I like Kendrick Meek as well but he appears unelectable. Polling at just 18%.

[dumpdabaggers]

I say support him until it is obvious he can not win. Then to stop the tea bagger shift over to Charlie Crist. There is no way Crist will caucus with the Republican's after all that has gone down.

Blocking Rubio is far more important right now than voting for an unelectable Democrat. Meek is currently polling at 18% in a three way race.

Think of it as tic tac toe.

[pscot]

1. Hi stakes tic tac toe

It is kind of hard to believe that Crist would caucus with the GOP. McConnell would have to grovel big time. And Crist would be their Lieberman.

[ClarkUSA]

2. I agree.

I hope the DSCC doesn't sink too much money into the race. We have others to consider.

[Enrique]

3. you agree with the concern troll? n/t

[ClarkUSA]

4. I agree with his opinion. Unless you can point to facts that indicate otherwise...

... which is doubtful in the extreme.

[Bitwit1234]

5. What I can't understand is why

democrats run these lackluster candidates for office. Such as Deeds in Virginia he hardly moved the meter. We need candidates like Grayson, Weiner and Debbie Wasserman.

[stevenleser]

9. The Farm team in Florida is weak because the GOP has dominated the State Legislature for 20 yrs

That is usually the breeding ground for congress and US Senate candidates. This is yet another reason why its important to vote in your local races. That person who wins a county position or a state legislature or state senate seat might grow into a candidate for congress or US Senate.

[madfloridian]

13. The party itself has contributed to the weakness of the farm team here.

For years they have handpicked conservative Democrats and often Republicans turned Dem just to run. There is a penalty to pay for parties that don't encourage activists to run.

[stevenleser]

14. In Pinellas County we had plenty of Progressive activists run for state seats

They all lost until 2008 with the exception of Charlie Justice. It didnt matter who ran, they got crushed, mostly because there was ample real estate money flowing to all GOP candidates.

[madfloridian]

16. That money could be overcome if there were enough enthused activists.

They are very lacking in Florida.

[stevenleser]

17. Hence my earlier exhortation for people to get involved in their local races.

We're paying for that right now in Florida.

[madfloridian]

18. We WERE actively involved in 2004 and 2006.

We worked for candidates gathering petitions, donating money, even holding fundraisers. But then the party powers that be decided they were too progressive and they ran someone else. In FL 12, they ran an anti-gay, anti-choice very religious guy, in FL 13 they shoved a friend out to run Christine Jennings who was a millionaire.

I could go on, but we learned our lesson the hard way. Money wasted on candidates who are kicked out by the party hurts too much.

[Sancho]

25. The machines were hacked in FL 13, same in Pinellas with mail in ballots...

since half the precincts have poll workers challenging voters, and tabulators that can't add, and mail in ballots thrown away - even when Betty Castor "won" in 2004; and many other candidates - they never get to serve.

[CreekDog]

39. The party often picks people based on the positions they take (centrist sounding)

rather than choosing somebody that the average person would be inspired enough to do something to get elected.

[suzie]

19. That is simply untrue.

[suzie]

20. That is the opposite of the truth about Florida politics.

We've seen a whole raft of losers, who have these incredible flaws, foisted upon us by folks who like to call themselves "activists" or "progressives", but really have no interest in winning statewide elections.

You simply can't win a statewide election with a candidate who is rude to the locals, no matter how much the teachers union supports him.

Or one who voted against reparations for a handful of African Americans whose ancestors were killed in a massacre.

[madfloridian]

22. Okay. So we go with the GOP flow to win.

Been doing that here in FL for years.

Guess who controls the legislature. Guess who doesn't.

:shrug:

[suzie]

29. "Go with the GOP flow"?

No, but I don't spend my time deifying a Vermont politician and whining about how terrible Florida politics are, and how much I still miss my native New England.

I supported Bob Graham in 2004, because he was the most beloved politician I've ever seen and because he stood up in the Congress--where he actually had to vote on the Iraq War--and tried to get his colleagues to vote with him AGAINST going to war in Iraq.

