Ultimately, our biggest mistake was not running Toni Jennings for Governor and George needed a “Come to Jesus” set up with his brother and explain why he needed to do what Bob Graham did in ‘86. If we can’t get our most popular vote-getters to run for office, how will we ever keep or win back our majorities ?
Actually, rumors about Good Time Charlie fathering a kid out of wedlock probably would’ve improved his standing with Conservatives. Most folks on the ground know Charlie is barely in the closet. That impending “marriage” is as odious as the McGreevey fraud in NJ. I wonder how much the lady is being paid. As I said, my sole problem with Gallagher was his tying himself to a permanently crippled KH, whose campaign was a textbook example of incompetence. I had people telling me in private just how much of a nightmare her campaign was (yes, all along I gave her credit for her 2000 performance, she did her job there, but she was permanently crippled, not only by the media, but by herself). I had a sneaking suspicion had she even run for a 3rd term in ‘06 to her House seat, she’d have been defeated. She couldn’t get above 55% in both her runs, inexcusably low for a GOP district, and in ‘04. Half the primary voters viewed her as toxic, nevermind erratic. At least Vern Buchanan saved the seat for us.
As for Slick Willard, heaven help us had he bought the nomination and conned more rubes, he would’ve folded like a cheap suit in the fall campaign blistering media spotlight. The media would’ve taken enormous delight pointing out to the GOP base just how liberal he is, how much of a liar he is, and his other various flaws.
I think Jeb passed on the Senate race in 2006, because he was still spooked by his close defeat in 1994. I think you said once that the GOP rarely ousts Dem Senators even with a conservative wave across the country. So Jeb must think an open race is better. Should Jeb run, the field will be cleared for him. While GW Bush is political poison, Jeb still has enough goodwill residing in FL. Jeb did build a machine that enabled the GOP to take the FL legislature and statewide offices. When he left office, the FL GOP still stood strong.
On another note, the fight for RNC Chair is getting interesting. Saul A. of MI is trying to form a solidarity bloc with GOP officials above the Mason-Dixon line. He says the GOP needs shed its Southern image and be more diverse. Saul A. is hoping Chip Salsman and Kim Dawson will divide the Southern vote, while he gets all the non-dixie vote. Keep in mind, Saul A is a Romney ally. Should he get the RNC chair job, we know what his number priority will be in the next 4 years.