Viewers guide to Davis-Smith debate

There is a cold, hard truth to be faced tonight as the main Democratic gubernatorial candidates try to win over a vast number of undecided voters in a televised debate. U.S. Rep. Jim Davis of Tampa, boyish and angular, has a mug for TV. State Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua? Well, not so much.

“I have big hair, fuzzy eyebrows and a bulbous nose,’’ said Smith, declaring himself far and away the top gubernatorial choice for editorial cartoonists. Story is here.

Comments

note to viewers - for your safety, please do not attempt to operate heavy machinery'.

[gatordem]

Viewers across the state will get a chance to see the stark differences between Jim Davis and Rod Smith tonight. There is a reason that Jim Davis is ahead in the polls and it will shine through tonight.

Jim’s message is about change and hope for keeping Florida’s promise. Jim Davis will talk about bringing the state government back to the people of Florida. Rod Smith will have to defend why the polluting special interests are bankrolling his campaign to the tune of at least $1 million to date. He will have to explain why he has refused to repudiate the false malicious ads produced by his polluting special interest supporters.

Jim Davis’ message is that if you are happy with the way things have been done in Tallahassee the last 8 years, then he is not your guy. But, if you are fed up with the status quo, then Jim Davis is the candidate you have been waiting for.

Jim Davis is running neck and neck with Charlie Crist in the polls. Rod Smith gets beat not only by Crist but by Tom Gallagher as well. Rod Smith is going to have to explain how he will overcome those deficits. There are not enough votes in North Florida to make up that shortfall.

If Democrats want change in Tallahassee as much as they want a winner in November, they will clearly see tonight why Jim Davis is their man.

gator, you got it right. Tonight will be yet another exampls of Jim's integrity pitted against the typical song and dance that Rod Smith seems to be left with when its just a camera and the people instead of blind supporters.

Rod beats Jim in the Primary, and is the only Democrat who can beat Crist in the General. Get with reality.

Rod is the real deal; Davis is only a delusional distraction.

Now, turn of Sponge Bob and get back to your cubicle, gator boy. Tonight, you’ll see a real debate, resulting in a severe ass whipping of Davis.

9:46 and 10:00

Your ingorance of politics, of winning, and of election strategy is almost laughable. If Davis wins the primary and loses the general, I suspect you'll do what the rest of the liberals in this country have been doing for the last 8 years - crying like little babies.

Wake up to reality my friends, Davis CAN NOT win. He WILL NOT win. Crist will eat his lunch.

10:04, I find it laughable that you think all of the liberals have been crying for the last 8 years. There exists a group of us, albeit a minority until just recently, who understoof that patience and preperation would lead to a swing towards the left in this election cycle. Floridians, much like the rest of America, are ready for a better managed government with leadership that represents real family values. Congressman Davis is a family man with an attitude of change and progress for this state. Get off your soapbox and step back into reality. I for one am tired of listening to R's complain about whining liberals and the greatness of the conservative tradition.

Rod Smith will hammer Davis on his absence in Congress. He will tout his successes in the FL legislature. If his campaign consultants are smart, they will coach him into being known as a compromiser, sucessful in working with both sides of the party. They will also stress the platform Democratic stances he has taken. He will out policy Davis three-fold and he is effective in getting his message across.

Davis, however, looks good on camera - nice smile and as long as he doesn't botch anything up, will secure a victorious primary. He is known to fumble in the pointed questions.

10:28,

Actually, if his advisors are smart, they’ll avoid the “I’ll work with both parties” crap – and hammer the “I work for the people” approach. That’s what the voters have been looking for.

Davis is a box of Mac and Cheese. Pretty package and marketing on the outside, but on the inside… nothing but raw noodles and a packet of cheese.

so how many times will Jim mention Bob Graham? how many times will he tilt his head?

[gatordem]

10:28

Rod will TRY to hammer at Davis on his absence from Congress, an issue most people don’t care about all that much. In any event it is easily refuted by taking a longer view of Jim’s voting record. Also, Jim will portray being a member of the legislature as part of the problem, not part of the solution. Rod “will out policy Davis”? I want some of what you are smoking!

You won’t see any fumbles from Jim tonight. You will see Jim Davis victorious in November.

[moderate]

when Jim Davis tries to use the legislature against Smith, Rod should ask:

"So exactly how long did you serve in the legislature Mr. Davis?"

I have to say, I've heard Jim Davis speak over the course of the campaign and he has progressively improved a lot in his skills. He's managed to add a little fire and passion in his speaking where it had not really shown before.

I'd still say Rod Smith is slightly the better speaker as it is, although he comes off almost too polished and not nearly as genuine as Davis.

[moderate]

I heard Rod Smith was preparing for the debate using a cardboard cut-out of Jim Davis.

When asked, Smith said: "We wanted to make our preperation as realistic as possible, and the cut-out has all the same personality traits and mannerisms as our opponent"

Davis has come a long way to improve his stump speech because he had a LONG WAY to make up. Smith is more comfortable in front of a microphone and camera. The viewers will notice that. Davis will play to the primary voters with a "fight the evil Republican Legislature" speech, which loses votes among moderates and independents. Smith can say he knows when to fight the GOP and when to partner with them on areas of agreement. THAT is much more appealing to the non-partisan voters in the middle. And the Democratic nominee HAS TO focus on November. Sadly, Davis doesn't get it, but Smith does.

gatordem, I hope for your sake Jim's campaign doesn't pay you because I'd have fired your ass in a second for that first post you just made

there are a whole hell of a lot of Floridians happy as hell after 8 years of Jeb

if Jim is not their guy he will lose, lose, lose

[gatordem]

I’ll bet you my Jim Davis paycheck vs your school lunch money that Jim uses those exact words tonight. You can also bet I’d never work for somebody like you, so you would never have the opportunity to fire me. Have you been sleeping through this whole campaign? This is not finger painting for the child. Wake up! Jim’s whole campaign is about change. Jim has used that exact line numerous times on the stump. But you wouldn’t know that because you never get far enough from your keyboard to see what’s really going on?

You think that all those Floridians that are happy as hell after 8 years of Jeb are going to vote for Rod Smith? Or that Dems should actually nominate somebody who claims to be the heir to Jeb Bush? That’s the Republicans, for gosh sake.

Jim Davis is going to win the primary and the general for the same reason. The people of Florida are ready for real change. And Jim Davis is the only candidate who can deliver that change.

and he can execute that change how?

by poking his finger in the eye of the group that actually proposes the policy decisions and the budgetary changes?

moderate is such a gossipy girl...i cant wait till youre unemployed so i can laugh in your face

[gatordem]

4:37

And here I always thought that it was the GOVERNOR who proposes policy and both submits the budget and wields the veto pen. Silly me.

[moderate]

what the governor submits is called the "Governor's Budget Recommendation". Key word being RECOMMENDATION.

The legislature can use it for toilet paper if they care to.

and don't sweat it 5:00, this election has absoulutely no effect on my job status.

but if you still want to laugh in my face, you can try. But this gossipy little girl will slap you around like a rag doll.

How embarassing would that be?