Because she's the only GOP candidate running against Nelson. Do you want Nelson to run unopposed?
Seriously, I've got a dark horse candidate.
Robin Higgins is a retired USMC Lt.Col, former Florida Director of Veterans Affairs, former Asst. Director, U.S. Veterans Affairs, and in a time when terrorism prevention is a +17 Republican issue, she is the widow of Marine Corps Lt. Col Rich Higgins.
Col Higgins was serving as a UN "peacekeeper" in Lebanon, when he was kidnapped by Islamic terrorists who then brutally tortured him. Finally, they stripped him nude and hanged him, all on videotape... which they showed with great pride throughout SWA.
She has ISSUES that she can beat Nelson on, especially since I think Nelson voted against the re-auth. of the Patriot Act.
Since Nelson voted for the Patriot Act in 2001 and against it this year, we could even create another "I actually voted for it before I voted against it" commercial.
Some backgrund:
There are really "five Floridas" for demographic voting purposes.
1 Hispanic South Florida
2 Retired, mainly Jewish Southeast Florida
3 Retired, mainly non-Jewish Southwest Florida
4 Industrial I-4, along the interstate highways from Tampa to Orlando, Daytona and Jacksonville, It's a lot of Yupps, Dinks, etc.
5 The Panhandle, AKA the Redneck Riviera, where most cars have an NRA window decal
To win statewide in Florida, you need to win at least three of those zones.
Robin Higgins wins with the SW retired crowd big time 58-40
She sweeps the Redneck Riviera 62-35
She does 54-44 in Tampa to Jax
She takes away Nelson's strength in Jewish SE Florida with her strong stand against, (and personal experience with,) Islamic terrorism. Probably loses there 46-48
She even probably wins the Hispanic Miami vote with Senator Mel Martinez, and the Diaz-Billard Congresscritter brothers working for her and the strong patriotic stance of many Cubans who remember Castro. Call is 47-46.
Statewide? Easily 54%+
Statewide, she also has the Soccer Moms locked on security issues (remember, security issues are a +17 for us) and every military vet, (I.E. most of us down here) is out working our butt off for her.
Who except the Gays and Labor are working for Nelson?.. and Big Labor is almost meaningless here.
She loses the Black vote 80-20, but this isn't a Presidential year and we will ensure no one runs against Corinne Brown or Alcee Hhastings for Congress, so the Black turnout will be very low. What Black man is going to take time off work to vote for Bill Nelson?
Like I said, 54+, possibly even 55, 56%