Curt Clawson wins Republican nomination in Florida special election

WaPo ^ | April 22 at 8:08 pm | SEAN SULLIVAN

[dontreadthis]

Businessman Curt Clawson won the Republican nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 19th district Tuesday, a giant step toward becoming a member of Congress in the heavily conservative district. Clawson, who loaned his campaign nearly $2.7 million of his own money through early April, defeated three other candidates in a special primary election: State Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, businessman Michael Dreikorn and former state representative Paige Kreegel.

[montag813]

I have yet to see a situation where Palin didn’t endorse the woman candidate over a male candidate.

Me too. And Lizbeth was lame -- a former Democrat (not so long ago) who married a much old man who is a big Democrat donor. Lousy endorsement by Palin here, and it's not the first. I was sickened by her robust defense of the traitor McCain after his rightful GOP censure in AZ this winter.

[montag813]

My personal preference was Benacquisto but that was basically only because Sarah Palin endorsed her as one of her “Mama Grizzleys”.

Funny how Palin never chooses a "Papa Grizzly" -- even when the "Mama" is a pro-Common Core, former Democrat like Benacquisto.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Look.....Curt Clawson won the primary by a significant margin in what was a generally heavy voter turnout in the primary, 35% of the registered Republican voters, voted. There were close to 72,000 votes cast in the primary. Since this is in a “Safe” Republican district, Clawson will easily defeat his Obamabot, Democrat opponent.

Just like the massive Republican votes in the recent Texas primary....Florida is following the same pattern. First, David Jolly defeats Alex Sink, an Obamabot, Democrat, handily and now a strong Republican primary turnout in FL!9CD!!! And yes....Republican House seats will even be won in certain CDs in NY & California!!!

IMHO....gotta keep the pressure on. All this Freeper squabble after a primary vote has been decided is useless. The candidates all had the same chance to win. The winner is the winner.....and, so be it!! The point.....when the election day arrives in a few weeks for FL19CD.....all moderats, Blue Dog Democrats, Conservatives, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, etc., better get out and literally, politcally slaughter Curt Clawson’s Democrat, Obamabot opponent. Why? Easy.....our precious country is at stake!! End of story!!! On “special” election day...everyone in FL19CD vote to support Curt Clawson!!! We don’t need disruptive words after a primary election has been decided by the voters....we need actions that gain victories!!! And that means, turning out to actaully vote on election day!!!

[GeronL]

If so, he can’t expect any $ from the GOPe

[Carry_Okie]

Lizbeth Benaquisto supports common core, so that rules her out to me.

Yet another endorsement by Palin over a person with better conservative positions. There have been several.

[Carry_Okie]

His backing by TEA Party Express was influential, but you don't mention them.

Sorry, just because Palin backs a candidate does NOT mean that person is a conservative, as her endorsement of Carly Fiorina in California showed.

[vette6387]

“Maybe clawson will prove me wrong and turn out to be a RINO, but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

Exactly! I could not understand the guy who said that he normally supported some known quantity ( I guess some variation of the devil you know vs. the devil you don’t). With a thought process like that, you retain all these inbred losers because you can’t decide if a new candidate is capable. “Oooo! Let’s leave that a$$hole who’s been in office for 40 years because the new guy might be worse!” A House race is only for two years. If the guy is a looser, you can vote him out in 24 months! Clawson sounds like a decent bet to me.

[Catsrus]

As much as I adore Sarah and believe she is more right than wrong on issues, she has a tendency to endorse the female candidate in a race - thus, sometimes overlooking their issues. I actually hate the term “Mama Grizzlies.” JMO.

[BillyBoy]

>> His backing by TEA Party Express was influential, but you don't mention them. <<

I wasn't aware the "Tea Party Express" endorsed him, but that would be yet another reason NOT to support him. Most of the candidates they've endorsed have turned out to be lousy (John Raese, Richard Mourdock, Sharron Angle, Justin Amash, Mark Neumann, Christine O’Donnell, Marco Rubio, and quite recently they endorsed "Obama's conservative cousin" in Kansas, and I criticized them for that). They're a California based "Tea Party" group that has a bad habit of sticking their noses in primary campaigns across the country where they're ill-informed about the candidates.

