Foley (R) Formally Begins Fla. Senate Bid

The Associated Press ^ | 7/8/03 | Ken Thomas

[LdSentinal]

MIAMI - Rep. Mark Foley formally opened his campaign for Senate on Tuesday, filing papers to seek the seat now held by Democratic presidential hopeful Bob Graham.

Foley, a five-term Republican, filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission and paperwork establishing a fund-raising committee for his Senate campaign.

Graham has said he does not "anticipate" running for re-election but has not ruled out another Senate race next year. Five Democrats have announced plans to run if Graham declines another term, but Foley was quick to focus on the three-term senator.

"Floridians deserve a senator who will work with President Bush combating terrorism, supporting his economic growth plan and providing a prescription drug benefit for our seniors," Foley said in a statement. "Every step of the way, Bob Graham has abandoned his reputation as a bipartisan lawmaker and has established himself as an enthusiastic cheerleader for the liberal obstructionist wing of the Democratic Party."

Graham considers each issue on its merits, said spokesman Paul Anderson.

"Senator Graham doesn't see his role in Congress as that of a rubber stamp for the president, be that president a Republican or a Democrat," he said.

In the GOP primary, Foley will face former Rep. Bill McCollum, who was defeated by Democrat Bill Nelson in the 2000 Senate race. Rep. Dave Weldon and state Sen. Daniel Webster are also exploring candidacies.

Foley has aggressively lined up financial support in recent months, raising $3.1 million through the end of June. He has $2.8 million in cash on hand and his campaign said the entire balance will be transferred from his House campaign committee to his Senate account.

The Democrats exploring the race if Graham declines to run are former state Education Commissioner Betty Castor, U.S. Reps. Peter Deutsch, Alcee Hastings and Allen Boyd, and Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas.

[longtermmemmory]

but will foley make clear his sexual preference?

[Support Free Republic]

---

GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY THANK A VET! MAKE A DONATION TODAY
	Keep Our Republic Free Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER It' s in the Breaking News Sidebar

[RJCogburn]

but will foley make clear his sexual preference?

Don't care. Not interested.

[Elkiejg]

former state Education Commissioner Betty Castor, U.S. Reps. Peter Deutsch, Alcee Hastings and Allen Boyd, and Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas.

What a cast of losers!!

[jagrmeister]

This is the way you speak in a centrist state like Florida to win:

"Floridians deserve a senator who will work with President Bush combating terrorism, supporting his economic growth plan and providing a prescription drug benefit for our seniors," Foley said in a statement. "Every step of the way, Bob Graham has abandoned his reputation as a bipartisan lawmaker and has established himself as an enthusiastic cheerleader for the liberal obstructionist wing of the Democratic Party."
-------

Foley can win in Florida, McCollum cannot. Someone needs to give McCollum a hint before he drains Foley's resources he needs for the general.

[Catspaw]

but will foley make clear his sexual preference?

Why should he?

But for the sake of argument, what if he is, as the gossipmongers/rumormongers and Democrats say, gay. What if he wins the Republican primary? Should people refuse to vote for him and, by default, elect a Democrat?

[rmmcdaniell]

But for the sake of argument, what if he is, as the gossipmongers/rumormongers and Democrats say, gay. What if he wins the Republican primary? Should people refuse to vote for him and, by default, elect a Democrat?

Yup, one needs only to look at the Montana Senate race last year to see that you are correct. I think we should find somebody else to run. Lets buy Foley a membership card at a nude resort and tell him to step aside.

[Catspaw]

That's not really an answer to the questions I posed. However, your solution is for Mark Foley to step aside and allow a weaker candidate to run for office, with the very good possibility that Florida's next senator will be another Dem. Good thinking, uh huh.

[longtermmemmory]

Depends on who is running. I can not support a homosexual senator of any party. Perhaps it is what I have seen it court system and the destructivness of the "lifestyle". It is not a lifestyle I want representing me or my family in the senate.

