The Democratic Senate candidates show unity on TV, but remain divided off the air.
By ANITA KUMAR
Published August 4, 2004
WEST PALM BEACH - The three major Democrats vying for the U.S. Senate agreed on most key issues Tuesday night and stressed party unity in their first statewide televised debate.
But behind the scenes, the attacks continued.
U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch's campaign released what it claims is new evidence showing rival Betty Castor's illegal coordination with EMILY's List, a national fundraising group, on TV ads airing across Florida this week.
Deutsch's staff passed out fliers indicating that ads produced by Castor and ads produced by EMILY's List had the same footage and same people.
"This is clear evidence of coordination of production, coordination in message," said Roy Teicher, Deutsch's campaign spokesman. "These activities are orchestrated, systematic and illegal."
Castor, former state education commissioner, disputes the claim and says she is happy to have the endorsement of EMILY's List, the Washington-based group that supports Democratic women who favor abortion rights. The group, which stands for Early Money is Like Yeast, has helped her raise more than $1.1-million, a third of her total.
Castor's son, Frank Castor, who is campaigning for his mother and attended the debate, said Deutsch's behind-the-scenes tactics were typical.
"He talks trash about Betty Castor behind her back," he said. "He's too much of a wimp to confront her and be a man. It just shows how desperate he is."
Polls show Castor leading Deutsch, of Hollywood, and Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas, but at least a fourth of Democratic voters are undecided four weeks before the winner-take-all Aug. 31 primary.
Deutsch has gained ground in recent polls, and said Tuesday his latest internal poll showed he and Castor even.
Penelas, third in the polls and fundraising, has spent the past three weeks emphasizing his new stance on the Iraq war, touting it as a "clear distinction" and one reason voters should support him. He is the only one of the three who said troops should return to the United States by the end of 2005.
"America is not safer off today," Penelas said.
Castor, the former University of South Florida president, and Deutsch support keeping troops in Iraq until the country is rebuilt.
Four Democrats and eight Republicans are seeking to replace retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Graham.
Republicans will participate in a similar statewide debate on NBC stations Tuesday.
For the first time, the three Democrats were allowed to ask each other questions. But even those questions stressed their similarities on major domestic issues, and their unity in trying to defeat the Republican nominee.
In front of the cameras, the Democrats smiled and called each other by first names. They made a point not to bring up the attacks that have defined the race the last three months. Only once, when asked, did Deutsch mention EMILY's List.
"What we don't need in Florida is what is happening right now, an out-of-state special interest group that's trying to buy this election," he said. "That really reminds me of what the Republicans did in 2000. Out-of-state people came to this state and stole the election."
Castor did not bring up an independent group run by Deutsch's friend. The group has run newspaper ads questionning Castor's refusal to fire USF professor Sami Al-Arian while he was under investigation on allegations he had raised money for terrorists.
The three Democrats delivered their standard stump speeches about education, the economy and health care. And for the most part, they agreed.
They oppose a constitutional ban on gay marriages. They oppose President Bush's ban on stem cell research. They oppose tax breaks for the rich.
They attempted to distinguish themselves on their backgrounds.
Castor stressed her experience as a teacher and educator, traveling the world, working with Democrats and Republicans and helping create jobs in the I-4 corridor.
"I would hope that (voters) would see Betty Castor has a breadth of experience," Castor said. "She has worked on the front lines."
Deutsch repeatedly stressed his congressional record, saying he was the only one of the three with experience in Washington.
"I've been a fighter not a follower my entire life," he said, "and that's the person I'm going to be."
Penelas stressed his experience running one of the most diverse counties in the United States.
"I have a real record of results," said Penelas, "not just promises."
