Dist. 9 stage of Bush v. Kerry redux?

Last week President Bush came to stump for Gus Bilirakis.  This week Sen. John Kerry will be doing the same for Phyllis Busansky.  Both District 9 candidates have alligned themselves with party leaders to help raise money, but it's not just about the fundraisers.  The procession of controversial VIPs has also helped put into relief their opposing stances on policy.  For better or worse, Bilirakis said he backs the President on Iraq, and Busansky agrees with former Sen. Bob Graham's take on homeland security, etc. 

Yet it remains to be seen if Kerry's visit will occasion a such a policy focus, or even a public audience. Busansky's campaign seems to be downplaying the Senator's trip.  Robert Becker, her campaign manager, would only confirm the rumor with a short email:  "Kerry is doing a small, private fundraiser for us on Saturday,"  he wrote.

Comments

[gatordem]

And the beat goes on in CD-9. Just as Jr. didn't have W making a "campaign" appearance for him, Phyllis is having a "private" fundraiser with Kerry.

The good news for Phyllis is that these nationally known Dems are helping her raise money tit for tat with the R's. The bad news is, of course, that these Dems are not raising as much money for her as the R's have raised for Jr.

But, smart Dems don't expect to outraise the R's. What they do hope to do is to raise enough money to get their message out. It's beginning to look like Phyllis will be able to do that.

Jr. tying himself so closely to W's policies does not seem to me to be the smartest thing to do. But then, I've never heard anyone accuse Jr of being overly smart. Phyllis has a lot more ammo on her side as the bad news about Iraq and the war on terror keeps dribbling out like a form of water torture.

So I say, welcome back to the Tampa Bay area Senator Kerry.

[William Norris]

Let's see if I get this straight. Gus B. has an event at Raymond James Stadium with W and it makes all the papers. Phyllis B. is bringing John Kerry to town for a private fundraiser they want to keep on the QT. Maybe Phyllis' political people are pretty smart and looked at the vote totals for the district from 2004.

If Phyllis' political people are smart enough to do that, they may be smart enough to run a good campaign. Gus B. better take them seriously.

This is exactly why the Ds can't get elected. They live in Fantasyland.

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=20103043-8651-4b50-95b0-2fceda2d71a0

Gus is up by 29%. Not even close.

I tend not to think the dems have a chance at a pick up on this seat. I bet if they focus more on seat 13 against Buchanan, mr past scandals from the start, they may have better luck.

[GOPFL]

John Kerry must be coming in to give Phyllis advice on how to win a campaign and perhaps raise a $10,000.00 for her campaign. Oops, I forgot John Kerry lost the 2004 Presidential campaign. So it will be a loser and future loser standing together. John Kerry coming in isn't exactly something to brag about.

I actually did vote for Busansky....before I voted against her.

Is Jock-strap John planning to make his arrival in a swift boat? I can't remember where I heard this, but I think he was in Vietnam.

I saw Gus at the Bucs game on Sunday. He was bragging and smiling from ear to ear about the Presidnet's fundraiser, but the number he told me was that they only raised $500K, not the million that they expected. Maybe W coming to town doesn't have the impact they expected. Don't get me wrong, $500K is a nice haul for one evening, but it was well below expectations.

[Gail]

Paul Bedinghaus told me last night at the Crist fundraiser he had no intention of seeking the GOP chair job. he said life was grand as it is.

I take him at his word.

I wish Paul would go for the Chair job. That would be the best thing that could happen to the Democrats. Bedinghaus is a wimp with delusions of grandeur who will soon be hiding under his wife's robe.

[Problem Child]

Maybe Gus will be the Bucs next Quarterback? He can't read, he can't speak, he can't do math, he's an idiot. Sounds like a perfect match.

After November, when the R’s sweep Pinellas, Tony Baloney will be crowned king!

9:38
I am a close friend of Susan and Paul
Judge Susan Bedinghaus told me she and Paul discussed it, and they don't want to mess up their life. They are looking forward to raising thier children together, and the chairman thing would just get in the way. sounds like they haven't given it serious consideration.

[GET REAL PHylliS]

If I had John Kerry coming to town for me I would keep him hidden. This man lost CD 9 big and it isn't going to help Phyllis a bit to bring him in here. Maybe he can complain about port security oops Tampa's port is secure.
Maybe they will complain about our troops body armor, oops he’s been in the senate 18 years and still hasn't solved that problem, how about he complains that Bush hasn't gotten the French to help oh that's right the French are perfectly happy if Iran develops nuclear weapons. Maybe he can complain that Bush tax breaks for everyone should be repealed. Hey that’s good campaign on more taxes for everyone.
I'm here to support Busansky because she will help our party in D.C. More taxes, more abortion, more gay rights, more appeasement!
No wonder this is a closed small fundraiser.

You conservobots are ruining our state and our country. Now get out.

Get Real Phyllis: "I'm here to support Busansky because she will help our party in D.C. More taxes, more abortion, more gay rights, more appeasement!"

Is that all you Republicans obsess about, is whatever goes on between the legs of your neighbors, and whether you "get yours" at the end of the day or not? Why don't you worry about what's going on in your own damn back yard instead of acting so childish about others'.

Hey Get Real.... with over 95% of all containers coming into the Port of Tampa not being inspected at all, I would hardly call the port safe. Where did you get your numbers? Or did you just regurgitate what you heard the Cheney/Rove gang say on FAUX News this morning?

I love how all you left-wingers claimed that it was all “about the money” when your primary candidates of choice were raking it in. Now, since our boy Gus is cleaning the floor with your girl Phyllis in the fund raising department, it’s “all about the issues”.

It’s a nice attempt for JK to stop by, but it’s merely a ploy to mislead you into thinking you have a chance. I bet he thought “Busansky” was a new hybrid car, before today.

Gus takes it, BIG!

Kerry voted to send us to war...now he wants to pull out

He has no problem helping mess the table, but he wants to get up to go watch TV without doing the dishes

lazy ass liberal

Folks,

This race is done and over. Gus wins by a landslide. She can't overcome a 20 plus deficit in the polls.. Not when he's got over $1-M to spend still.

Game over. Scoreboard.

John Frankenstein Kerry is a loser coming to help a future fellow loser, Phyllis Busansky. I guess Kerry is the best you dims can come up with because all of your national candidates have been losers over the past three election cycles.

I would take Karl Rove, President Bush, VP Cheney and Ken Mehlman over John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi and Howie "The Scream" Dean any day of the week!