McCollum camp: Quit dreaming, Paula Dockery

The Bill McCollum gubernatorial campaign was scoffing at the latest Strategic Vision poll suggesting a tied race between McCollum and Democrat Alex Sink and that Republican state Sen. Paula Dockery posed a threat in a Republican primary.

McCollum's well-respected pollster, John McLaughlin, just came out of the field Thursday with a 600 sample poll (Moe +/-4%), that showed McCollum leading a hypothetical primary with 63 percent, compared to 3 percent for Dockery, 3 percent for Dan Webster, and undecided at 32 percent. His poll not only showed McCollum leading Sink 41 percent to 33 percent, but it showed him with stronger favorable opinions of him and job performance ratings than Sink. (More detail here in the memo to McCollum's finance team).

Among the 25 percent of the voters who knew enough about both candidates to have favorable or unfavorable opinions, McCollum led Sink 46 percent to 41 percent, McLaughlin said. "People had said, well, she's not as well known, when she gets well known she will beat Bill. Not with her current image. Bill is better known, better liked, and when they know both equally, Bill still has a decisive lead on her,'' said McLaughlin, recounting how in 1988 Connie Mack at least beat his rivals in early polling among the small fraction of voters who about him and his rivals early on.

Take the internal poll with as many grains as salt as you like, but it showed that 14 percent of Republicans had a favorable view of Sink, while 29 percent of Democrats had a favorable view of McCollum. And 17 percent of Democrats said they'd vote for McCollum, while only 6 percent of Republicans would vote for Sink.

"Strategically, McCollum comes out of his base a lot stronger and is reaching into her base, and I think that's more of a function of the job he's doing as attorney general where he really has been a good, nonpartisan attorney general," McLaughlin said. "With the current images, she's just not going to surge ahead. Bill McCollum should be able to hold his lead. That's a myth that when she gets known she's going to be ahead, an absolute myth. They have to raise the money and promote her. They have to make her candidacy live up to the hype that they're projecting right now."

McLaughlin speculated that the Strategic Vision survey was a less-reliable robo poll. SV's David Johnson of Atlanta tells Buzz it was a live caller poll (Florida questions piggybacked on a poll commissioned by a Jewish group).

*

Comments

[Conserv]

Yea, I've got your dream right here pal.Paula's the man!

[GUT CHECK]

McCollum team's ultra defensive reaction to the Strategic Vision poll means there's something to it.

Let's do a gut check here:

Are folks excited about a McCollum candidacy?
Undeniably - NO

Which poll makes more sense considering this?

[John]

No matter what, all polls show Bill McCollum leading Alex Sink. It's just a matter of how much.

This is before any attack ads have aired about Alex Sink, Bank of America, toxic mortgages, C.F.O., Ken Lewis & bailouts.

[GUT CHECK IS PAULA]

I don't see this as "ultra defensive" but more as, "David E Johnson is an idiot who couldn't poll a room full of two people" and Paula Dockery is smoking some serious Polk County Orange Peel if she thinks she has a serious shot in this particular Primary.

My take would be this: the McCollum campaign is trying to give Paula a chance to avoid embarrassing herself.

[Un-Imperial Polk]

Paula has no shot of winning against Dennis Ross, much less McCollum.

Almost makes you feel bad for her.

[Ned]

If there's a primary where Republicans need a choice, it is the Gov race. McCollum is unexciting and too Buddy-esque for me. Obviously Paula must be worrying him or his campaign would've had acted as if she didn't exist. RUN PAULA RUN!!!

[Sarah Wahlquist]

Interesting timing for the lack-luster McCollum team with the lack-luster candidate.

Paula Dockery would mop the floor with little Billy McCollum in the GOP primary. Strong grassroots support from one end of Florida to the other.
Huge followings in Orange and Seminole county GOP leadership and huge followings along the entire I-4 corridor.

If Billy were not concerned, why bring out an internal poll paid for by the candidate (hopefully not taxpayer dollars like his other exploits) which predictably shows - surprise-surprise - the candidate who paid for the poll to be God's gift to Florida?

