FL-13 encompasses Sarasota and surrounding areas. It's quite a beautiful area with a promising political landscape.
The first post primary poll in FL-13 has: Jennings holding an early lead over Buchanan.
Christine Jennings: 46
Vern Buchanan: 38
Significantly, the poll was conducted by Democratic pollsters Hamilton Beattie & Staff - a well regarded polling company in Florida also used by Senator Bill Nelson among others. More significantly, this is a "pre-message" poll - meaning the poll was designed for accuracy not PR.
So how is this happening in a "republican leaning" district, you ask?
Here are some key points for your consideration:
1. Vern Buchanan just went through a bruising negative primary against Tramm "Blacks can't Swim" Hudson. Among Hudson's well advertised/documented charges against Buchanan:
- "Tax cheat": Buchanan lost a long running dispute with the IRS.
- "Failed Executive": Buchanan mismanaged "American Speedy Printing" into bankruptcy leaving a slew of lawsuits and very angry people who lost their life savings. Including a default on a $15.4 million loan while Vern walked away with millions.
- "Morphing Resume": Buchanan has a documented history of embellishing his resume with false claims.
- "Lying to the Ritz": Buchanan misrepresented himself to the developers of the Sarasota Ritz Carlton. A lawsuit ensued, was settled, was improperly sealed by a local judge, and was just unsealed earlier this week. More on this later...
All of these charges were on Tramm's www.therealvern.com website which was pulled right after Buchanan won the primary. Here is one page that is still in Yahoo cache.
2. Vern Buchanan ran on an "Anti-Abortion Amendment" to the US Constitution - even when the life of the mother is at risk.
This level of wingnuttia might play well in the Florida panhandle, but it's far outside the mainstream of FL-13'ers (even repubs). It's notable that Vern won his primary beating "Pro-Choice" repub Nancy Detert by only 32% to 24% in a 5 person race. Republicans here are generally of the fiscal conservative/social moderate type.
Florida does not have runoffs - so that 32% is Vern's base going into the general. Christine Jennings won her primary 62% to 38%.
3. This week, a Sarasota judge was forced to unseal details of Vern's lawsuit against the Ritz Carlton developers. Let me tell you - there's enough in there to hang a horse (sorry Buhdy!). Most importantly, there is clear evidence that Buchanan defrauded the IRS (again).
Here's how it worked: Accountants, others question settlement between Buchanan, wealthy developer.
In the meantime, the Herald-Tribune discovered some details of the settlement from mortgage documents and deeds not sealed by the court.
Buchanan has confirmed the $1.35 million settlement. "That's what they paid me to go away," he said.
Instead of receiving direct payment, Buchanan and the Ritz developers did a series of transactions:
Ritz Carlton co-developer Daves sold unit 1701 in the luxury tower to an entity controlled by co-developer Buford's nephew,
Stephen Buford, for $2.368 million on Jan. 14, 2002, a deed filed with the Sarasota County Clerk of Court shows.
Another deed shows that Stephen Buford sold the unit the next day to Buchanan for $5 million.
A third deed, which was also dated Jan. 15, 2002 -- but not executed until Jan. 31, 2003 -- shows that Buchanan ultimately sold the unit to Robert Buford's brother, Daniel Buford, for $6.35 million.
That, my friends, is illegal - highly illegal.
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune is all over this with a series of front page stories about Buchanan's Shenanigans. I suspect most of this has broken since the recent poll (46-38) was conducted - which means even more mojo for Christine.
4. Christine Jennings is a recognized fiscal conservative. She worked her way from bank teller to president and started her own community bank. Unlike Vern, Christine's efforts were successful and she sold the bank a few years ago so she could focus on Democratic politics.
Christine's investors did well, and no families went bankrupt as in Vern's failed business ventures. One soundbite in Christine's mailers says:
If the republican congress came to my bank for a loan, I would reject them.
I love that - it's perfect for this district.
5. Christine Jennings is a social moderate and recognized community leader.
During her 20 years in the area, Christine served as:
* Founder and President/CEO/Chair of Sarasota Bank
* President and Board member, Sarasota Film Festival
* Director, Florida Bankers Association
* Chair and Trustee, the John and Mable Ringling Museum Board of Trustees
* President and Board member, Downtown Association of Sarasota
* President, Sarasota Ballet of Florida
* President, Mental Health Association of Sarasota County
* Director, Community AIDS Network
* Executive Committee Member, United Way, Manatee County
* Director, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Sarasota County
* Director, Florida West Coast Symphony
* Honoree, National Council of Jewish Women
* Honoree, United Negro College Fund
* Outstanding Volunteer, National Society of Fundraising Executives
* Graduate of Leadership Manatee
I've highlighted my favorites, but you get the idea.
