Congressional candidates (to succeed Katherine Harris in House)discuss abortion, national security

The Bradenton Herald ^ | May 26, 2006 | Stephen Majors

[Clintonfatigued]

All seven candidates for the 13th Congressional District seat made a joint appearance Thursday, answering questions on a variety of topics, such as abortion, national security and veterans benefits.

Appearing before a couple hundred people at the Tiger Bay Club at Michael's on East, the five Republican and two Democratic candidates were first asked by a moderator to describe themselves as liberal or conservative, and then to explain what they meant.

The two Democrats, Jan Schneider and Christine Jennings, described themselves as moderate Democrats, while two of the Republicans, Vern Buchanan and Mark Flanagan, said they were Ronald Reagan Republicans. State Rep. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, called herself a moderate Republican who supports abortion rights, and state Rep. Donna Clarke, R-Sarasota, said government should do what people can't do for themselves - "teach us how to fish, but not give us a fish everyday." Tramm Hudson said he was an American first and foremost, and that government should seek first to protect liberty.

[Clintonfatigued]

The front-runner at this point seems to be Vern Buchanan, based on his fundraising. But the key factor may be geography and home-town popularity.

The best way to analyze this election and reccomend favored candidates is to limit postings to the 13th. District of Florida and avoid mention of other elections.

[Joe Brower]

Vern Buchanan has definitely been outspending his competitors by a wide margin. That doesn't impress me very much, however.

[Joe Brower]

Florida Freeper

I'm compiling a list of FReepers interested in Florida-related topics.
If you want to be added, please FReepMail me.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Detert is the ultraRINO in the race, and has had the likes of Christie Whitman come down to headline a fundraiser (which she has prominently displayed on her campaign webpage). Buchanan seems the best bet to hold the seat for us.

[NautiNurse]

Buchanan attends every REC meeting. A tad too slick for my tastes, with an annoying habit of name dropping. He reminds me of a car salesman. Oh yeah...he is one.

He's swooning the young Pubbies like the Pied Piper.

[JulieRNR21]

As the solgan goes...."I'M WITH TRAMM'!!!

Buchanan has the money but not the record or chrisma that Trammm Hudson has. He lacks warmth and is not someone people seem to like. I've heard he's having trouble getting volunteers because he's so unlikeable. Of course, he can afford to 'pay volunteers'...but that doesn't buy commitment.

No one heard of Buchanan until last winter when he began to throw his money around Sarasota.....buying up chairman positions on charity committees & putting up billboards. He owns many car dealerships and there have been stories in the local liberal paper about past business dealings.

If Buchanan should get the nomination...the GOP hating NYT owned paper will probably start digging deeper and begin attacking his business record.

Hudson has a squeaky clean record as a veteran & local banker. Tramm became Chairman of the Sarasota GOP about 6 years ago when it was in dire financial situation and very fragmented politically. He built a solid organization and got people working together to strengthen the party.

I walked door to door with Tramm on a 'Super Saturday' a few weeks ago! Tramm is a consevative and I support him 100%.

[Clintonfatigued]

I noticed that Mark Flanagan recently entered the race. What do you know about him?

[NautiNurse]

Mark Flanagan recently resigned as the Chairman of the Manatee Co. Republican Party to run for the 13th District US House seat. He served in the FL Legislature until he ran against Mike Bennett in the District 21 FL Senate race. He lost in the primary.

Flanagan's website