Quinnipiac (7/22-27, likely primary voters, 6/2-8 in parentheses):
Rick Scott (R): 43 (44)
Bill McCollum (R): 32 (31)
Undecided: 23 (24)
(MoE: ±3.6%)
Jeff Greene (D): 33 (27)
Kendrick Meek (D): 23 (29)
Maurice Ferre (D): 4 (3)
Undecided: 35 (37)
(MoE: ±3.5%)
Who would have ever thought, even three months ago, that the once-seeming-insane vanity campaigns of ultra-wealthy GOPer Rick Scott and Dem Jeff Greene would actually take off? If anything, it shows the power of money to sway voters, especially the power of money in primary elections where name rec and interest are low and the establishment candidates are on the underwhelming side.
Things haven’t changed much in the Republican gubernatorial primary; if anything, Bill McCollum seems to have arrested Rick Scott’s progress, although his small turnaround is all within the margin of error. The big movement this time is in the Dem Senate primary, where Greene has shot past Kendrick Meek into first place, with Meek only getting on the air with his first ad this week. (Not to get too morbid about Meek’s chances here, but I’ve gotta wonder how many establishment Dems both in Florida and the Beltway are secretly pleased to see Greene on track to win the primary, which will then free them up to support Charlie Crist in November with a clean conscience…)
If there’s any hope to be had for Meek, it’s the high number of people who might change their mind, and the preference for experience over outsider status. On the Dem side, only 43% say their mind is made up, and 54% might change, while 44% of Dems prefer someone with experience while 35% want an outsider. Compare that with McCollum’s chances: on the GOP side, 55% say their mind is made up, 43% may change. 54% want an “outsider,” while 28% want experience.
I used to be a registered FL Democrat. Now I just shake my head. 😛 For the Dem party to let themselves get THIS irrelevant in the FL-Sen election, we might as well call Dr. Jack to put the campaigns out of their misery.
Not that I’m doing better as a registered SC Democrat. The Dem party here seemed already moribund when I got here in 2003.
He should have been on the air months ago introducing himself. Especially while Crist and Rubio were duking it out. I mean his fundraising is decent right? So spend some of your money. To start spending this late in the game on a negative commercial which is actually pretty good kind of underscores Meeks position. Oh well both Rubio and Greene seem like assholes so I guess I’ll be pulling for Crist.
As far as I’m concerned. It’s a shame that such a great congressman is wasted in such a horrible effort. Meek’s campaign should have started running ads as soon a Crist switched to establish himself as the Democrat. He had the funds to do it. Even if he wins the primary, I don’t think he has any chance to win this thing. So, I guess I’m now a Crist supporter as well for lack of a better candidate.
Not just in the primary but also the general. He’s still extremely young for a politician, so he could easily run for something else. I just don’t see what’s open. His old congressional seat will be closed, and Democrats don’t do well statewide in Florida in general.
Maybe in 2012 there will be another So. Florida district for him to run in
…had she gone further than just the exploratory committee. My hunch is, she would’ve been far more aggressive and negative a campaigner.
then drop out of the general, in a Xanatos Gambit.
When did he start ad-blitzing the state?
Of the 5 major candidates in this election, Meek has the least chance to win.
As others have stated, and I agree, I don’t care if its Crist or Greene if they vote the way Iw ant on issues (how magnaminous of em I know).
Its not like elections haven’t been bought before, and each party has done so throughout time.
I can only count four: Meek, Greene, Crist, and Rubio.