Florida Republican leaders who gathered this weekend in Tampa believe they can hold back a Democratic wave in November to keep the “Trump agenda alive.”
But to retain congressional and legislative majorities and to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, that means ramping up messaging about economic growth, boosting turnout, particularly among voters who request absentee ballots, and countering what the GOP describes as “mainstream media” narratives of looming Democratic victories.
It also means allowing Democrats to celebrate some high-profile special election victories across the nation as speculation continues that Democrats will capitalize on a traditional mid-term surge by the party out of the White House.
“It’s going to be very hard for them to keep that energy up,” Republican Party of Florida Chairman Blaise Ingoglia said during a party quarterly meeting at a DoubleTree hotel.
Ingoglia also said Democrats will have to spread resources to campaigns across the country, unlike during their recent special-election victories for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama and a congressional seat in Pennsylvania.
“They’re very good at winning one race at a time,” Ingoglia, a state House member from Spring Hill, said.
Peter Feaman, a member of the Republican National Committee, called GOP candidates who will be on the ballot this year “proxies for keeping the Trump agenda alive,” with the agenda exemplified by tax cuts and secure borders.
“You know the other side is as enthused as we were two years ago,” Feaman said, referring to the 2016 elections, when Trump defeated Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. “So, the enthusiasm gap has been reversed. And now it’s us that has to get back into the game.”
The Republican Party of Florida has 56 paid employees scattered across the state. But Democrats are using the phrase “blue wave” to symbolize efforts to capture the governor’s mansion and Republican seats in Congress and the state Legislature.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham said in a news release this week that women standing up to gun violence and as part of the #MeToo movement “are the driving force behind the 2018 blue wave.”
Meanwhile, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, a Democrat also running for governor, was slated to attend a “blue wave” dinner Saturday night in Plant City.
The 2018 elections will ratchet up Monday, when Gov. Rick Scott is expected to formally announce that he is challenging Nelson for the U.S. Senate seat. Nelson is the only statewide elected Democrat in Florida, and the outcome of his battle with Scott could help determine which party wins control of the Senate in November.
A driving force behind Democratic optimism in this year’s races has been the policies and personality of Trump.
But Trump’s actions — rather than his words and tweets — are also why Republicans contend they can hold on to the Florida governor’s office, the three state Cabinet seats, maintain majorities in the Legislature and congressional delegation and capture Nelson’s seat.
“You can’t argue with results,” said Kathleen King, a member of the Republican National Committee. “Thanks to a tax cut signed into law … more than 470 companies have announced pay raises, bonuses, utility rate cuts, 401(k) (investment plan) hikes or other expanded benefits.”
Feaman said, “Pay little attention to what the man (Trump) says — but watch very carefully what the man does.”
–Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
Richard says
At least we now have someone that “walks his talk”. There are too many politicians that are talking bobble heads including some past P’sOTUS. If the democrats retake the house and senate in the mid-terms all we will get is talk with a lot of promises with no delivery. That will surely make American great again won’t it?
Pogo says
@The Grey Poupon & Viagra set
are whistling past their own graves.
“…Feaman said, “Pay little attention to what the man (Trump) says — but watch very carefully what the man does.”
We are.
Lou says
Any system that is not balanced, regardless if it is physical, social or personal is doomed to fail.
Unless we are able to rebalance the system, we will be in trouble, EVERYBODY.
To rebalance the system, monorities must get to the polls.
I am an old white man.
PCer says
The stock market is going to tank because of Trump’s trade war with China. Inflation will skyrocket. The GOP need to get their leader under control.
Fredrick says
@PCer… You and the throngs of haters still don’t get that everything he does or says is part of a negotiation. And besides… wasn’t the market supposed to tank and the country crumble when he got into office?
