians, home owners insurance. This is a great example of how Democrats can go toe to toe with Republicans on local issues in what in other years Dems haven't done, and in a year where the Dem strategy has been to nationalize the election.
Florida is looking like it will easily keep the US Senate seat which had been the number one target of the Republican Senate Campaign Committee. Democrats have a legitimate shot at the Governors mansion for the first time in 8 long years, And, in the Congressional races, Florida may pick up four of the 15 seats needed to regain control of the House.
Florida, the rules are definitely different here.