The Miami Herald and the Orlando Sentinel are both reporting that State Senator and former federal prosecutor Dan Gelber will enter the open U.S. Senate in Florida tomorrow. Gelber was widely expected to join the race in December, but delayed his decision when the state's CFO Alex Sink suggested that she was re-considering a bid for the seat, saying that he did not want to run against a friend.
So, why is Dan Gelber the best choice for Florida?
Gelber's statewide name ID might not be at the same level as some of the other candidates, though in fairness, none of the candidates have much name ID at this point, and name ID in January 2007 means virtually nothing for an August primary and November general election. For proof, just look at Alex Sink's name ID when she started in 2005 when she decided to run statewide, or Bob Graham or Lawton Chiles in their first races. What is important is who can motivate the base, yet still win those critical voters on the I-4 corridor.
Gelber is a progressive at heart. As a state legislator, he has been a non-stop champion for for a fairer tax system, and led the way in October 2008 to get early voting hours extended in Florida, a move widely credited in aiding Barack Obama's big win in Florida. In fact, the early voting debate shows a clear distinction between how the two current Democratic candidates for the United States Senate operate. While Congressman Meek called a press conference to complain about early voting lines, Dan Gelber researched the issue, then picked up the phone and called Charlie Crist and actually did something to get voting hours extended.
But what makes Gelber's candidacy most compelling up-state and mid-state is his life before elected office, spending nearly ten years as a federal prosecutor, and another three serving as a chief investigator in the United States Senate for Senator Sam Nunn, working on anti-terrorism and anti-weapons of mass destruction legislation. In a center to center-right state like Florida, it is important to be seen as a centrist to win in swing counties and among independents, and regardless of how progressive one might be, it is awfully hard to bash a guy who put corrupt politicians, drug dealers and civil rights violators in jail as anything outside the mainstream.
He is also a man who is rooted in community service, continuing to serve as a Big Brother mentor even after getting elected to public office, as well as helping a number of other charities.
Some ask how a Miami state legislator can put together a statewide winning campaign. Well, one only needs to look at the two year cycle that Dan Gelber ran as the House Democratic Leader, when he led his caucus to wins all across Florida. This is a guy who understands the terrain of Florida, knows its corners and folds and how to tailor a message that can resonate across regional boundaries. It doesn't hurt that he was a relatively early Obama endorser, and regular on the campaign trail, giving him a chance to get to know the grassroots leaders of the Obama movement.
As Howie Klein wrote on the Huffington Post today, "Dan's entire career as a legislator has been all about championing the aspirations of working Americans." He may not be the choice of the establishment, or even some Florida bloggers, but I do believe that absent Alex Sink running, he is a candidate who in a long race has the greatest potential to rise above the rest and carry Florida in 2010.