The evidence points in another direction. Strategic is well known as an extremely reliable polling firm and since they are independent, they have no dog in this fight.

Dockery can win and little Billy knows it. The morons at the state party know it too and they are in overdrive to try to stop an impending Dockery candidacy. Everyone knows that Doc Dockery can level the playing field in a minute.

Dockery for Governor!

www.Dockery2010.com

[Bart Dinos]

A campaign only reacts this way when they are in panic mode. There is word in DC, that some at the RGA are worried about McCollum and may want to ditch him for another candidate. Maybe not Dockery but someone else. That is why the McCollum Campaign is going into panic right now. Remember he was leading in 2004 and then lost to Martinez.

[John]

I have talked to people in my area NWF and they all say this time around an unknown could win every race. Everyone in the race so far nobody's cares anything about and would not vote so it is going to be a low turn out. People are very upset and sick of the same WASTE. Now if you talk to a developer you will get a completely different answer. This thing is not off to a good start for the taxpayer

[600 people aka .00031% of the population]

Someone tell Brian Ballard and his team of pollsters and various entourage to coordinate his sister's prison visitation schedule and stop rambling about garbage. He's such a liar.

[Artwork]

Dockery's got a shot. McCollum is a good guy, but not what Florida or the Republicans need.

Paula Dockery would get my vote over both Alex Sink and Bill McCollum.

[Bart Dinos]

A campaign only does something like this when they are in panic mode. There is word that the RGA may not be sold on McCollum based upon their polls and looking for another candidate - maybe not Dockery but someone because of the feel that McCollum will lose and has the loser tag. That is why they are in overdrive about this poll.

[truth police]

HOWDY DOODY IS B-O-R-I-N-G

[whasup]

Mac's worst problem is his image-he's the dweeb in the race.

The voters in the next general election are not going to prefer the dweeb over the banker lady.

Even if Mac goes into full attack mode as her poll numbers rise next year, it will only make him look like a loser dweeb who can't succeed with the girl and so starts whining.

If Doc Dockery writes the check, Paula could crush him like bug splatter on a high-speed train.

That's what those Republicans laying back or only casually supporting Mac are thinking.

Trouble for the dweeb.

[ralph]

I'm not thinking Bill McCollum has the right stuff! GOP politics as usual is not going to make it in this environment!

[Horace Mann]

I do not know about you, but it strikes me as peculiar that McCollum, the chief law enforcement officer of the State, painted on $400 of blush and eyeliner to film a “Public Service Announcement” about sexual predators.

And it strikes me as damn odd that this “Public Service Announcement” was paid for by Taxpayers but produced by McCollum’s long-time political consultants, who he had hired for earlier political campaigns and just re-hired for his campaign for governor.

And it strikes me as very damn peculiar that McCollum’s political consultants were hired on a no-advertise, no-bid sweetheart contract of several million taxpayer dollars.

And the "Public Service Announcement" featured him in every frame, as if it was a political advertisement for him.

This may be legal, but it does not make it right. McCollum has some explaining to do.

[paula will be... paula poundedstone]

Running for Governor is... not a car wash... or... a bike ride.

[related and reticent]

why won't alex and alex comment??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang_and_Eng_Bunker

[conserv]

Paula Dockery has bigger "cahonies" than anyone in this race and that's just what this state needs. Someone not afraid to put a boot to a fanny when it's needed.

[Nice try]

Paula couldn't get a second vote among her senate colleagues and Ross will kill her.

[Nice try]

"piggybacked on a poll commissioned by a Jewish group" which makes for a really reliable poll

[Trying to be realistic]

8:03 Doc Dockery cannot be that stupid to write a check for Paula to run as Governor. Maybe for Congress, but its not going to happen for Governor. First, Paula has to much baggage. Does she really want that all to come out? Many years of bad votes too. Until CSX, Paula voted just like the boys that she hates did. Yes, CSX was a bad deal and I am glad they killed it. But Paula's head has grown way too big if she thinks she can beat Sink or McCollum. She can blog and have her frineds blog all day long, but sooner or later her drinking outings with all the lobbyist, same ones she says the boys are beholding to, and the many bad anti-consumer votes are going to come out. Reality is Paula was not that well known in her own district for years, the only thing that changed that, and only within her district, is the CSX issue. That is just not enough to think she can be Governor. Sorry Paula, stay in the Senate or just retire and enjoy your husband and your life.

