It's an open question how much of a difference endorsements can make, especially for president, but the farther downballot you go the more crucial they can be in a close race. So, I wanted to point these slightly surprising endorsements of Democratic House race challengers out since I haven't seen any other mention of them.
Before all that, let me draw some attention to this very positive diary: Early turnout in FL is very encouraging. So, with Sunshine State Democrats energized and good buzz and a bit of luck mingled with a healthy dose of skill, maybe we'll be ousting these two wingnuts (including Jeb! flunky Cruella).
So, here they are:
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune has endorsed dKos Dozen alum Jan Schneider over Cruella de Harris!
Harris veered far to the right
Yet, the higher Harris has climbed in politics, the farther she has veered toward the right wing of the Republican Party -- and away from the moderate values of her constituents. Many people sensed this in 2002, when more than 45 percent of the voters in the Republican-dominated district backed her Democratic opponent, Jan Schneider.
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Yet, Harris' votes and actions as a member of Congress show that she has left the mainstream and embraced the right-wing policies of the Bush administration and the House leadership. For example:
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Most troubling of all was her behavior at an August meeting with Republicans in Venice. In stating her support for the president's policies, she told a secondhand story of a terrorism threat in Indiana. But no Indiana or federal officials will confirm the story. It is either false or contains sensitive information that authorities didn't want revealed. Harris later said she "had no knowledge of the sensitive nature of this situation."
In a time of war and terrorism, a person without such knowledge or sensitivity should not be serving in Congress.
Schneider's talent and skills
Jan Schneider, while no match for Harris as a politician, has demonstrated that she has the talent, skills and experience to represent this district in Congress.
Schneider is a successful, Ivy League-educated attorney and author with a background in international and environmental law. She's worked extensively in Washington, advising clients on issues and legislation before Congress.
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Schneider puts special emphasis on seniors' issues, such as health care, and vows to emulate former Florida Rep. Claude Pepper as an advocate for the elderly.
Schneider opposes all the stands by Harris cited above, and has tried to run an issues-oriented campaign, while Harris has relied largely upon a barrage of negative ads.
Harris' votes and actions demonstrate that she's lost touch with the voters of the 13th District. It's time for those voters to bring her back to earth.
We recommend Jan Schneider for U.S. House of Representatives.
The other big local endorsement for a Dem challenger is from the GOP-friendly Orlando Sentinel, that very much to my surprise has endorsed Robert Whittel (D) against Ginny Brown-Waite (R) in the fifth district.
Republican Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville won one of the most closely watched congressional races in the country when she defeated incumbent Democrat Karen Thurman two years ago in Florida's 5th Congressional District. But Ms. Brown-Waite has been a disappointment in office.
While usually moving in lock step with her party, Ms. Brown-Waite has made exceptions when she could score cheap political points. For example, she voted against President George W. Bush's AIDS initiative for Africa, and she opposes his guest-worker program for immigrants.
And in an embarrassing bid to capitalize on public anger at France over its opposition to the Iraq war, Ms. Brown-Waite proposed letting families disinter and bring home the remains of U.S. soldiers from French cemeteries at U.S. government expense.
Ms. Brown-Waite's opponent, Robert Whittel of Brooksville, lacks her political experience. But Mr. Whittel, a lawyer, has reasonable, moderate views on issues. He would be a good fit for the district, which covers all or parts of eight west and Central Florida counties including Lake, Sumter and Polk.
The Sentinel endorses Robert Whittel in the 5th District.
It's not the most detailed or glowing endorsement, but it sure drew my notice to this under-the-radar contest. I don't know if Robert Whittel has a real chance, but Brown-Waite only won with 47.9% to 46.2% in the very good Republican year of 2002, so maybe this is a dark-horse upset in the making. Either way, the Sentinel endorsement can't hurt!