Running Mates

The gubernatorial primaries are over, so it's time to talk running mates. Democrat Jim Davis and Republican Charlie Crist have until Thursday to make their picks, and speculation is rampant in political circles. Crist has been focused so much on that decision that throughout the campaign he has had an unsettling tendency to ask reporters their running mate suggestions.

Among the prospects often mentioned for Crist: state Rep. Jeff Kottkamp, R-Cape Coral; state Sen. Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey; and state Rep. Jennifer Carroll, R-Green Cove Springs, an African-American with a military background. Republicans have also talked up former House Speaker Allan Bense of Panama City, but he's also in the mix of contenders to become the next Florida Republican Party chairman. The pickings from Miami-Dade are slim because, given the bitter intraparty politics there, any selection is sure to infuriate others.

For Davis, who took a beating in the primary for voting in 1990 against compensating two black men wrongly convicted of murder, many Democrats think he needs to pick an African-American. State Rep. Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale and former state Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami are frequently mentioned, as well as former Miami-Dade commissioner Jimmy Morales and Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

Comments

Haridopolos and his wife just had a baby a couple of months ago.

You guys are ruthless...

Wasn't Carlton an early Gallagher suppoorter?

And Carroll is no substance. Name one important piece of legislation she has passed?

For the dems, it's a typical Catch 22. If they pick a black LG, they appease their black voter but run the risk of being shut out of many parts of the panhandle and north Florida. Sorry if you don't believe that we still live in a world like that, because we do. Maybe they pick one, maybe they don't.

I haven't heard anything about Rod Smith. It would be a good move for both sides. Davis gets all the Smithites and Smith is in the catbird seat in four years if/when Davis loses.

For the Republicans, the number one driving force for Crist should be to pair off when somebody who is married and has a family and WHO IS NOT AN ATTORNEY. That is one place where Kottkamp, Galvano, Lemieux, etc. come up short.

Davis won't pick Rod. US Sugar's entire goal is to beat Davis. They may have lost the Primary battle, but they will win the General war. They've wounded Davis beyond repair.

Let's play a little game of trivia. Quick, someone guess the last time a candidate for an executive office chose his best friend or closest adviser as his running mate.

Oh, yes, and don't forget, the best friend or closest adviser has to be someone who has never held public office before.

I'll be back around 10 with the answer.

Haridopolus is married to a very nice person. She has two kids from a prior marriage and they have a baby together. So, sorry, nice try but he is not gay! Either he or Kottkamp would be a tremendous pick. Dockery - no way.

3:40, who cares if Crist's LG is an attorney? This is the general election, not the Republican primary. Indies and Dems don't have the same visceral, violent reaction to attorneys as the Chamber/tort reform crowd does.

If Charlie doesn't watch out, he might actually end up with an LG who is qualified to be governor. GASP!! What would people think?? What would they say????

3:40, who cares if Crist's LG is an attorney? This is the general election, not the Republican primary. Indies and Dems don't have the same visceral, violent reaction to attorneys as the Chamber/tort reform crowd does.

If Charlie doesn't watch out, he might actually end up with an LG who is qualified to be governor. GASP!! What would people think?? What would they say????

Haridopolos is a great young conservative leader and would make an excellent pick. Kottkamp is another trial lawyer not sure he is the best selection. Carlton does nothing for the ticket. Jennifer Carroll would be a good pick as well.

Kottkamp spent his entire career as a DEFENSE lawyer. He only moved to the other side a couple of months ago. Funny, you people who all bash trial lawyers... if a drunk driver hurt your kid, you would be the first ones to call a lawyer that you hate so much. Get a life and quit being such asses.

Let's quit talking about demographics and start talking about qualifications for a minute. Carlton, granted; she is completely qualified. Carroll?? Anyone care to take a stab at it?

The only reason I can see for people bringing Carroll's name up is that she is female and AA. Let's hope Charlie doesn't make his pick based on affirmative action alone.

4:20, right on.

Crist will pick based solely on LOYALTY: None more loyal than Lemieux.

[gatordem]

Ron,

The only thing on your list that is really questionable is being in Spain in 2000. (I don't really know enough about the facts of that situation).

The WTO was mainly City of Miami Cops. Elian was a Federal affair.

Hey, I said anybody worth picking would have some baggage. You have to weigh the pluses and the minuses and make a choice.