Richard says
Hate, Gloom and Doom by the left is all they have in their back pockets. Says a lot about them doesn’t it! What the left desperately needs is to LISTEN to the people that vote them into office and then DO SOMETHING POSITIVE! Not the same old crap that we have put up with for years. Maybe the LEFT should consider finding a polished highly educated businessman to run instead of their typical corrupt politicians. Then they may have a chance. This country is completely FED UP with talking bobble-head politicians.
Fact’s says
Your candidates better start listening to their constituents. First start by protecting our single family neighborhoods from short term whole house commercial vacation rental businesses. Repeal 2011 Senate Bill 883. Let our local governments regulate these commercial busnieeses now! Home rule today or we will vote you out.
Stranger in a strange land says
Democrats can focus on Three things:
Protecting Florida’s environment. -The Scott administration has set things back ‘hugely”. Denier of climate change, replacing experts with cronys (see Saint Johns Water district), development at any cost. Foot draging on alternative energy. No legislation to prevent offshore drilling.
Senseible gun control. -Ban assault type weapons. Longer waiting periods. Better backround checks.
Protect and improve public schools.- School vouchers going to parochial schools is violating seperation of church and state. Perhaps some schools that teach “wiccanism” or a “Madrassas” that teaches fundamentalist Islam qualifying for vouchers might change a few minds about religious schools getting funds from state coffers.
Address poverty in Florida.-Scott/republican cutbacks in funding for programs to help the poor, disabled, and cronically ill have been rampant. These are not “compasionate republicans”. While these programs have been cut, businesses and the wealthy have been granted huge tax benefits.
There, that’s a start anyway. I am sure there are many other issues that could be added to the list of topics Democrats could capitalise on to bring poitive change to the State.
kevin says
Scott Pruitt is the drain plug in the Trump Swamp and the water is deeper and dirtier than ever. This level of corruption and self enrichment has never been seen. All that the Liar-in-Chief says is opposite reality. He does not represent the working American, he represents the elite 1%’s who control the sheople who attend his rallies. He certainly doesn’t represent true devout people of faith. How do evangelicals explain their support for a man who hides behind non-disclosure payoffs which prevent exposure of possible accounts of abortions resulting from actions of a faithless man?
There will always be support from the racists and bigots of America but when will the people of good will who may have wanted to believe in this man but are now realizing that he is not the person they thought he was? That he is truly the snake oil salesman as others described him.
Wake-up America before it is too late.
Chris A Pickett says
They seem to trash President Trump a lot, but it is madam Hillary that is running around flapping her gums, placing blame on everyone but her failed self. Yeah SHE would have been a “great”president. We would certainly know NOTHING would ever be HER fault. Cry me a River Liberal.
anon says
I am LAUGHING at trump supporters. Those closest to Trump, who know what’s going on and how he truly is, are leaving him in droves, jumping ship. Prices of everything are about to go through the roof, and the republican party as a whole is working very, very hard to destroy and rape the Social Security and Medicare retirement systems that so many millions of hard working Americans have invested in all their lives. When GOPers are in charge the economy fails, jobs are lost and the deficit (now, thanks to Trump, his GOPer-loved agenda, and GOP in general) is now over 2 trillion dollars in the hole.
Trump supporters are truly brainwashed zombies.
anon says
GOPer “Feaman said, “Pay little attention to what the man (Trump) says — but watch very carefully what the man does.”” You mean, like, adultery on a constant basis, lying all the time, selling his soul to satan for power, enciting violence, committing treason with Russia against our country and our government, selling off our taxpayer-funded parklands to mining and oil drilling interests? Allowing mercury, arsenic, lead and other poisons to be dumped into our drinking waters, aquafiers, lakes and rivers? Making sure that all laws and policies go back to the 1910 era??? THAT Trump (and those GOPers)??? NEVER forget that the Great Depression, the Great Recession and nearly every single recession this country has had since it’s founding has been caused by republicans. That’s hard, true data.
VOTE DEMOCRAT or INDEPENDENT if you want this country to progress and become a country once again for ALL it’s citizens, not just the 1%.