Candidates hope unhappiness over veterans' benefits could be their ticket into the voting group. But Betty Castor recently learned it won't be easy.
By DAVID KARP
Published May 25, 2004
TAMPA - U.S. Senate candidate Betty Castor leaned in to speak to the Army veteran in the wheelchair at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center nursing home.
"How long have you been here?" Castor asked.
"Sixteen years," he said.
How are they treating you, Castor asked.
"It's terrific here," Robert Gard said. "No complaints."
The 67-year-old liked the smiling politician who chatted with him Monday. But then he learned that Castor is a Democrat.
"There we got a problem," he said. "I've been a Republican all my life. All my life."
That one encounter Monday showed what Castor and other Democratic candidates face as they try to win the veterans' vote. Democrats across the nation are aggressively courting veterans this year, hoping to make gains in a traditionally Republican base.
University of South Florida government professor Darryl Paulson said Democrats see a chance to cut into the vote because of unhappiness over veterans' benefits.
"I think the veterans are clearly going to remain in the Republican camp," Paulson said. "I think what is important is that all the candidates are trying to cut into the opposition's strength."
On Monday, Castor toured the veterans nursing home to showcase her "Contract with Florida's Veterans."
The contract calls on Congress to fully fund health care for veterans and to reduce waits for medical appointments.
Castor also wants to make sure all veterans get full retirement and disability benefits. Right now, some veterans get disability benefits taken from their retirement pay.
"To begin with, veteran services ought to be a top priority for our government," Castor said.
She did not specify how she would pay for the increased benefits.
The two other major Democrats in the Senate race are Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas and U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch of Fort Lauderdale.
Castor, who lives in Tampa, is the former president of USF and a former state education commissioner.
Monday, Castor spent about an hour touring part of the largest veterans hospital in the nation. American flags fluttered outside the home, and seniors pushing walkers filled the halls. But there were few actual voters to be found.
Only a dozen veterans cast ballots in the last election, said Nancy Bell, a social worker who organized absentee voting at the 180-bed nursing home.
In a cafeteria, veterans looked puzzled as Castor introduced herself. They were wearing bibs, and nurses were feeding them pureed green vegetables.
Castor stood in a business suit, her hands behind her back.
"I am a candidate for the United States Senate," she said, speaking loudly and slowly.
One of the veterans, Harry Schemeth, pushed his wheelchair up to Castor to offer a word.
"You are a good-looking woman," he said.
Castor smiled and told reporters to write that comment down.
Others complained that Castor did not spend more time listening to them.
As aides whisked Castor into her car, Chalmers Nickles, who lost both his legs in Vietnam, yelled at Castor to talk to him. He was sitting with other amputees on a patio.
A campaign aide explained that Castor was late for a meeting.
