AN ILL WIND BLOWS
Posted on 09/18/2004 7:32:30 PM PDT by tellw
ORLANDO, Fla. - (KRT) - Democrat John Kerry's presidential campaign, blown off course in Florida by three hurricanes, plans to resume efforts to win the crucial battleground state next week with a blitz of five key cities.
Kerry or his running mate, John Edwards, plans events in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami and West Palm Beach, the campaign said Friday. Details will be released Saturday.
The resumption comes at a crucial moment for the Kerry campaign, locked in a battle with President Bush for the White House.
In recent weeks, Bush has moved into a lead in some national polls, though the dozen or so battleground states - which will decide the presidency - remain statistical tossups.
For Kerry, it will be his first campaign trip to Florida since July 26, when he appeared at a forum in Cape Canaveral, on his way to Boston to accept the Democratic nomination.
He also visited Punta Gorda shortly after Hurricane Charley decimated the Gulf Coast town, but he made no campaign appearances.
In campaign terms, Kerry's nearly two-month hiatus may seem like a lifetime in a state long targeted as the linchpin in this fall's presidential race.
But Democrats say hurricanes here are changing the political calculus.
"We think the race here essentially has been frozen for several weeks," said Matt Miller, a Kerry campaign spokesman. "But, obviously, we want to be in Florida as much as possible between now and November."
Bush, though, has been active. He is scheduled to tour the hurricane-ravaged Pensacola area Sunday, along with surveying damage left by Hurricane Ivan in neighboring Alabama.
Bush's visit to Florida, which he carried by 537 votes four years ago, will be his 28th trip to the state since he took office.
He also made trips after Hurricane Charley, presenting $2 billion in federal aid, and after Hurricane Frances, for which he has requested an additional $3.1 billion.
The Kerry-Edwards events set for next week were still being finalized Friday.
"It'll be good for him to come here," said Doug Head, Orange County Democratic chairman. "This town is still a little torn up from Hurricane Charley. People have been pretty distracted for the past month."
Kerry had intended to be in Florida, but the triple hit from hurricanes forced those plans to change. He canceled a couple of Florida appearances in deference to the cleanup efforts, and Edwards also canceled an appearance in Fort Myers last month when Charley loomed.
An independent group helping Democratic voter efforts also canceled a Miami Beach fund-raiser with entertainer Bette Midler because of that storm.
"People's attention has clearly been on other things," said Matthew Corrigan, a University of North Florida political scientist. "And that's usually not good for a challenger who needs their focus to make his case."
My thoughts exactly. That being said, more exposure = less votes. If he needs a place to stay, I have a spare bedroom in Juno Beach.
I also have a nasty Siamese kitten with all his claws that doesn't like strangers. Especially strange strangers.
Yeah, but there's some world class wind surfing down there.
Tell him to bring the 'little missus' with him. Florida needs to have a good look at her!
Oh geez - I've been out of the loop!
It would be a hoot if all the hurricane victims came to his 'rally' naked!!
LOLOL
Good point. I am willing to bet that The Factor has figured out a way to blacklist email addresses who send in letters that they don't agree with. I would assume that you and I are both on that list.
I live here in South Florida (Broward County, the most Democratic county in the state, and the site where Gore stole a good 500 votes during the 2000 "recount") and I think Bush needs to make damn sure that he wins this state. He can't depend on just Jeb's influence.
I don't think Florida is secure yet...
But I bet the Kerry buses already are booked.......
I'm in!
Warrior Nurse, bring Apollo, please. He'll keep the Kerryaniacs on their best behavior! LOL!
AN ILL WIND BLOWS
Leni
The weather report for today:
"Well people, it looks like we have another disturbed atmospheric condition headed our way. It's name is John F'n Kerry. It wobbles this way and that, has two eyes, a brick wall, it is scrambling to get organized and it is unwelcome here in Florida. The predicted paths show him looking like the Palm Beach Voting Ballot."
We've had enough trouble in Florida without having to put up with Kerry/Edwards. Those guys are just sucking up our air with their bluster and spin. We are just starting to pick up the trash around here and don't need them to contribute their dirt.
Clinton could blitz. Kerry is just plain lazy. It's the "beatin'est" thing--he seems bored and tipsy and silly all the time. It's like he's going through the motions until cocktail hour...
Any news on time and location yet?
I've been scouring the Kerry site and I can't find a thing.
Love it!!! ... hee hee
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.