Welcome to another edition of political stocks, who is up and who is down, in O-town!
This post is centered around the results of the 8th district Orlando Sentinel Op-ed interviews. The endorsement from the hometown newspaper is a big deal. A lot of your over 50 voters, and retirees in this, older community will still sit down, have their coffee and read the paper. These same voters will also vote in non-presidential elections, so yeah, it can be a big deal.
Do you want to see, what the candidates are really made of? Take a look at these interview videos. They’re not the easiest interviews to watch. Mike Lafferty and company, sit the candidates down, stick a mic and a camera in their face, and verbally beat them with the toughest questions they can think of, in a silent board room, The whole experience is rather uncomfortable, but this is as real as it gets, folks. Here are the stocks:
Who’s up:
Dan Webster: He strolled right into this Republican primary, after waiting till the last minute and had a solid fundraising quarter. He took the Orlando Sentinel endorsement, even though they grilled him on Teri Schaivo for almost five minutes of the video.
Todd Long, Kurt Kelly: It looks like the race, to beat Alan Grayson is a 3 horse event now. Long and Kelly didn’t get the endorsements, but the generally positive, write up from the Sentinel, gave voters enough to re-enforce their faith in these two candidates. I don’t think they lost any votes, they might have had before.
Karen Diebel: My non district 8 stock, is Karen Diebel. Her timing for TV was perfect. She had a solid fundraising quarter and against the astonishingly dull Craig Miller, she seems to be the right choice for Republicans in the primary. You can check out her commercial here.
Who is down?
Bruce O’donoghue: I like Bruce, but he hasn’t been getting any love from the older Republican guard, since Dan Webster jumped in the race. It doesn’t seem very fair, a lot of people wanted him to run and now the support that was suppose to be there, isn’t showing up. I wouldn’t count him out yet though, he’s still got some sharp minds backing him.
Dan Fanelli, Ross Beiling: Can’t raise any money, can’t win a straw poll, can’t get any media coverage. Got slammed by the Sentinel Op-Ed.
I exclude Patricia Sullivan, because I look at those pictures and I see A LOT of people, that is the definition of a grassroots campaign and she was the first candidate to sit for my very boring military briefing. Her strategy centers around strong support in the perimeters of the district. My eyes don’t reach Lake county, so I won’t count her out, yet. She is also about the nicest person you can know.
Bill McCollum and Kendrick Meek: It’s a damn shame, but McCullom is pulling back some of his Ads, while Rick Scott is ramping up his. On the left side of the Senate Race Jeff Greene, is trying to do the same to Kendrick Meek. You can’t be allowed to buy public office, guys. My Democratic readers, you need to vote Kendrick Meek…the best man in Jeff Greene’s wedding was Mike Tyson for crying out loud.
Your communications director for the next Senator from Florida?
Have a great day, people!
Kurt Kelly will be the victor in District 8! He does not have any of the baggage that Long or Webster has, he has raised a decent amount of money, and he has great grassroots support! Combined together he is almost unstoppable. Especially when you factor in his straw poll victories, which the margin has only been increasing!
The reason Dan Webster was endorsed by the Sentinel was because the Sentinel wanted to put up the weakest candidate from the Republicans. They are a very liberal paper. For example, they also endorsed Obama in 2008 and John Kerry in 2004!
Kurt Kelly is the man who will beat Alan Grayson!
I like Rep. Kelly, he is a Young Republicans favorite and a gifted public speaker. Kelly vs. Webster….Young Republicans vs. the old guard? Could there be a shift in power?
I think so! Rep. Kelly definitely has the momentum and I have a feeling that he will win the primary and win the general in a landslide.
I think Sam Adams is right. I was going to vote for Daniel Webster UNTIL that announcement. But there is no way I am going to let the Sentinel editorial board determine who our champion is… Kurt Kelly was closely my next choice anyway. Saw him speak and you are right Frank he is a gifted speaker. I think that MAY be the most important thing right now.
One of the GOP’s biggest problems is the lack of communication skills. Kelly stands above the field with his bold style of clearly articulating conservatism. He reminds me of Chris Christie. We need Kurt’s skills in our faceoff with Grayson.
Thank you for realizing that Kurt Kelly is the right choice. Make sure to tell all of your friends and check out his website, facebook, twitter and youtube
You forgot to mention that Bruce’s stock is down this week because of his embarrassing tax lien. Looks like he failed Mel Martinez who said this in his endorsement:
He said O’Donoghue’s business background, as president of Control Specialists Co., was crucial. “Someone who knows business who has managed a payroll is in the best position to create jobs,” said Martinez, who quit the Senate last year to join the lobbying and legal firm DLA Piper.http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-01-30/news/os-new-grayson-opponent-20100129_1_rep-alan-grayson-dla-piper-endorsements
Babe’s Ruth Brother, You forgot to mention that you have infringed on my copyrights. not to mention that you created a youtube channel with my name and reported on the Orlando Political Press as it was mine. That is illegal my friend and your dirty tactics aren’t going to work. I have contacted youtube.
You are such a punk. Go cry to your mommy.
I thought that cartoon, he put out a few months back was pretty funny as well. Does anyone know if Kelly or any of the other GOP nominees are planning to hit TV, anytime soon? It’s getting to be that time, with the primary only a month away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gelLU9KMQr0 here is the link
I dont think any of the candidates have enough money to hit the air. Especially with the governors and senators race taking up so much air time.
I heard a radio ad for Ross Beiling today during Glenn Beck. I was thinking “Ross who?”