I've been to any number of local Democratic Party meetings where the most recent arrivals from the Northeast stand up and offend the locals by telling them how conservative they are, how horrible they are, how unlike it is "back home" in the liberal world that elected Joe Lieberman. And the other Northeastern transplants agree with them. One longtime native North Florida Democrat finally stood up and told those folks off one evening, and has never been back.

Bob Graham, BTW, never hesitates to mention to the locals in North Florida that his mother was from there and he has a great affection for the Panhandle. Given the fact that I've never seen a politician so well-liked as Graham, perhaps that works better electorally than your chosen path of constantly blaming North Floridians for the fact that many of the chosen candidates from "activists" from the southern part of Florida are simply electorally disastrous.

I don't believe that is "Going with the GOP flow". Seems like sensible politics to me.

[madfloridian]

30. Whoa. It was not the liberals who elected Lieberman.

He lost the primary, remember? It was the Republicans who got him back into office with the help of the conservative Democrats working behind the scenes..

I did not mention N. Florida? I think in all of Florida the party leaders tend to give in to the national committees and lend support only to their chosen candidates.

[Jefferson23]

33. Yes and Obama was supportive of Lieberman, and Republicans

not Democrats helped elect Lieberman. The guy listed as a Republican came in with dismal results.

Top Lieberman Campaign Official: We Begged Obama For Help In 2006 -- And He Came Through
By Greg Sargent - June 10, 2008, 4:23PM

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/top_lieberman_staffer_we_begge.php

[madfloridian]

35. Remember the Friends of Joe? Former Dem leaders?

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/451

He lost the primary, but the conservatives in both parties saved his scrawny hide.

[Jefferson23]

36. Oh gosh, I forgot about them, you're right. ugh, I live in CT. I should

have recalled that nightmare!

[suzie]

40. I didn't say that liberals elected Lieberman.

But he was elected from a state that is held up to us because it's far bluer than Florida.

Except of course, that its Senators both voted to go to war in Iraq, while that old Florida Democrat disdained by some on DU, Bob Graham, voted against it.

My preference is that we look for Florida Democratic candidates in the mold of Bob Graham, who can actually win a Senate election because they've run for a statewide office at least once.

[JCMach1]

24. They only take and support Dems. with cash in the BANK

These are usually conservative business types.

[madfloridian]

26. They want candidates who are wealthy enough to run a campaign

without too much help. Not as concerned about ideology or stances or issues.

As you learned the hard way, JC, the local Dems will support Republicans rather than support an outsider Dem with strong stances.

[JCMach1]

27. It is so counter-intuitive... the party gives $$$ to people with cash

to fund their own campaigns.

Add to that the money involved... When I ran for the legislature My opponent received about 150K from the Republican party and of all people Optometrists who bundled their contributions. I raised about 15K from the grassroots...

[flaminbats]

43. amen!! that's the problem in Georgia

I voted in the special election on May 11th for Mike Freeman.

There were 7 Republicans and one Democrat on the ballot. And yet the one Democrat officially ended his campaign by refusing to qualify for the coming primary and the General election.

Now we have 2 Republican clones in the runoff on June 8th! :(

We need to start getting Democrats on the ballot again for state and local office, just electing a Democratic President and Congress is not enough for the next generation.

[suzie]

21. Crist looked like a sure winner a year or more ago, when people made the decision

about running. Who knew that the teabaggers would try to destroy him?

It's tough to get exciting candidates to make a run where they don't see much of a chance.

[monmouth]

6. Crist brought in 100K so far this May since he announced IND run..n/t

[NI4NI]

7. Hats off to Congressman Meek

He worked long and overtime along with Florida Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and other "young" House DEM Representatives during the last year of Shrubs term. I remember many nights seeing him on the House floor blasting the Repugnicans while holding up a giant red rubber stamp.
Good Luck, Congressman!

[PBS Poll-435]

8. My thoughts exactly. I loved watching Pelosi's 30Something Working Group

Meek, Ryan, and Wasserman-Schultz rocked Late-night CSPAN.

[zulchzulu]

10. Meek can still sneak in if Crist and Rubio destroy each other

It's a long shot, but it's happened before...

