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Times staff writersSoccer moms, move over. One Florida homeowner is organizing birders as the next powerful voting bloc.
YOU MAY HAVE heard that Florida's presidential vote could come down to Hispanic or Jewish or Tampa Bay voters. Here's one targeted voter group you may not have considered: Florida birders.
But Theodore L. Cross is determined to mobilize bird watchers against Bush, calling the birding population Bush's unnoticed "Achilles' heel." An avid birder from New Jersey who owns a house in Sanibel, Cross has formed Birders United to Defeat Bush and so far has spent $20,000 for two anti-Bush billboards along Interstate 4 in Orlando and two along the Palmetto Expressway in Miami. He is looking at leasing 20 or so more around Tampa Bay and considering newspaper and magazine ads too.
The state estimates Florida is home to 2-million birders, and Cross says he hopes to swing a chunk of them to John Kerry.
"There are loads and loads of birders, but they're not politically active. The idea is to get them energized by telling them the truth about Bush," said Cross, who has contributed this cycle to Kerry and Howard Dean. His billboards direct people to a Web site (www.birdersunitedtodefeatbush.com) criticizing Bush's environmental record in Florida and elsewhere. He's especially hoping to sway Republican birders.
SEN. BOB GRAHAM has been making the rounds publicizing his new book, Intelligence Matters, which accuses the Bush administration of trying to cover up connections between Saudi Arabia and the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers. The former Senate Intelligence Committee chairman's charges last week drew criticism from radio host Rush Limbaugh.
"I feel like I'm listening the the 2004 version of Jack D. Ripper in Dr. Strangelove, constantly worrying about our precious bodily fluids," scoffed fellow Floridian Limbaugh after playing excerpts of Graham on Hardball with Chris Matthews.
DEMOCRAT BETTY CASTOR's Senate campaign organization has been dominated by non-Floridians connected to Emily's List, the Democratic political group that works to elect women. But courtesy of Sen. Bill Nelson, Castor is adding some prominent local talent to the team: the ever-scrappy Dan McLaughlin. Nelson's communications director, veteran political operative, and former Tampa Tribune editor proved himself one of the more aggressive advocates in the business as a senior official in Nelson's 2000 Senate race. Hewill serve as a strategy and communications adviser for Castor.
McLaughlin called it a "personal decision" based on fondness for the former education commissioner. "I know Betty and I know a little about Mel Martinez, and in my mind it's no contest who would be the best senator."
THE POLITICAL ARMIES are mobilizing: The string of hurricanes rocking Florida have essentially frozen the presidential campaigns in place, but both sides still are looking at Florida as perhaps the most crucial state in the contest.
Their ground forces are amassing for get out the vote efforts. On top of thousands of volunteers, the count for full-time paid staffers in Florida stands at 65 for Bush-Cheney and 124 for Kerry-Edwards.
"It's once again clear that Florida is going to become center of the political universe," said Tad Devine, a senior adviser to the Kerry campaign.
SUSPICIOUS SELECTEE? An unusual siting in the Fort Lauderdale airport Saturday morning: a gentleman sporting a polo shirt with ATTORNEY GENERAL stamped on the back getting thoroughly wanded by a security officer. "I'm a selectee," said Attorney General Charlie Crist with a chuckle. He appeared not the least bit put out by it.
Waiting for his flight back to Tampa, Crist appeared to have become that rare politician known by a single name. Over and over, travelers stopped "Charlie" to thank and congratulate him for watching out for consumers during the recent hurricanes. Even the security officer addressed him like a buddy. "Right this way, Charlie," he said.
Adam C. Smith contributed to buzz. Have a tip? Call 850 224-7263 or write to bousquet@sptimes.com