War chests grow in Senate race (Florida)

Orlando Sentinel ^ | 4/2/03 | Mark Silva

[LdSentinal]

TALLAHASSEE -- U.S. Rep. Mark Foley of West Palm Beach has bolstered a fund-raising advantage in his campaign for the U.S. Senate, but former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum of Longwood has gotten off to a strong start in his bid for the office.

Foley will report raising $706,000 in the three months that ended Monday, raising his total cash on hand to $2.34 million. With this head start, Foley hopes to secure the 2004 Republican nomination for the seat held by Sen. Bob Graham, a Miami Lakes Democrat planning to announce a campaign for president later this month.

"The smart money in Florida is lining up behind our campaign," Foley said.

[jagrmeister]

McCollum will waste Foley's resources in the primary. If he has an ounce of good sense, he will drop out of the race and transfer his funds to Foley. McCollum was trounced by Nelson; put simply, McCollum has little electoral appeal state-wide. I'm looking forward to the WH intervening and forcing McCollum to see the light.

[JohnnyZ]

Whoa Jagr, how many liberal Republicans are you going to support on this forum? People are going to start thinking you're Torie's long lost twin!

I don't think wanting a pro-life nominee in Florida is too much to ask.

MEL MARTINEZ for SENATE

[JohnnyZ]

Besides the fact that Mark "country club" Foley stands a great chance of losing to Alex Panelas.

[ACAC]

I am not very excited about either Foley or McCollum. McCollum is a loser and Foley is too moderate for me. If I had to choose between the 2, I would choose Foley just because nominating McCollum is like giving the seat away.

[jagrmeister]

I've been reading the posts here. How is Foley too moderate? He has a 92 rating from the ACU. Martinez might work. It would be excellent to have a Republican minority as a Senator but I wonder if he has potential as a politician at the state-wide level- he's only held minor positions in the Orlando area prior to his appointment to head up HUD.

[JohnnyZ]

If you look at Foley's long term track record you'll see his career ACU rating is 81; he got a 64 in 2001. While certainly conservative on many issues, Foley is . . . PRO-ABORTION, which I and many others consider the kiss of death, especially in a non-communist state like Florida. He's also pro-campaign finance restrictions, if you care about that sort of thing. He represents a country-club district, and there is no reason to think he'd be unusually well-received statewide, although with redistricting he's essentially represented 2 districts (total) over his career. But essentially there's no reason to nominate a pro-abortionist in Florida when there are so many good pro-life politicians and the electorate is life-friendly. Personally, as a Catholic, I think it would be shameful to have another pro-abortion "Catholic" in the senate.

Re Martinez, he is very well known in Florida, and very popular, especially in the Cuban communities obviously, but has ties to the Bushes and a national profile which will obviously help him state-wide.

[flrepublican1]

Bill McCollum is going to trounce Mark in the GOP primary for Senate. Mark is way too moderate for US Senator in the same way Gallagher is way too moderate to be Governor, ie: '86 and '94.

[jagrmeister]

Yeah, great idea; re-nominate that sure loser McCollum and watch political ignorants in the GOP once again spoil a first-rate opportunity to pick up a Senate seat. Foley is not too moderate as I have stated earlier. First, Florida is not a conservative state; it leans Republican, but only slighty as evidenced by the 2000 elections. Second, Foley has voted to criminalize taking teens across state borders to have abortions and voted to criminalize partial birth abortion. He has a strong record that conservatives and the politically unattached who decide elections can get behind.

[flrepublican1]

so lets nominate a pro gay Congressman who says his personal life is personal, well isn't that hypocritical because we didn't believe President Clinton's personal life was personal? Bill's going to win!