[what the hay]

Sorry, this whole thing sounds like McCollum is nervous. I find that amusing all by itself.

Paula, you have nothing to lose. Obama doesn't give Sink the coattails she thinks he will, McCollum does a repeat of his previous sorry campaigns where lots of people work really hard for a candidate who cannot relate to people and comes across like a chalkboard and you know what, and then boom you have a real damn good shot. Do it.

[see the forest for the trees]

10:40 You are a dreamer if you dont think that Obama wants Florida to go D. After the Presidential election and the monemtum for Obama and push for anybody other then Republicans, the money that is going to fly down to Florida is going to be more then we have seen in a very long time. Paula canot even come close to that amount. Crist spent many millions in his Gov race, this race is going to need far more then that. Sink will have no lack of big bucks or big buck supporters.

[Dockery is in the Peoples House!]

get over it, bill....she's coming for you and your political career

[adam morgan]

It was $650 worth of blush and makeup not $400 and he still looked like death warmed over.
Bury the corpse-it's rotten.
The McCollum poll is laughable. Senator Webster at 3% - Dockery at 4% - get real. It's not even close to believable.
McCollum showed his greatest weakness today - he's a loser and everyone knows it. If Paula can get 28% without spending a dime and never having run statewide, imagine what happens to Billy when the campaign gets moving and thousands and thousands of GOP activists sign up!
Ballgame over for McCollum. He'll be lucky to crawl back into the AG's race.
Put away the blush and spending $1.5 million in tax dollars for an PSA talking about predators and looking just like one didn't do him any good.
McCollum=LOSER.
Dockery for Governor!=WINNER.

[get a clue]

Un-Imperial...I hate to break this to you...as I happen to like Dennis Ross very much and will vote for him (so long as Paula doesn't run), but no way in hades would Dennis be able to beat her and everyone knows that...

[Notsosmart]

The Pinellas County Sheriff's office looks for sexual predators so I am assuming most if not all of the Florida Sheriff's do the same. Now I ask as Attorney General what has McCollum done for the citizens? What set him apart from other AG's? Why did McCollum's office NOT join the lawsuit against Verizon Wireless to force them to pro-rate early cancellation fees? Why did McCollum's office NOT lower the % rate credit card companies can charge us citizens? I mean there are things his office can do for the citizens of Florida and as of yet he has done nothing out of the ordinary.

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[Ben Watkins]

I'm sorry . Doc is that stupid to write a big check for his daughter's dream tour. Problem is she doesn't know how to work hard enough to run a real statewide campaign. McCollum can be third choice and still has every right to scoff at at potential opponent like Dockery.
Come on , Dockery bloggers get out there and fill the blogs with trash, but be ready to have it thrown back in your face as your chubby princess bows out early.

[Jason Straight]

..Jasons morning muse from Lake Helen....Lets see Gop in the nationaL TOILET and our tanned and do nothing suave gov is going to Washington where he will be in the useless minority for the rest of his term.The president is wildly popular and Alex while boring is extremely competant .So the GOP whose managed to retain its neocon grip only thru germander wants us to elect a right wing GOP congressmen to the right of Bush ..
The leader of the most shameful chapter in Fla law Terry Schaivo..Who of course looks and sounds like Howdy Doodie..Sorry boys looking like a Dem sweep.With a Dem in the Statehouse and a redistrictin amendment sure to pass ..Mc Doods future is doubtful!

[Anybody but Howdy Doody]

3:12 it's okay for a Cabinet agency to do the ole mission creep, especially when they can use it as a campaign platform.

[conserv]

Ben Watkins, even if Senator Dockery did run and lose, it would still be an admirable thing. Atleast she would be sticking her neck out and trying to make this a better place to live. Unlike people like you who have nothing better to do than hide behind nicknames and bash people that have the courage to try. Also the only thing that will be thrown back in anyone's face is the manure that comes back at you when you look in the mirror. The comforting things is that you know it!

