The News Herald is currently running an online poll that asks whether or not Charlie Crist should run as an independent. The results are interesting:
Of 588 voters:
No: 21%
Yes: 79%
Well, well.
It looks like voters in Bay County and surrounding counties that read the paper don’t want anyone getting in the way of a conservative Republican winning that Senat seat. This is Marco Rubio country.
But does this poll say something about the FL #2 race to unseat Allen Boyd? Will a similar wave be duplicated in the November race? If so, this bodes well for Steve Southerland and Eddie Hendry and not so much for the energized campaign and followers of Independent Paul McKain. And While the later’s conservative bonifedes are certain, it could be that the hyperpartisanship of the current national political climate is manifesting locally.
Posted under FLORIDA #2, POLITICS
This post was written by bobsikes on April 25, 2010
The News Herald is currently running an online poll that asks whether or not Charlie Crist should run as an independent. The results are interesting:
Of 588 voters:
No: 21%
Yes: 79%
Is something transposed here? The conclusion that voters “don’t want anyone getting in the way” based on the numbers given is not supported. If 79% want him to run as an independent, this shows an overwhelming level of support (better than 3:1). That would be inconsistent in a conservative area like Panama City.
When I checked the poll just now, it was the other way around (I think this is what you meant to write):
80% no, 20% yes with 664 votes (exactly 4:1).
More and more people in not only this district but also this nation are tired of the status quo of party politics. Many are doing research even now, 6 months before an election. They’ve “had enough” of Republicans back-dooring bad legislation like REAL ID into a hurricane relief bill (2005) when the legislation couldn’t pass on it’s own. They’re likewise disgusted with the Democrats back-dooring in education loan takeovers in the recent health care bill, and passing it at night on a Sunday. Then there is the recent news of allegations that the RPOF has mismanaged their finances that were donated by the public. Placing the interests of the party over those of the people (the voters) is always a possibility when you are dealing with someone with a (D) or an (R) behind their name.
That being said, Charlie Crist and Paul McKain are as similar as Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.
Crist is a career politician who looks out for #1.
McKain is a retired fireman and inventor who has pledged to look out for the people of this district via his plan of representation and refusal of any special interest donations.
It’s inarguable that the Republicans have lost the last 5 of 6 times they have run against Boyd. They did not even run a candidate way back in 2006.
Ask yourself, if Paul McKain dropped out of the race tomorrow (having met him, I’d say this is beyond the realm of possibility), would this absolutely guarantee Alan Boyd (or Al Lawson) will lose in November? If he did drop out and Boyd won, who will you blame on November 3?
Paul McKain is a political novice, as evidenced by his starting in the Whig Party. From what I’ve read, it looks like he got his fill of the party experience there and learned the value of a true independent candidate as it applies to District 2. My take on the political pulse of the nation & district is that there is tremendous support for a conservative political novice, especially one without the D or R behind their name and the related baggage.
Independents (NPA) and minor party voters increased in number in liberal Leon County from November 2008 to November 2009 according to Division of Election records. Both Republican and Democrat registered voters decreased during that same time frame. If Republicans had increased and Democrats decreased in this liberal county, this would add merit to the above argument. That’s just not the case though.
One year ago, if a conservative was considering either running or supporting a candidate, the choice was either Paul McKain or no one. Of late, conservative Republican candidates are popping up like fire ant mounds in the summer (the Federal Election Commission now lists 8, Dianne Berryhill makes it 9). These candidates work against each other and the conservative cause. Instead of asking why Paul McKain is “splitting” the vote, how about asking why these candidates are doing so? District 2 is unique, and conventional wisdom (Republican=only path to conservatism) does not apply.