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The Buzz: Florida politics

Ex-Senate leader Lott not keen on a President Jeb

By TIMES STAFF WRITERS
Published May 14, 2006

Back in 2002, when then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott caused an uproar by seeming to praise Strom Thurmond's segregationist past, Jeb Bush was among the first prominent Republicans to criticize him vocally. So perhaps we shouldn't be all that surprised when on Hardball with Chris Matthews Lott didn't sound especially thrilled with President Bush's suggestion that his little brother would make a great third President Bush.

"Frankly, I don't think it's a good idea," Lott said. "I would not be supportive of Jeb Bush running for president. But I certainly understand why the president would say that about his own brother."

Lott went on to say Hillary Clinton can be defeated in 2008, but he doubted Jeb Bush could beat her.

TV TIME: Check out the spirited exchange between Manatee County Democratic chairman C.J. Czaia and Manatee Republican chairman Mark Flanagan today on Political Connections. Flanagan, a last-minute entry into the crowded Republican field to succeed Katherine Harris in Congress, stands squarely behind Harris' Senate candidacy, calling her "a fantastic individual and a true conservative," and despite the president's terrible poll numbers would love to campaign beside him.

"Absolutely," Flanagan said. "President Bush is one of the greatest presidents ever to serve, especially during this time when we are at war."

Czaia acknowledged Democrats need to be better about pushing ideas, instead of just criticizing. He agreed with much of the president's immigration proposal. He also brushed off familiar criticisms of Democrats.

"They talk about the tax-and-spend Democrats. I only see that from the Republican side. ... Quit blaming the Dems; blame the people who have the control, and they're failing to do their job," Czaia said.

Political Connections is broadcast at 11 a.m. on Bay News 9. Starting Monday, the interview can be seen on Ch. 340 (Tampa Bay on Demand).

NURTURING THE GRASS ROOTS: Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist last week announced his campaign team for Hillsborough County. Honorary chairmen are state Sens. Victor Crist and Jim Sebesta. Honorary co-chairmen are Reps. Kevin Ambler, Bill Galvano and Ron Reagan, Sheriff David Gee, Tampa City Council member Rose Ferlita and State Attorney Mark Ober. The chairman is activist Greg Truax. Co-chairmen are Dr. Dennis Agliano, former president of the Florida Medical Association, Bennett Barrow, Eric Brown, Hoe (Bill) Brown, John Evon, Hank Gill, Andy Graham, Ken Hamilton, John Holcomb, Bruce Houghton, Mel Jurado, Rod Jurado, Oscar Kanahan, Francesca Prokos, Tom Rockey, Gil Singer, Kari Souders, Marty Traber, Tim Turner and Bob (Gator Bob) Young. Crist also announced a statewide coalition of African-American supporters, whose leaders include former St. Petersburg NAACP president Darryl Rouson. Meanwhile, Republican Tom Gallagher, who in January rolled out campaign organizations for all 67 counties, touted some stats to show him ahead in the ground game. Since April 29, Gallagher's gubernatorial campaign "knocked on more than 75,000 doors in 10 targeted counties and placed more than 114,000 phone calls," the campaign boasted last week.

"Reaching more than 200,000 Republican voters this early in a primary campaign is an extraordinary accomplishment. But more impressive ... is the manner in which Tom's campaign conducted this voter outreach," said former state GOP chairman Al Cardenas. "They used pinpoint accuracy to maximize the effect of their effort, using dedicated volunteers - not paid workers."

POLL POSITION: An internal poll circulating among supporters of Democratic attorney general candidate Walter "Skip" Campbell shows some remarkably grim numbers for Florida Republicans. Consider this question:

"As you may know, Republicans in Florida have controlled the governor's (office), state Legislature, and most statewide offices for about the last decade. Do you think it's time to put ..."

More Democrats in office: 45 percent.

Keep Republican control: 24 percent.

Doesn't really matter: 26 percent.

The telephone survey of 600 likely voters by Washington pollster Keith Frederick includes other incredible numbers:

While mostly focused on attorney general issues, the poll showed 67 percent of voters had a favorable view of Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, and in the governor's race it showed Democrat Jim Davis beating Charlie Crist 44 percent to 37 percent and Democrat Rod Smith beating Crist 42 percent to 37 percent, though most people did not know much about Davis or Smith (Gallagher wasn't included). In the attorney general's race, Campbell - though unknown to three-quarters of those surveyed - was statistically tied with Bill McCollum (unknown to 38 percent), 41 percent to 37 percent. The survey had a margin of error of 3.5 percent.

COPS FOR BILL: In the Republican primary for attorney general, the statewide Fraternal Order of Police pinned an endorsement on McCollum Tuesday.

"When he was in Congress, if we saw a problem, he was willing to talk to us and let us bring it to his attention," union president James Mann said.

Meanwhile, state Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, is mild-mannered in the Legislature, but his campaign for attorney general appears anything but. Last week the Saunders campaign fired off an e-mail reminding reporters that McCollum has been a lobbyist since leaving Congress and in the 2000 election cycle received $4,000 in campaign contributions connected to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. "Clearly, if the Florida GOP wants to get "Abramoffed' all we need to do is nominate Washington lobbyist Bill McCollum as our candidate for attorney general. We deserve better," the Saunders campaign said.

Adam C. Smith contributed to this week's Buzz. For much more political news check out www.sptimes.com/blogs/buzz

[Last modified May 14, 2006, 00:49:03]