I can tell you that George (even though he could have ANY position he wants, does not want to be LG. He will be chief of staff, which is WAY more powerful than LG. In fact, he is playing an instrumental role in deciding who will be LG.

Thanks, George, for letting us know!

Carroll is such a light weight. Nice person, looks good, articulate, AA. That's it. She is not all that smart. She is just packaged well. Her biggest piece of legislation had to do with hair salons.

daryl jones is a complete nut job. And nobody on earth knows Chris Smith. I'd bet most voters think he's Rod Smith.

Except the GOP will be the first to remind everyone that Chris Smith endorsed Jeb Bush in '98.

The best bets are Kendrick Meek and Kathy Rundle. Jimmy Morales is a good second-tier choice as is Kristen Jacobs.

[Robert Charles Pickering, Lakeland]

FYI: I am a white guy from Lakeland, and while Davis would certainly benefit with the AA and South Florida community in picking Daryl Jones, I suggested him because he is IMHO the best of several good potential LG choices.

The whole SecAF crap was simple politics at a time when the GOP majority wanted nothing less than do deny Bill Clinton anything he wanted.

I truly believe that Jones would do a supurb job in keeping the lines of communication open between Governor Davis and the legislature, as he has recent legislative experience and knows members to help promote the governor's agenda. And I'm sure he would be an excellent voice in suggesting ideas to help our beloved state.

Chris Smith is a class act.

[Roaring 20's]

4:51, I believe what you meant to say is that Carroll is a mile wide and an inch deep.

[central floridian]

I think Jennifer Carrol would be an EXCELLENT choice!!!

She is an inspiring speaker, and it would be GREAT to have the first black LG be from the Republican Party.

CRIST- PICK CARROL!!!!!!

[central floridian]

I think Jennifer Carrol would be an EXCELLENT choice!!!

She is an inspiring speaker, and it would be GREAT to have the first black LG be from the Republican Party.

CRIST- PICK CARROL!!!!!!

A few years ago, Florida State Representative Jennifer Carroll, speaking at a gathering of Republican leaders down in Miami, made a joke about Hillary Clinton. The joke went that Clinton was visited by the ghosts of three dead Presidents, and she asked each what she could do to improve the nation. Lincoln’s ghost told here “to go a theater.”

This joke (and not a very funny one, I should add — Sorry, Jennifer — raised the hackles of some Democrats in the state who demanded an apology. Apparently, they interpreted the joke to mean that Clinton should go to a theater, as Lincoln did, and get shot or assassinated

[pundit]

10:13 a/k/a jack Corry:

stop promoting your "horse" kottkamp. and you say carlton is weird???

[citrusfan]

some wisdom from the grapefruitblog:

Mike H and Kottkamp would be awful picks and whoever is heading his LG search team is giving him bad advice. Think about it, Mike H is from Brevard, home to the most conservative Republican in Congress. Tells you that Brevard is voting Republican, and Kottkamp is from Lee, do you think Naples is going to vote Democrat? So what do Mike H and Kottkamp bring to the Crist ticket??? Nothing! Neither is really a legislative leader and Mike H is really like a Crist clone.

Citrusfan, you obviously don't understand elections. It is all about TURNOUT! That is why you would pick a running mate from the base of your party. As for being a legislative leader, the word on the street is that Kottkamp will be Majority Leader under Rubio (and he has Chaired several committeess in the House), and you can be sure that Mike H will play a big role if he is around for an Atwater Presidency. Let's stop knocking down the potential LG's and start building them up. After all, one of the people mentioned is going to end up being picked.

From what I hear, davis has asked a few people who all said no...

They don't want to be on the ticket with the man who traded his vote agaist pitts and lee for personal political gain...

From what I hear, davis has asked a few people who all said no...

They don't want to be on the ticket with the man who traded his vote agaist pitts and lee for personal political gain...

It looks like that trade to become majority leader will cost him the house on adams st.

From what I hear, davis has asked a few people who all said no...

They don't want to be on the ticket with the man who traded his vote agaist pitts and lee for personal political gain...

It looks like that trade to become majority leader will cost him the house on adams st.

[citrusfan]

6:13

I don't have all the answers so maybe you can help me. You have a conservative heading the ticket. Explain how mike h could possibly drive turn out? And if I hear "energize the base" you are fired. The party will drive turn out no matter which name mentioned is chosen, period. Are you a 1st year poly-sci major?