Before he can win in a primary he has to run in the primary, his coy answers only confirm his homosexual lifestyle. This is no different than aides patients refusing to admit how they obtained the disease. (tranfusion victims get sympathy, reckless sex practitioners get "scorned") There are pleanty of normal candidates who can do the job the same as or better than him.

In short: it matters and he should answer the question.

[longtermmemmory]

who said foley was strong? you assume much. Whoever gets in will be a junior senator. The goal is winning and a homosexual is not representative of the electorate. Stealth or otherwise.

[fieldmarshaldj]

FL Senate race *ping*

[JohnnyZ]

However, your solution is for Mark Foley to step aside and allow a weaker candidate to run for office, with the very good possibility that Florida's next senator will be another Dem. Good thinking, uh huh.

It is likely that Foley will lose support, rightly or wrongly, because he's gay. That makes him a weaker candidate. Why not support a candidate without that weakness, like Daniel Webster or Dave Weldon?

Beyond that is the fact that Foley votes pro-abortion and pro-gay, which is plenty of reason for conservatives to want someone, anyone else in the primary. No reason not to run a pro-life candidate in Florida.

[onyx]

What do you think? You're both in FLA.

I heard (or read) that Wexler was thinking of running. Deutch is almost as nasty and repugnant as Wexler.

I'd like to see Kathryn Harris run, if you think she could win statewide?

[samantha]

Check your facts.....Foley is my congressman,and votes 90 percent with republicans and conservatives on issues. He voted to ban pba,which Graham and Nelson would not. Look at the dirty dem senators conservative union scale on votes. Graham's is 18 and Nelson's is a little better. Weldon,and Webster are unknowns, and will not get adequate support. Bill Mccollum is the best qualified,but the most boring,inept statewide campaigner I have ever seen. He should have beaten Nelson, but failed badly mostly because his entire campaign sucked. Jeb Bush will beat Nelson in 2006. THE PAT BUCHANAN PART OF THE PARTY WILL NEVER SUPPORT MARK FOLEY. It is a good thing there are very few left. Foley will get support from the middle,and most of the right.

[JohnnyZ]

Check your facts.....Foley is my congressman,and votes 90 percent with republicans and conservatives on issues.

Foley is pro-abortion and pro-gay, as his record and his statements clearly indicate. He has voted for some abortion restriction and voted against others, but he definitely supports Roe v. Wade, Big Time, which puts him right there with Tom Daschle. He has voted for every "gay rights" issue but the Defense of Marriage act. What part of that do you say is incorrect?

As for the Pat Buchanan part of the party? Ha ha! I was talking about social conservatives, and I don't think Pat even mentions those issues any more. He's obsessed with isolationism.

The social conservatives, despite your mocking, are still damn strong in the GOP, and do not need to settle for a pro-gay, pro-abort congressman who would have significant weaknesses in a general election.

And you didn't address Foley's general election problems, his limited appeal from the right and center as a homosexual.

[clintonh8r]

I rank them as follows: McCallum can't win; Foley probably won't; Harris is too unseasoned. My choice would have been retired Marine Lt General Bob Milligan, former state controller. He beat Gerald Lewis who was presumed to be Controller-for-Life, and beat him decisively in Milligan's first campaign for office! He's so honest he lobbied successfully to have his own job abolished. He's a great American but unfortunately he has no further political ambition.

[Trace21230]

but will foley make clear his sexual preference?

Gee, I hope so, because who Mark Foley sleeps with is the most important issue on my agenda.

/sarcasm

Trace

[Trace21230]

Check your facts.....Foley is my congressman,and votes 90 percent with republicans and conservatives on issues.

Facts? The only "fact" some of these people care about is the rumor that he is gay. With these type of people in existence, it is no surprise that shows like Jerry Springer are so popular.

THE PAT BUCHANAN PART OF THE PARTY WILL NEVER SUPPORT MARK FOLEY. It is a good thing there are very few left.

Agree 100%. Nothing warmed my heart as much as seeing Pat Buchanan and his ilk leave the GOP. We lost 100s and gained 1000s of moderates and swing voters.

Trace

[onyx]

Well then, now what? Concede to Deutch or some other damn Democrat?