Politics

Clinton is coming, but it won't be Hillary

By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor
Published October 14, 2007

Which Democratic presidential hopeful has the strongest backbone? When it comes to the "pledge" the Democrats have signed to boycott Florida's Jan. 29 primary, Hillary Clinton so far is the one standing up strongest for Florida Democrats.

Yes, the Democratic front-runner is avoiding overt campaigning in Florida. But she's also the only Democrat willing to test the limits of that pledge to the Democratic chairs in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada not to campaign in any other state with a primary sooner than Feb. 5.

The latest example comes Oct. 21, when Bill Clinton headlines a Clinton fundraiser in Miami, in which students, teachers, Democratic executive committee members and union members can get in for $50. Fundraising is allowed under that pledge, but this veers close to a rally.

That may sound like nothing, but Clinton is already taking heat for last week declining to strip her name off of Michigan's Jan. 15 primary ballot: "If she'll break her word to participate in a virtually meaningless primary, what won't she break her word for?" scolded New Hampshire's Manchester Union Leader.

David Yepsen with the Des Moines Register last month took a shot at Clinton for addressing South Florida seniors even before the pledge went into effect: "If you make a pledge, you keep it," Yepsen sniffed. "You're better off not making a promise than trying to wiggle around of what everyone thought you intended to do. Smart politicians don't play word games with Iowans."

Even if she won't visit, she's still our favorite

A Quinnipiac University poll released last week showed Clinton narrowly edging Rudy Giuliani, 46 percent to 43 percent, among Florida voters. The poll, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percent, found 49 percent of Florida voters had a favorable view of Clinton and 41 percent an unfavorable view, compared to 49-34 for Giuliani.

In the Democratic primary, Clinton was crushing Barack Obama 51 percent to 17 percent, followed by John Edwards with 10 percent. Among Republicans, Giuliani led with 27 percent, compared to 19 percent for Fred Thompson, 17 percent for Mitt Romney and 8 percent for John McCain.

Get used to this Democrat: Mike Gravel

That makes former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel the lone Democrat not to sign the pledge. In fact, he'll be campaigning throughout Florida next week, including a stop at St. Petersburg College's Clearwater campus Wednesday afternoon, followed by a fundraiser at Sam Seltzer Steakhouse in Clearwater.

Check out Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum on Political Connections today on Bay News 9. The taped interview touches on everything from Internet predators to his former U.S. Senate rival Mel Martinez and airs at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Davis joins 'marriage amendment' battle

Jim Davis, the former Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Tampa Bay U.S. representative, is now an honorary Florida co-chairman of Florida Red and Blue, a group fighting the so-called marriage amendment expected to be on the ballot in 2008.

Crist still polling high with voters

Taxes may not have dropped "like a rock," nor insurance bills, but Florida still adores Charlie Crist. A InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion Poll by the Florida Chamber of Commerce last week found 76 percent of Florida voters approve of the governor's performance and only 24 percent disapprove. More than eight in 10 Republicans and Democrats like the job he's doing, and two thirds of independents.

Et tu, Dennis?

Even long-shot Democratic candidate Dennis Kucinich, who vowed in May while in Tampa Bay that he'd campaign in Florida no matter what, has now signed the pledge to bypass Florida. Apparently he worried that doing otherwise might cause his poll numbers in Iowa and New Hampshire, 1 percent and 3 percent respectively, to plummet.

Ex-state rep to run against Feeney

National Democrats had been hunting for months for someone to take on U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo. Finally last week former state Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, jumped in. "I will be an independent and effective voice for working families, children and seniors in this district, and ensure that their interests - not the special interests - are represented in Congress," Kosmas said.

Adam C. Smith contributed to this week's Buzz.

[Last modified October 14, 2007, 01:03:18]