6. Christine Jennings has a stack of endorsements important to Sarasota's community:
Barbara Ford-Coates, Campaign Chair
Organizations and Unions
-AFL-CIO
-American Federation of Teachers
-American Maritime Officers
-Association of Federal, State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
-Association of Trial Lawyers of America
-The Blue Dog Coalition
-Business and Professional Women/USA
-Communication Workers of America
-Florida Education Association
-Florida Veterans for Common Sense
-International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
-International Union of Police Associations (AFL-CIO)
-National Association of Letter Carriers
-National Association of Police Organizations
-National Education Association
-New Democrat Coalition
-Planned Parenthood Action Fund
-Plumbers & Pipefitters Union
-Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association
-Service Employees International Union
(SEIU)
-Southwest Florida Police Benevolent Association
-Suncoast Professional Firefighters & Paramedics I.A.F.F. Local 2546
-Transport Workers Union of America
-United Auto Workers
-United Food and Commercial Workers Union
-United Steelworkers of America
-United Transportation Union
Newspapers (Endorsed for the primary):
- Sarasota Herald-Tribune
- Venice Gondolier Sun
- Pelican Press
- Englewood Sun
- Northport Sun
- Charlotte Sun
Community Members
- Former First Lady of Florida Rhea Chiles
- Ed Chiles
- Lawton "Bud" Chiles
- Bea Friedman
- Former Ambassador Jeanette Hyde
- Former Ambassador Donald Leidel
- U.S. Senate Candidate Betty Castor
- Former Sarasota Mayor Mollie Cardamone
- Former State Senator Edgar Price, Jr.
- Manatee County Commissioner Gwen Brown
- Sarasota City Commissioner Ken Shelin
- Reverend Willie Shaw
- Sarasota Mayor Fredd Atkins
- Ira Leesfield, Esq.
- Hon. Sam M. Gibbons, Esq. (Former Rep. of FL)
- Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
Political Leaders
- U.S. Senator John Kerry (MA)
- Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chair Rahm Emanuel (IL)
- Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA)
- Democratic House Whip Steny Hoyer (MD)
- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL)
- Rep. Allen Boyd (FL)
- Rep. Robert Wexler (FL)
- Rep. Alcee Hastings (FL)
- Rep. Joseph Crowley (NY)
- Rep. Steve Israel (NY)
- Rep. Charlie Rangel (NY)
- Rep. Shelley Berkley (NV)
- Rep. Marion Berry (AR)
- Rep. Mike Ross (AR)
- Rep. Mike Thompson (AR)
- Rep. Jane Harman (CA)
- Rep. Doris Matsui (CA)
- Rep. Ellen Tauscher (CA)
- Rep. Mike Thompson (CA)
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL)
- Former Governor Mark Warner (VA)
- Rep. Adam Smith (WA)
I know it's a long list, but these endorsements speak volumes to Christine's character and bode well for her fundraising efforts.
As always, fundraising will be key. DCCC has Jennings listed in their Red-to-Blue program, but Christine needs to continue to fundraise well to advertise all of Buchanan's Shenanigans - there is so much to choose from.
This while Vern, with his millions, will mount an aggressive campaign against Jennings. Fundraising totals as of 8/16/06:
Total Raised Cash on Hand
Jennings: $871,532 $283,029
Buchanan: $3,801,474 $1,439,111
Intimidated? Don't be. These numbers are already obsolete and now that the primary is over money is flowing to the Jennings camp.
Remember, Vern is tainted, he spent close to $3 Million on his primary and only got 32%. The local media is tearing Vern a new one, Vern's primary opponents (Detert&Hudson) are not endorsing Vern. And pretty much everyone is Sarasota knows that Vern is the weasely used car dealer that, well, he actually is.
So here you have it. A race that has been "leaning republican" by all the prognosticators is really a good prospect for Democrats.
With the new polling information and personal knowledge of FL-13, I consider this a "leaning Democratic" district, but won't argue with anyone calling it a legitimate toss up.
Bye Bye John Boehner!!!!
And if all that isn't enough to get your attention:
Cheney's coming to town to try to salvage Vern's race!
...surprisingly, that isn't keeping some candidates, including Longboat Key Republican Vern Buchanan, from hitching themselves to Vice President Dick Cheney.
Excellent, throw the drowning wingnut an anchor! Thanks, Dick!