[stevenleser]

11. Not sure. The teabaggers are going to vote for Rubio regardless. And Crist supporters

will probably regard anything that Rubio or Meek says about him as being politics as usual from the two established parties. That seems to be the standard line from independant types.

[flpoljunkie]

12. Dem strategists are excited about his chances in a three-way race.

Many still do not know Meek. I do not trust Crist, but if Meek has no chance to win, I will reluctantly vote for Crist-but it's way too early for that.

[stevenleser]

15. Agreed, it is still too early to abandond Meek.

We should all be seeing if we can get him at least within striking range in the next 1-3 months.

[JCMach1]

23. I am all about strategic voting in this race as Rubio is so vile BUT

IT IS WAY TOO EARLY to write off Meek.

As a Florida voter, I am taking a wait and see position at this point.

[mstinamotorcity]

28. If you like Kendrick Meek

then find his campaign headquarters and help him win. Not trying to be sarcastic. But the best way for the candidate that you like to win is if you help them. Also talk to some of the same people that help elect your President. And when you can, remind them of what we just got out of in 2008.then show them Rubio, That should get them up and going one more time. I want the repugs to be in the position of having almost no representation in congress.Then they will know how we have felt the last forty years.

[Awsi Dooger]

31. Meek won't be competitive

This is a general election in an unfriendly year. A massive comeback makes no sense and won't happen. In a fluid primary you can throw out early percentages but not in a polarized general election, where huge blocks are already locked in place. The right wing won't budge from Rubio and Crist has plenty of popularity and therefore independent and moderate support.

This reminds me of Connecticut 2006 when we were desperate for the tail dragging Schlesinger to miraculously double his support to flip the race to Lamont. Didn't happen, won't happen. I like Meek but he's got no shot minus a double implosion of George Allen proportions, and beyond.

[dumpdabaggers]

37. Meek has less chance than Hillary's brother Hugh Rodham had in 1994

and his chances were SLIM.

[quaker bill]

42. I expect you do not know FL

your comments suggest as much. Even in the reddest districts in FL, the weakest Dem candidates can run, basically just some guy spending pocket change running a campaign from his kitchen table, and still get 35 percent of the vote. A friend of mine, a complete political novice, did so running against Rep. John Mica in 2002. Since the race was only a two-way, he lost rather badly, but he did get alot of votes, and the money Mica spent defending did not go elsewhere.

My point is that the 18 percent number for Meek has no reality behind it and is mostly a reflection of the early stage of this campaign. The Dems, regardless of how weak the candidate, have not run anyone for statewide office that has gotten less than 35 percent of the vote in November in a very long time. The only time I have seen a Dem get less than 35 percent was one occasion where the candidate was in jail on election day for attempting to shoot his republican opponent a few weeks earlier. This candidate was not only demonstrably nuts, but a clear danger to the public.

Once he runs his campaign, Kendrick Meek will get his minimum 35 percent of the vote, at least. The only questions are how Charley and Marco split the remainder, and how much better than 35 percent Kendrick does. If the split between Charley and Marco is lopsided, one of them will win, if it is more or less even, both will lose. The war will be over the dividing line between them.

[Blue-Jay]

32. derp.

[ProSense]

34. Are you campaigning for Crist?

"There is no way Crist will caucus with the Republican's after all that has gone down."

You keep repeating this claim.

"Blocking Rubio is far more important right now than voting for an unelectable Democrat. Meek is currently polling at 18% in a three way race."

Good thing you're not his campaign manager.

Wonder what you'd have advised Harry Reid to do?

[Thrill]

38. From what I heard its not so much about him

Crist is just apparently liked by a lot of Democrats. He's popular among the minorities as well in Florida. And Meek is pretty much an unknown.

[flpoljunkie]

41. It's too early to conclude that Meek cannot win.

[tritsofme]

44. Crist's support comes primarily from Democrats, many of these voters will come home

As we near the GE.

Crist lacks the organization and infrastructure provided by a major party operation. I think he is at his high water mark, and as voters get to know Meek, his support will grow at the expense of Crist.