Cross posted at draftalex.com.
It’s pretty obvious that people are hoping that Alex Sink tosses her hat in the ring or higher office. The question we hope she’s facing right now is which one: Senate or Guvna?
There are perhaps a few too many calls for Alex Sink to be our Senate nominee. This morning, Blast Off! even called for her to run for Senate and forget about the governor’s mansion.
At Draft Alex Sink for Governor the bias is pretty obvious. But, think for a second about why running for Senate wouldn’t be as good as a move.
First, just in terms of personality and experience, Alex is perfectly suited to be governor. She’s been an executive- and that’s what a governor theoretically does (just don’t look to Charlie for an example). Dan Gelber, Bob Wexler, Allen Boyd- these men are legislators- damn good ones, if I may. Their skills and interests fit the profile of a Senator more than Alex’s do.
There is a crowded bench already. Alex would have to compete with the likes of Dan Gelber and Chris Korge, maybe Allen Boyd, or even Bob Wexler. Those are some serious players, who could all represent the state well and some will run if she gets in or not. Alex could win the primary and the general, but why go for Senate to when the bench is already so deep, so good.
Winning the senate seat back is going to be tougher than we imagine. Sure, it looks a lot easier than beating Charlie does, but we’re two years out from the election- things change. Charlie should start to look more like a do-nothing, and Mel Martinez might decide to gracefully bow out, leaving the Republicans to nominate someone who could give us more of a challenge. In short, get excited about another Democratic senator, but don’t bet money on it just yet.
While there’s a crowded bench for Senate, there is literally no bench for governor- outside Alex Sink. If Democrats want to stop losing the state, then we can’t cede races like the 2010 gubernatorial. We need to not only nominate a candidate, but we need to nominate a good one. Right now, no other Democrat is really dipping the proverbial toe in the water- no one, not even Rod Smith.
And, there’s my peace.
there is the simple, ugly fact of continuing Republican majorities in the state legislature for at least 2 to 3 more election cycles. A Governor Sink would simply not be able to change very much and wither in office after a couple of internal state government reforms. Christ is not a Democrat, but other than that he seems to be pragmatic or practical enough to be tolerable.
What I really dont understand is why there isnt much work at a grassroots machinery in the state. At a minimum Florida Democrats should be financing an effort to help pardoned former felons fill out applications, get their pardons issued, and registered to vote. And they should embarrass the state legislature by offering to pay the costs for more government employees to process the applications rather than let a skeleton staff of bureaucrats slow walk them. That is 200,000 or more voters. And an Obama INS could end the slow walking of Florida Latino citizenship applications in Washington. And rather than have the thin Democratic bench run for US House seats every election, let the exoerienced but less successful candidates run for state Senate and state House seats.
Running Alex against him is a waste of her talent and South Florida Dems do not usually do well statewide.