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Democrat says strength is electability

State Sen. Rod Smith says he has the ability to appeal to rural voters.

By ADAM C. SMITH
Published August 19, 2005

	State Sen. Rod Smith says he will be more popular with rural voters. The Buzz blog: Notes from the political scene by the Times staff

ST. PETERSBURG - They may agree on most issues, but Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rod Smith said Thursday he's better equipped than rival Jim Davis to win and his track record shows he'd be a more effective governor.

"I think there's a stark difference in the kind of leadership Rod Smith and Jim Davis will provide," the state senator and former prosecutor told the St. Petersburg Times editorial board. "I think that I've made a much bigger difference wherever I've been."

The shot at Davis, the Tampa congressman, comes unusually early in a primary campaign where Davis is the nominal front-runner, but polls show that roughly half the voters are undecided. Smith said he never mentions his primary opponents in speeches, but he didn't hesitate to respond to a direct question of what sets him apart.

"I think Jim will follow the exact pattern that Democratic candidates have always followed in this state," Smith said, stressing that he is better equipped to win back the rural voters and North Florida Democrats who have been voting overwhelmingly Republican in recent years.

Speaking later to the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club in St. Petersburg, Smith was slightly more diplomatic: "I think electability is the primary difference, and I think over time that will be shown," he said, only briefly mentioning Scott Maddox, the third Democrat in the race.

The Davis campaign brushed off Smith's comments.

"Jim Davis has been talking to voters all across the state, and voters have been responding to him," said spokesman Tait Sye. "Jim has been a leader on issues important to Florida - education, the environment, affordable health care."

Much like Davis does, Smith, 55, describes himself as a proud Democrat who also has a knack for working with Republicans. He said he is eager to take on any Republican in the general election.

When Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Gallagher, Florida's chief financial officer, stresses family values, Smith said he'll debate him about how Republican leaders are valuing families when they cut investment taxes for wealthy Floridians while the state ranks toward the bottom of education funding lists, on children covered by health insurance, graduation rates and teacher pay.

When Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, Florida's attorney general, stresses keeping Floridians safe, Smith, who prosecuted serial killer Danny Rolling, says he'll eagerly debate why community policing dollars are being cut and prosecutors and public defenders are not being funded adequately.

To the editorial board, Smith said he can compete with Gallagher and Crist in parts of the state where Republicans are often stronger.

"I don't think that Gallagher and Crist can translate in North Florida like Jeb Bush did and certainly not like George Bush did. They're not seen as two good ol' boys, and that will make a big difference in a part of the state that's been voting overwhelmingly Republican in recent times - despite their demonstrable economic disadvantage," he said. "When you drive through Baker County and you find the only thing new in front of their trailer and besides their broken down pickup is a big W sign, it's amazing to me, when they've just talked about outsourcing the mental health facility there."

Asked about where he'd find money to pay for more school funding and other priorities, Smith downplayed the lack of money available, noting that lawmakers spent more than $250-million cutting the intangibles tax on investments rather than putting more money into the state's new prekindergarten program.

He predicted that revenue from slot machines in parts of Florida and revenue-sharing from gambling on Indian reservations would enable the state to better fund education. Likewise, he said he supports periodically reviewing sales tax exemptions. He also would consider raising cigarette taxes, though "you'd have to talk about it last."

Adam C. Smith can be reached at 727893-8241 or adam@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 19, 2005, 01:04:19]