Campaign in Fla.? They don't dare.
From the heart of darkness, Times Political Editor Adam C. Smith writes:
PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Listen up, readers. I have a dire warning. Something sinister and mysterious is terrorizing the Democratic presidential candidates. I'm afraid I can't yet explain its dark power, but I'm working on it.
The candidates are so terrified of drawing the wrath of Democrats in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, they won't dare kiss a baby, give a speech or talk to a voter anywhere in Florida, except in closed-door, fundraising receptions.
So I went to the heart of darkness - New Hampshire - hunting for answers in a place where, legend has it, candidates and citizens talk easily to one another. But Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign made it clear the terror is worse than I imagined. I wanted to ask Clinton a couple of questions: about the national catastrophe insurance fund, offshore drilling, maybe Florida's primary.
I might as well have asked to show the former first lady my anthrax spores. (Story here.)
From the writers of the St. Petersburg Times, The Buzz offers the latest news in Florida politics. This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the St. Petersburg Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.
Locally, Sean Kelly has applied for the St. Petersburg City Council seat to be filled on Wednesday. Kelly registered to vote in July 1997. He has never voted in the City of St. Petersburg. He is registered to vote at his parents home in Seminole. Incredibly, his only votes at all were in the 2004 primary and General election!
This kind of civic engagement certainly
means he is ready for a City Council
appointment!
Posted by: | October 16, 2007 at 06:29 AM
Nice column, Adam. Glad the Times took the time and money to send you to do that. One can only hope the national Dems read this and get a sense of how foolish this whole thing has become.
Posted by: | October 16, 2007 at 06:37 AM
Unless you're a moron, don't contribute to or vote for any candidate that won't campaign in Florida.
Posted by: | October 16, 2007 at 08:46 AM
Would this be considered extortion? The candidates are being threatened to do something against their will.
Posted by: | October 16, 2007 at 09:41 AM
Adam - its not about the candidates - go talk to the DNC and get your answers there. Isn't DC just a hop and skip from NE - take the train bud - its awesome and the leaves should be tremendous!
Posted by: | October 16, 2007 at 06:45 PM
Wonderful story, Adam. Loved the quotes from NH voters, too. It was good to see all that love directed our way.
Now that the incredible absurdity of the "pledge" that Dem candidates took is resonating louder and louder, it'll be interesting to see who the first will be to follow Mike Gravel's lead and actually TALK not just ot big-money contributors ... but to actual voters ... potential campaign volunteers ... and the press, too.
Or don't we matter ????
Posted by: Reality Check | October 17, 2007 at 01:22 AM
The dems are a bunch of wussies.
Posted by: | October 17, 2007 at 10:12 AM