I don't know if Erick Erickson from "RedState" (gotta loves conservatives who embrace the liberal media's terminology for them) endorsed in this race, but that would be another clear example of a self-appointed "conservative leader" whose endorsements turn out to be mostly disastrous.

>> Sorry, just because Palin backs a candidate does NOT mean that person is a conservative, as her endorsement of Carly Fiorina in California showed. <<

I agree. Palin MOSTLY backs good conservatives, but she is NOT infallible and she has occasionally endorsed awful candidates. I don't decide a person is conservative merely because Sarah Palin endorsed them.

Unfortunately, a number of conservatives DO decide a candidate is conservative merely because Mark Levin or some self-appointed "Tea Party" leader endorsed them, and the result has been people like Marco Rubio and Sharon Angle embarrassing conservatives and dragging us down. I am tired of hearing so-and-so instantly deserves our support because their god Mark Levin told them to support this person on his radio show. People need to evaluate candidates on their own and stop letting some celebrity tell them what to believe.

[Syncro]

Yes, the TPX was quite involved in FL the last few days.

Tea Party-Backed Curt Clawson Wins in Landside

Congratulations! We did it!

Thanks to your loyal support, we are celebrating the movement's first victory of 2014 in Florida's 19th Congressional district tonight with Tea Party-supported Curt Clawson.

Curt Clawson making his victory speech

Tonight, Southwest Florida voted to send a bold Tea Party conservative to D.C. Curt Clawson's unique background as a former CEO of a multi-billion dollar international company will be a powerful addition to Congress.

The results tonight were clear, Curt Clawson's Tea Party message of economic growth and fiscal responsibility resonated with the voters of Southwest Florida. It was exactly that kind of platform that fueled Republican victories in 2010 and 2012, and we're starting 2014 with another decisive victory here tonight.

 

We are with the campaign celebrating tonight before we continue the "Fighting for Liberty" tour tomorrow

Curt's success sends a clear message to candidates across the country: you win elections by campaigning in bold colors, not pale pastels, as President Reagan once famously said.

It also sends a message to te whole nation that the grassroots Tea Party movement is alive and well.

 

 

 

Stay tuned, I'll be posting more along the route, today a rally in Mobile, AL at 5:30

[Cicero]

Agreed.

[yongin]

the ‘i am not a politican’ worked well for mcallister, clawson, and raunner. the real test will be if bevin and mcdaniel can win.

[yongin]

in other news, erick erickson endorsed karen handel. he said the gop-e say no way to broun in both primary and general.

[Impy]

Bevin will lose by a huge margin.

McDaniel is a politician, which is a major reason why he’s a much better candidate than Bevin.

[Bratch]

Post by Sarah Palin.

---

Congratulations to Curt Clawson on his victory in the Florida District 19 special election and to Lizbeth Benacquisto for running a great race. Now it’s time to unite behind the victor and secure this seat for commonsense conservatives in the general election on June 24th.

---

Seems as if Governor Palin has accepted the results and moved on.

Good advice, IMO.

[ObamahatesPACoal]

I was worried too. But he will just be a rich businessman promoting amnesty if he does become a RINO. Not really a big gain in the house. If Clawson voted for or promoted amnesty in the next 6 months any primary challenger would beat him next time. Now Lizbeth has to go back to the state senate and stall the tuition bill Jeb and Rick Scott are promoting.

Perdue in GA is the McAllister. The others whether fiscally liberal are more trustworthy on immigration. Kingston, Broun, Handel and Gingrey are better on immigration.

Mickey Kaus is on to Perdue.
https://twitter.com/kausmickey/status/458768201346592769

Ted Yoho was a good upgrade. He calls Steve King a conservative leader and told the Dreamers who confronted him no rewards for bad behaviour.

[ObamahatesPACoal]

Roger Wicker and Barbour need to be sent a message about amnesty.

[Clintonfatigued]

Clawson basically bought the seat with family money. Liz Benacquisto could have been a star, but instead we’re stuck with another stuffed shirt.