This is the sign Democrats have been looking for – a new poll from respected pollster St. Pete Polls shows Trump down 16 points to Joe Biden in a Sarasota, Florida district where Republicans widely outnumber Democrats. Trump won the district by 4 points in 2016, and for decades, Sarasota County has been used to measure suburban sentiment – and this year, Democrats have gained more ground than ever before.
Not only is Biden ahead by 16 points, but Democratic State House candidate Drake Buckman is also ahead of his Republican opponent by 4 points. His opponent, Fiona McFarland, has been criticized for her substantial donations, funneled from out-of-state wealthy donors – her mother served in the Trump Administration (and neither mother nor daughter even live in the district). Drake Buckman has run a fierce campaign in the strongly Republican district, stressing a commonsense approach, focused on real people and real issues - local environmental problems, small businesses, and support for public education. And it appears his enthusiastic grassroots support has had historically great benefits. (Donate here to help Buckman fight the Republican big-money machine)
If Donald Trump and his allies lose in Sarasota, Florida, then they have no hope of capturing enough suburban support to carry Florida – or any other battleground state. Local Democrats have worked for decades to pull even with the dominant Republican Party. Never before has there been such a strong sign that their efforts have worked and opened new possibilities for Democrats in Florida.