Well thank you, Daily Kos, for completely neglecting Florida's primary battle yesterday (with it;'s record low turnout, helped along by taking place during the dog days of summer and a political convention) on the front page.
Whatever the case, the two major congressional battles in the Tampa Bay metro area were finalized with yesterdays results. One is an utter shocker (or should be seen as such) to the establishment as well as the punditry. The other was evidence of sound efforts and voters putting their best foot forward in the district in the upcoming November general election.
We'll start with Florida's 9th congressional district and I am trying to figure out the best way to term this: Was it John Dicks loss or Bill Mitchell's win? John Dicks, the former Plant City mayor, has been trumpeted by the DCCC and made to look like a shoe-in to win. With stuffed coffers and with name recognition in Hillsborough county, Dicks moving on to the general election versus Gus Bilirakis seemed inevitable. Mitchell, running once again in the district (he had challenged 2 years ago but ended up dropping out in the name of unity behind Phyllis Busansky), had generated more enthusiasm among the activist base however.
The result was a race split evenly, three ways, as of at one point (33/33/32) among Dicks, Mitchell and Anita de Palma.
And, of this morning, a narrow victory by Mitchell.
I had posted a diary here at Daily Kos about the complacency in my precinct by all 3 candidates yesterday. I feel that was very much part of the reason the race was so tight. Though the voter turnout statewide was one of the lowest on record, a lack of outreach to the voters in the way of signage and mailers made them forgettable.
Meanwhile, the race in Florida's 10th congressional district (taking up much of Pinellas County, including the beaches and St. Petersburg), Dunedin Mayor Bob Hackworth won handily on Tuesday night. He faces off against C.W. "Bill" Young (he of pork and Walter Reed fame). His contest was fought against 2006 challenger Samm Simpson and her loyal base of supporters, as well as versus Max Linn (with his dubious credentials of being a former Republican, Reform Party member, Gubernatorial candidate and labeled as self-serving).
Hackworth's credit was he was the most even keel of the field, with experience in elected office as well as a moderate to progressive record serving as Dunedin mayor (a non partisan office). This can serve him well in the general, but it's an uphill climb running against the local political standard-bearer in Bill Young, who is respected by both parties locally. Crossing Young is not seen as advisable to some, politically, as Young's pork handouts may go elsewhere instead of to the disloyal.
Help support both these candidates now! Bill Mitchell has a long, hard road to climb in a very red district versus a weak-yet-entrenched congressman in Gus Bilirakis. Contribute now!
Bob Hackworth is in a purple district and needs your support in order to launch a fight against Bill Young.