Florida lucrative for McCain, GOP

Posted on Thu, Feb. 21, 2008 Florida lucrative for McCain, GOP BY BETH REINHARD AND ROB BARRY In a potentially worrisome sign for the Democratic Party, their presidential candidates fell $3 million behind the Republican field in fundraising over the past year in Florida, a must-win state in the general election. Defying a national trend driven by record-setting fundraising by Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the GOP contenders collected nearly $17 million in Florida, outpacing the Democrats, who raised about $14 million, according to a Miami Herald analysis of Federal Election Commission reports.

Democratic money dropped off in Florida at the end of last year after an uproar over the state's early primary date. The national party stripped the state of its delegates to the nominating convention, and the major candidates announced a boycott.

The GOP took away only half of Florida's delegates, a lighter punishment that didn't stop the Republican candidates from waging vigorous fundraising and grass-roots campaigns.

''It's only the beginning of what Senator McCain will do for the general election,'' said Tallahassee lobbyist Brian Ballard, a major fundraiser for the presumptive Republican nominee.

McCain collected $1.3 million in Florida in January, more than any other candidate. Some Democrats are concerned that the GOP's fundraising advantage and higher profile in the nation's largest battleground state will carry over into November, especially as the nomination remains unsettled and Florida Democrats seethe over their votes not counting toward delegates.

''The national [Democratic] Party continues to do everything they can to encourage Republicans to carry the state of Florida,'' said Steve Geller of Hallandale Beach, the Democratic leader in the state Senate. ``If Florida delegates are not seated at the convention in August, there are people who will say that if you don't want our votes, don't ask us for our money.''

Fort Lauderdale lawyer Mitchell Berger, a longtime Democratic fundraiser, said the Republican fundraising edge also stems from the party's control of state government, headed by the popular Gov. Charlie Crist.

''The Republican hold on the power in this state will be part of the assessment as to how competitive Florida will be in the fall, but I still think we will be in play,'' Berger said.

Geller said he remains confident that the Democratic nominee will win Florida. A record number of Democrats -- more than 1.7 million voters -- turned out in the Jan. 29 primary.

McCain's campaign nearly went bust last summer but rebounded after his Jan. 8 victory in the New Hampshire primary. In Florida and around the country, donors who had sat on the sidelines or grown disenchanted with his rivals rallied around McCain in the final weeks before the state's primary. One recent donor: former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.

''After New Hampshire, things just started coming together,'' said Republican lobbyist Ana Navarro, a leading McCain supporter in Florida. ``He started looking more like a winner, and people wanted to be on the winning team.''

McCain will be back in Florida on March 5 for fundraisers in Naples and Palm Beach, Navarro said.

''I think you will see the Florida Republican structure support McCain enthusiastically and unequivocally,'' she said.

But McCain's last-minute surge still put him behind several other candidates in overall Florida fundraising. Clinton raised the most, about $7 million -- of which $1 million was for the general election -- while Rudy Giuliani, who dropped out after losing in Florida, came in second with $5.5 million. Obama raised $4.2 million in the state.

Former President Bill Clinton will be in South Florida on Friday at fundraisers for his wife in Key Biscayne, Parkland and Boca Raton.

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Maybe Florida should play by the rules. They were warned not to have their primary at the early date chosen. The penalty was not seating the delegates...can Florida never run an election properly? No delegates should be seated.

I heard a pundit of Cuban descent on CNN say that Obama’s position on Castro has probably already lost Obama the state of Florida.

To me it looks like yet another election coming down to Ohio. I really can’t see Obama winning any of the 2004 red states except Ohio and Missouri. I could also see McCain possibly flipping Wisconsin and maybe a Michigan or Pennsylvania. Longshot, but more possible than in 2004 IMO.

If I were McCain I would hit Ohio hot and heavy NOW, maybe even campaign there during these next couple of weeks. Getting the socialist info on Obama out early and often in Ohio, Missouri and Florida will pay dividends later.

yeah without having to spend major funds in Fla. Pa and Ohio could look good...Wi. i hope for

thank god we can’t....let them be seated and take this to the convention..

“Florida lucrative for McCain, GOP”

I guess that’s good, ‘cause neither he nor they are gettin’ any money from me.

Even more important than not having to spend major funds to win FL. . .NOT HAVING TO PUT CHARLIE CRIST ON THE TICKET !!!