Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Party Yawn

By ADAM C. SMITH
Published April 24, 2005

NAPLES - Plenty of smart people think Jim Davis is a shoo-in to win the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

But they weren't in Naples last week to see all the yawning and watch-checking among 500 Democrats listening to the Tampa congressman's stump speech.

"My campaign for governor is a campaign about restoring respect," Davis said. "Respect for the voices of all Floridians. Respect for the God-given potential of our children. Respect for the freedom and dignity of our seniors, our disabled and those in need. Respect for those who work hard and play by the rules."

As Davis continued amid sporadic, polite applause, people throughout the hotel ballroom resumed conversations. A few decided it was a good time to hit the john.

The response to Davis' likely rival, state Democratic chairman Scott Maddox, could hardly have been more different. People rose to their feet cheering.

"That Scott Maddox has energy and he's very, very articulate," Tom Zioncheck of Port St. Lucie said after the Collier County fundraiser headlined by Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee. "I don't think Davis has what it takes to run for governor."

Retired lawyer Renee Lewis of Naples said Davis "sounded like a typical politician using every cliche in the book. But listening to Scott Maddox speak, I would say to him, "Please, please run.' "

Tampa politicos who watched Jim Davis' fiery introductions of John Kerry last year speculated that the earnest lawyer must have visited a speech coach.

Davis insists he hasn't, but he ought to consider it.

"Jim is a much better speaker than he was two years ago, but he's got a ways to go," said state party vice chairwoman Diane Glasser of Broward County. "But he's got time to do it. I wouldn't sell Jim Davis short."

Howard Dean proved that passion doesn't necessarly win primaries. Nor do chicken dinner speeches win elections in a state with 10-million voters and 10 TV markets. Early impressions help drive momentum, though, and Davis is battling a perception among some party activists and fundraisers that he lacks the charisma to win.

Davis is a 47-year-old policy wonk with Democratic admirers across the state. But the scene in Collier County merely drove home how unpredictable and wide-open Florida's next governor's race stands to be. A Quinnipiac University poll this month found Davis slightly leading Maddox for support among Democratic voters, but with one in three undecided.

Davis is the rare congressional Democrat who actually manages to pass legislation occasionally. He's methodical, and few Democrats question his smarts or sincerity.

But much of the political establishment in Tallahassee is lining up behind state Sen. Rod Smith, 55, a former prosecutor known as one of the sharpest Democrats in the Legislature. Smith's fans see him as better equipped to win over North Florida and rural voters who have been flocking to Republican candidates lately.

Then there's Maddox, who has not yet announced his plans but is widely expected to jump into the governor's race next month.

The 37-year-old former Tallahassee mayor may not enjoy the same reputation for substance as Smith and Davis, but unlike them, he doesn't have a lengthy legislative voting record for opponents to pick apart. When Maddox narrowly lost the Democratic primary for attorney general in 2002, he carried 40 counties, from Panhandle conservatives to Broward County liberals.

And nobody questions Maddox's ability in firing up a partisan crowd, least of all Maddox. The party used to sell CDs featuring great Democratic speeches: Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Scott Maddox.

"People in our own party are flocking to say, "We've got to change if we're going to win. We've got to be more like them.' If we're more like them, what's the point?" Maddox thundered to the Democrats in Collier County. "I'm asking you not to settle. As Democrats we need to have the courage of our convictions! We need to plant the flag of our beliefs and stand by them! As Democrats we should stand up and be loud and be proud!"

Between Davis' dry image and Smith's relatively conservative voting record, some strategists see a wide opening for Maddox in the Democratic primary if he can raise enough money. He need only plant himself in Southeast Florida and deliver months of red-meat partisan speeches, while Smith and Davis scrap for moderate voters in Central and North Florida.

Playing the loud and proud Democrat, of course, works a lot better in a primary contest dominated by liberal voters than in a general election for a state that rarely elects Democrats anymore.

Among the party activists buzzing about the stirring words from Dean and Maddox in Naples last week, Davis can take solace that a few people sounded more interested in competence than inspiration.

"Jim Davis understands the issues," said retiree Eileen Wall. "I think he has a better chance."

Adam C. Smith can be reached at 727 893-8241 or adam@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 24, 2005, 01:03:20]