[Leah]

I knew Charlie was running scared - that's why his boy Jim Greer tried to shut out Marco Rubio.

But I didn't think McCollum was running scared too.

[Fl Republican]

To conserv,are you kidding? Paula Dockery is willing to stick her neck out to make this a better place to live?
You talk as though she has not been in position of power,you talk like she isn't on the government dole right now,She is~!!!
What has she done so far to make this a better place to live? Tell me about her votes while already on the public dole tahe made our lives better?
And finally,why does every single far right and extremist political operative always,ALWAYS,add some sort of wild conspiracy theory to any political scenario.These guys take in too much extremist media,or have gone off their meds.
The extremist media has yet to get a politician hired as a politician.
The only extremist politicians that are drawing a paycheck do so from right wing extremist media sources (TV or radio)or book deals sponsored by these same extremist media organizations.
The extremism and the opinions they sell work very well as entertainment,and a very small percentage of Americans believe what they sell as fact,but it does NOT get politicians elected.It does the opposite.
The Dockery camp has the majority of posts on this thread and yet,not one single fact has emerged,all sorts of feel good,warm and gooshie spread around,NO FACTS!!!
Because Paula is just another putz looking for an easy paycheck and a little fame.

[reality]

McCollum is BORING. So is Alex Six. If Republicans could recruit a half decent candidate we'd win.

But this is how it's going to play out -

McCollum's team will attack Alex Sink for being a banker

Alex Sink will hit back by talking about McCollum's 20+ years on the banking committee with Barney Frank.

McCollum will look like a jerk and the woman will win.

[It's time for real change]

Paula Dockery and Dennis Ross teamed up to prove that the Florida Department of Transportation has wasted or tried to waste billions of taxpayer dollars over the past ten years but let's remember who the Florida DOT reports to, Governor Crist and Governor Bush.

So why would two loyal Republicans like Dockery and Ross go against their party's leadership and some of their Republican counterparts, who wanted to doll out hundreds of millions of public dollars to the Republican party's big corporate campaign donners, like CSX and their developer buddies?

Maybe just maybe we have to two politicians from Polk County that aren't crooked and are truly trying to stand up for the rights of the taxpayers to have the truth and justice. That would certainly be a change from what we've been getting from the past self serving crowd that made their way to Tallahassee, who have in the past and continue today, to steal from the poor to give to the rich.

It truly is time for CHANGE.

[get-smart]

reality - I thought the prehensile lipped pervert Frank had nothing to do with the banking calamity?

Cheers -

[Why more of the same?]

The Attorney General is supposed to protect the public from fraud and waste in government. Has Bill McCollum done that? No.

Real Estate transactions seem to drive the Florida economy and the real estate business has been trashed by rotten lending practices that led to tightened lending practices, both done by the same financial institutions, who then asked the Bush Administration for a bailout and got it before the new Administration could even move in.

Where was our Attorney General when the lenders were out of control and where is he now that those same lending institutions are using their own non independent appraisal firms to further lower the values of Florida real estate to everybody's detriment except the banks'. Bill was and is no where to be found.

An unknown Attorney General in little old poor Mississippi stood up to the tobacco companies and won a court victory that every state in the union now enjoys worth billions because of that industry's illegal and fraudulent practices. What does our Attorney General Bill McCollum do while the fraudulent practices of the banking and mortgage industry rip off home owners everywhere? Nothing.

Do we really want another looks good but do nothing good old boy empty suit running State government?

[McCullum was buddies with Frank,never ever said a negative word about him!]

Get Smart,
I gave you more credit then this,
Don't you see,the extremists/conservative wing of the Republican party have been beating the
"Barney Frank" issue to death,they have laid all the ground work to just insert the name "BILL MCCULLUM",that he was there sitting next to having lunch with the same "group" that is alleged to have caused this economic malady.
Why did Bill McCullum sit on his hands,or did he?
Was Bill not smart enough?
Was Bill corrupt?
Was Bill guilty,guilty as Frank?
Once again,the mouthy entertainers that call themselves "conservatives"
have been outsmarted,,,again!
There are several links that could exonerate McCullum and thus Frank but why? This works so well and exposes yet another lie from the extremist branch of the Republican party.