The LG pick doesn't drive diddley. Need a safe pick that will be 150% loyal, has intelligence, real life experience and could run the state if they had to.

Wow... there is 6:50 who is so powerful and has access to all this closely held information but spends his evenings on The Buzz. Right...

Actually, if you read the article, it specifically mentions that several very prominent politicians are lobbying heavily to be on the ticket. This is because they understand that Davis will sweep the election.

[Ron Mills]

06:59 PM
So why did Jeb do a flim flam devious job on Florida voters in 2002 when he and Frank Brogran ran just so he could illegally and against the constitution appoint Toni Jennings?

06:50 PM
From what you hear?
where from Fox New's
you beer guted piece of trailer trash
or are you just off your meds and a former Gallagar supporter

Charlie picking Mike H is like Jeb picking Feeney. Is Mike H ready to be governor?

The Democrats would blast the pick as being extreme and proof that Charlie is riding in the middle lane with his right blinker on.

[citrusfan]

ron mills:

um, because he could?

He was and is the head of the Party until the Inaugural.

[Paul D. Harvill]

For both candidates, this decision is going to be very difficult as there are so few who have state-wide recognition nowadays for Lt. Gov.

[Ron Mills]

citrusfan
Wrong!!!!!
he appointed Jennings after taking the oath of office in 2003
and by our consitution he had to call for a election to replace a LG so soon after taking office
which he knew about but refused to do any way
sort of a Bush family thing never saw a law which they would think ment them
and could care less about any constitution or right of the lowley voters

None of these people are good choices. Charlie has left out the obvious ones.

Haridopolis, is very much like Gallagher, why the hell would Charlie want him? Hes a right wing lunatic. Probably got married for politics. He is gay.

Charlie should stop the pandering and pick the right person. Stop the politics Charlie and stop letting all the gurus pull you in all directions. Pick a peoples candidate. none of the above names mentioned are.

[JC Penneys]

1:24, 1:28, 1:34, and 1:37,
your white sheets are in.

[citrusfan]

Ron:

It is not in question when he appointed Jennings - the record is clear. You question his authority to do so, yet no challenge was brought. Bygones.

I fail to see your point as it relates to my earlier comments about LG suitability, but will agree to disagree and be done with it.

The solid base of support developed by Rod Smith over the past year should be added to the D ,ticket.
Nelson, Davis/ Smith, Sink vs. Harris, Crist/?, Lee. Sounds like a fair fight. This would be a strong statewide ticket and a wise way to get past the primary divisions. Davis/Smith would be one of the strongest tickets fielded in this new century.

Davis needs to make nice with blacks after the nonsense about Pitts & Lee. (Don't forget, he is not the only politician who voted NO.) That being the case, Darryl Jones is the best pick. I don't know where you get off callinghim a not job. He has a distinguished record and is a man with great ability.

Crist doesn't need to worry about making nice withthe blacks. They vote D anway. He doesn;t need to make nice with Hispanics. The Cubans vote R anyway and all the others have their hands out for the Ds no matter what. So he can afford to choose based on compatibility and loyalty. Lemieux is the best choice since he is loyal, able - and a family man, to complement the sexual-orientationally challenged Crist.

I think the kingmaker, Jim Scott will be the power behind the Crist throne. (Somebody better be.)

Hey everybody, 3:57 here. So I got distracted and allowed you all to have a few more minutes to answer today's trivia question, but I guess no one seems to know the answer (or even enough to venture a guess), so I'll go ahead and spill the beans!

To refresh your memory without you having to scroll up, our question today went to those folks out there who seem to think Mr. Lemiuex will be tapped as Charlie's LG. The question was, guess the last time a candidate for an executive office chose his best friend or closest adviser as his running mate. The best friend or closest adviser has to be someone who has never held public office before.

No takers, so here's the answer:

It was Congressman Matt Santos (better known as Jimmy Smits) choosing former White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (the late John Spencer) to run as his VP on THE WEST WING!!

I hope that illustrates how DUMB that idea is on this board and would be for Charlie Crist.

could Bob Graham be an LG? I miss his acapella.

If Davis could ask the voters, they would probably say "Davis and Smith". In fact they just did last week. Go for it guys.

Why do these blogs always have to denigrate into nastiness? Why do you people always have mean comments to make about people who have done nothing to you?

Can we stop with the gay comments? Jeez come up with something new.

Citrusfan: A geography lesson... Naples is in COLLIER County not Lee County.