Normally, fights for positions within a state’s official political party are dull affairs, reserved for the hardcore political insiders. In fact, if you were to ask the voters standing in line last November if they new who Rod Smith (outgoing Dem party chair) or Lenny Curry (recently, re-elected GOP chairman) less than 1% would probably know and that %1 percent would probably recognize Smith as Alex Sink’s invisible running mate from 2010.
These positions are important. They’re an important part of the political strategy that takes place on the ground, that can often win or lose elections. In a state with as many moving parts as Florida, organization is key in helping candidates win or lose races.
This is especially important for Democrats, a party in Florida that hasn’t had success in an election without Barack Obama in a very, very long time.
They can’t recruit, they can’t fundraise and their grassroots efforts in swing regions are ineffective. They fight amongst each other out in the open, through social media, message boards, and during meetings.
The GOP is the complete opposite on the state level. Candidates lined up for the next two cycles, fundraising coffers full, enthusiasm on the ground both from establishment conservatives and tea partiers.
The President is termed out. Bill Nelson will ride off into the sunset soon. The staples are gone. The Democratic Party of Florida needs a leader or they’ll watch all of their gains delivered by the Obama for American Campaign disappear in 2014.
This brings us to Saturday January 26th, where FDP will elect their next leader just down the road in Lake Mary. The two candiates? Fundraiser Allison Tant and Grassroots Activist Alan Clendenin.
The tone of the contest feels like a liberal establishment vs anti-establishment match-up with the majority of the debate stemming from the plans of both candidates, which share many talking points like recruiting, technology, and diversity.
They’ve both got endorsements.
Allison Tant rolled out nods from Senator Nelson and DNC Chairwoman and South Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Clendenin has got former CFO and Gubernatorial Candidate Alex Sink along with a slew of other Democratic organizations.
What about Charlie Crist? The former Republican Governor who is FDP’s best chance for taking back the Governor’s mansion in 2014? All signs indicate that Tant could work with Crist. Clendenin would prefer his endorser Sink as would many of the loyalist, that could be instrumental in a primary.
If you’re going through election withdraws, pull up a chair. There has already been a lot of political drama, and it’s only going to escalate before a winner is declared in Lake Mary at the end of the month.
Tant vs. Clendenin will determine who steers FDP forward
