Thursday, August 19, 2004

Senate Campaign News 20040819 Based on quantity of articles, this is the first normal news day for the race since Charley passed through on Friday. Nevertheless, we lead with Charley.  Right now, there is optimism that the primary can be held in every county on August 31, despite the damage caused by the storm.  In related news, Jeb Bush may skip the RNC Convention to focus on relief efforts.  He was already planning on having a very low key presence there. Primary election expected to proceed (The Ledger) Florida primary likely to proceed (Gainesville Sun) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As one would expect people in central Florida have other things on their mind besides the Senate race, which makes campaigning a bit of a challenge for Republican candidates Bill McCollum and Mel Martinez. Campaigns face storm's challenges (Orlando Sentinel) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Speaking of Martinez and McCollum, they both released internal polling yesterday.  The McCollum campaign's poll of 500 likely Republican voters showed McCollum at 34.6% and Martinez at 18.2% with 37.4% undecided.  Martinez' campaign first stated that they wouldn't release their internal poll, but did so an hour later.  Their poll shows McCollum at 34% and Martinez at 30%, with 21% undecided (gee, the Martinez campaign was saying McCollum is going to finish third, see Aug 11 post for a reminder).  The Palm Beach post article has plenty of tidbits on the other Republican candidates and is a worthwhile read. McCollum and Martinez spar over polls --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On the Democratic side, Peter Deutsch went to Betty Castor's home field to talk about health care. Deutsch talks health on Castor turf  (Palm Beach Post) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One more article from the Post.  Doug Gallagher's complaint to the Florida Board of Elections was dismissed.  The complaint regarded Mel Martinez' ad showing President Bush touting him at a rally in 2002. State denies complaint over GOP Senate ad ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Tallahassee Democrat has a biographical story on Betty Castor Castor savors opportunity for new political challenge ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Like everyone else, the Senate candidates are in pursuit of absentee voters. Senate hopefuls pursue more absentee voters (St Petersburg Times) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, the Tampa Tribune has an article on Castor and McCollum trying to establish themselves as front-runners and also has various tidbits on the race.  On the matter of gaining the 'Win Psychology', that is making yourself, your supporters, and undecided voters think that you are the inevitable victor, I must say that Betty Castor has the edge on the Democratic side in a big way.  On the Republican side, one wouldn't know that McCollum was the leader as he hasn't established the win psychology in a similar way.  Martinez' campaign has instilled the Win Psychology in his supporters, but hasn't shown the confidence that the Castor campaign has that's necessary to truly have the Win Psychology McCollum, Castor claim frontrunner status (Tampa Tribune) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, the Associated Press has a general article on the Senate race Graham seat vulnerable in Florida in race watched around nation Florida Senate Campaign, Politics comment []11:16:22 AM   trackback []