Boston Herald: Politicians shun Florida Tea Party convention

[pampango]

The "tea party" opens a long-planned convention Friday night in Daytona Beach, expecting 1,200 delegates, dozens of speakers — but almost no big-name politicians.

None of the leading Republican presidential candidates and only two of the five Florida candidates for the U.S. Senate agreed to speak at the three-day Florida Tea Party Convention at the Volusia County Ocean Center. And top GOP officeholders from Florida who have previously courted tea party support — Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Allen West of Plantation — also sent regrets.

Liberals say the depiction of tea partyers as "extremists" — especially on issues such as immigration — has led candidates to keep their distance.

"A lot of politicians are worried about being painted by that association, especially as we get into the real meat of the election cycle," said Mark Ferrulo, executive director of the liberal, Tallahassee-based Progress Florida.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/south/view.bg?&articleid=1378388&format=&page=1&listingType=natsouth#articleFull

Is the bloom coming off the rose? I doubt many politicians missed a tea party convention in 2010. This election cycle is different?

[tosh]

1. Wow - even Allen West won't attend??

:rofl:

[dtexdem]

2. Toxic tea at the Florida party.

And guess what: teabaggers are toxic everywhere.

[gratuitous]

3. Republican politicians afraid of their base?

Delicious.

[lpbk2713]

4. They might be afraid Rick Scott will show up.

Apparently even GOP Presidential hopefuls have a modicum of pride.

The last thing they would want is to have their picture taken with a crooked
weasel like Scott and have it plastered all over the national media.

[Scuba]

5. They're not extreme enough for Allen West. n/t