[Paul D. Harvill]

Although it would be interesting to observe the Republicans eat each other alive in the primary, it does make better sense to "select" one's nominee by means of non-contested primary elections.

Ditto for the Democrats.

[get-smart]

reality - You got me interested. According to McCollum's bio, he was in the US House of Rep from 1981 to 2001. Mortgage abuse with Fannie & Freddie was 2004 to present. So how can there be any connection?

Countrywide CEO Mozilo was charged with fraud for pumping and dumping his stock and insider trading. Unfortunately for us law abiding citizens, he is being pursued civilly and not criminally. How could that be? Even Martha Stewart was charged criminally. I betcha a real criminal investigation would uncover a payoff scheme between Mozilo, the criminal Dodd and the pervert Frank.

Cheers -

[get-smart]

reality - You got me interested. According to McCollum's bio, he was in the US House of Rep from 1981 to 2001. Mortgage abuse with Fannie & Freddie was 2004 to present. So how can there be any connection?

Countrywide CEO Mozilo was charged with fraud for pumping and dumping his stock and insider trading. Unfortunately for us law abiding citizens, he is being pursued civilly and not criminally. How could that be? Even Martha Stewart was charged criminally. I betcha a real criminal investigation would uncover a payoff scheme between Mozilo, the criminal Dodd and the pervert Frank.

Cheers -

[conserv]

FL Republican, take another look in the mirror.

[Ben Watkins]

TO: conserv

Let me see now. "Ben Watkins" is hiding behind a name and "conserv" is not...? do I have it right?

Exactly, hippocracy must be your middle name....nonetheless PD is still a lightweight and Doc should save his money. She won't work that hard ...her work ethic rivals that of Charlie and Jeff. MEETING 10:45 am to 10:55.
Photo OP @ 11:00 am Lunch with the girls at noon and then off to play the rest of the day....we need that like we need more tax breaks for the rich.

[Ben Watkins]

Conservy,
How will Paula and Doc explain to Real Republicans their support for Democrat Scott Thompson against incumbent Senator JD Alexander ? I know you think the political universe is centered in Lakeland but you have a lot of people in the east part of Polk county that aren't exactly Dockery fans and will be even less so as they learn she recruited other republican legislators to support a Democrat over Alexander. She's sore at him cause of the Senate president thing a few years back that left her empty handed...She cried but she also set out to undermine Alexander....and she hid while she did it...makes your little quip about hiding behind a name kind of trite wouldn't say?
If she can't win her own county in a primary, she can't win...and I don't care how much money Doc wants to throw away he's not the only politically active millionaire in Polk County...so bring her out and show her off but you better bring a mighty big wallet...cause she's not the only one who can play nasty.

[New Kid on the Blog.]

There was a time that the Republicans could get a free ride by
piggy backing on the back of a popular incumbent.

Now there is Charlie, an empty suit who couldn't find his rear with both hands and a compass.

Now there is Bill McCollum, a looser who is as useless
as Charlie.

Just watch where the big bucks go in the next election.
It's not that Charlie didn't take care of big guys, but their greed will dictate that they want more and McCollum is their man.

Charlie will go down as the worst Governor this state has ever had and Bill McCollum could well exceed Charlie's record.

Please do not be fooled. THINK if you love Florida as I do.

Don't elect another looser.

[conserv]

Well Ben, I don't know about all of that except from what I know, Thompson's a straight shooter and Alexander is a slimeball. He and your type as well it seems is what has ruined the republican party for a lot of folks. You and your type have no concern for what's best for this state and people are seeing through it. It's a shame but what goes around comes around and no amount of money can insulate you from it.Enjoy

[No Stupid People in Tally]

Anyone is better than the incompetent CFO Alex Sink.

[Swings both ways]

Better question, how will Paula explain all of her extracurricular activities with lobbyists?