Clay Shaw surging for Senate?

Tallahassee's latest parlor game/game show, Who Wants to Be a Senator? is now featuring former U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw among the chattering classes as the likely Chosen One. A few days ago, the buzz was all about former U.S. Attorney Bobby Martinez. Now, some folks think Shaw now has the best shot, and as evidence of that, there are whispers like:

1) Shaw belonged to a club that once excluded Jews, and 2) The NRA strongly opposes him as "anti-gun." Well, number 1 looks false. Number 2 is true.

First off, Shaw acknowledged he belonged to the Lauderdale Yacht Club for years. But, to his knowledge, it wasn't anti-Semitic. When asked about the alleged "no Jews" policy, he almost laughed.

"There was nothing ever in its bylaws that excluded members that I ever knew of. I co-sponsored members of the Jewish faith. For a period of time I was an honorary member, I just know there was never an exclusionary clause," Shaw said. The Jewish man he sponsored, Ralph Marrinson, said he's not the only one of his faith to be a member. Why such a rumor? Well, in the early 1990s, the state cracked down on yacht clubs that had discrimination policies, but the club that was the target was located in Palm Beach (not Broward) County.

2) Shaw voted for the so-called "assault-weapons ban" in 1994. And for that, there is no forgiveness from the likes of Marion Hammer, chief lobbyist for the National Rifle Association. When Hammer heard that Shaw was being interviewed, she left a voice-mail message on Gov. Charlie Crist's cell phone.

"The governor's not a gun-banner," Hammer said. "And Clay Shaw, through his votes, is. ... Florida has more than 6 million gun owners, and 6 million gun owners don't support those who ban guns."

Why would Crist pick Shaw? He knows Washington, and if the governor doesn't pick his former close adviser, George LeMieux, he might feel about as comfortable with Shaw, whose former staffer, Eric Eikenberg, is Crist's staff chief.

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Comments

[MH]

Is someone checking the mediacal records of the candidates? You should!

[Huh]

NRA says no??? He had a D from them and would have had a F but for running against Ron Klien.

[goat man]

Dont pick another liberal from Broward. Gun rights matter and I vote.

[no spelling required]

E. Clay gets an "F" from the NRA...

[Crist fan]

Is Charlie really considering...

an anti-gun pick (Shaw)??

a trial lawyer (Martinez)??

and a tax-and-spender (Delaney)??

[insider]

Eric Eikenberg has been pushing this plan all along. He put a fork in George and now want this loser he worked for nice work Ike. George made you!

[B. Trayal]

why does Eric dislike George so much?

[concerned about fair and balanced]

word in eog is that not all candidates are being vetted. some have favs and boy is it showing.....

[Charlie picks himself]

I think that Charlie ends up picking himself.

[No M.S.D.]

I agree with Crist fan!!!!!!

Those names better be head fakes!!!!

[Don't Tax and Delaney]

Delaney's record is really bad:

http://taxandspend.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/still-supports-tax-increases/

[Yes to Webster]

Webster!

[Skeet shooting]

Marion tells it like it is.

[Anon Y Mouse]

Lemieux, like Eikenberg, is also a former Clay Shaw staffer. Eikenberg isn't "anti-George" at all. George is the one who brought him into Charlie's office as his Depy Chief of Staff, then had him promoted when George went private. I agree Shaw is the frontrunner ........ today. But what way will the wind blow Charlie tomorrow.

[Discrimination Is Wrong]

The SPT asked Shaw about the wrong form of discrimination at the Lauderdale Yacht Club. It discriminated against WOMAN, not jews. Its By-Laws prohibited woman from being members. An exception of sorts was made for widows of male members, who were given the opportunity to remain as associate or non-voting members.

[the don]

Word is Ted Turner is now on the list along with The Don....What next?

[The Maestro got played]

Its an inside job for Clay Shaw.

[Tired of waiting!]

When is he going to call Claude Kirk?

[Greyhound bus]

Someone said they saw CC at the Greyhoud bus station handing out the eight page application to anyone on the next bus to DC...oh my!

[KT]

Why not just give Bill Nelson two votes and save us all the pain and expense...

[tic toc]

So now its the chief of Staff going to select our next US Senator...Please CC lead....This is not going to go down well if staff makes the call....time is running out...

[Gator(R)]

No need to rush. I imagine as he interviews and vets (sp?) individuals, his view on that individual changes.

Look at some of Obama's appointees, he got embarrassed by several as the vetting process continued or even after it was over. And they looked very good on paper. Bush had his own - Hariet Myers, but I guess that is not as much a vetting issue as a 'What the heck were you thinking issue.'

To me the person has to be very bright, strong people skills, solid political skills and background, quick study, good common sense, and possess a broad knowledge base. Of course, has to be a Republican (I know many of you think these are mutually exclusive:)

I'd like him to use the pick to promote someone with a future in the political arena (Republicans need all the help they can get right now), but there is some value in being experienced enough to 'hit the ground running'. Of course some of the candidates appear to be in my league - we ain't up and running anywhere, at least not very fast. And really, where are they going to run to.

[Gator (d)]

So Gator, who might that be...

[Jim Smith or Jeniffer Carrol for US Senate]

Well, this is what I think:

[baaaa]

goat man are you from mossy head?

[To know him is to love him]

We sure will miss Zenator when he heads off to D.C.

[.]

Crist should go to the Senate NOW!!! With the Kennedy death he would have that jump ahead and a jump ahead of anyone elected in 2010. It would put Florida in a MUCH better position. Every committee assignment is based on seniority in DC. This would be the best, most unselfish thing for the State. Don't let the Press scare you Charlie, do what needs to be done for our Florida!

[the great carnac]

who cares... this is more interesting

Thrasher down in Jax Senate race?
by Joe Follick

Lot of campaign folks making a lot of money in the race for an east coast Senate seat to replace the late Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville.

The presumptive favorite in the Sept. 15 GOP primary, the de facto election since no Democrats have filed, has been former House Speaker John Thrasher, R-Orange Park. The well-known lobbyist is facing three challengers - local businessman and anti-tax activist Dan Quiggle, Jacksonville City Councilman Art Graham, and former State Representative Stan Jordan, R-Jacksonville.

But a poll done by McLaughlin & Associates for the Quiggle campaign this week shows their man in the lead.

“Dan Quiggle leads on the ballot for State Senate with 32% of the vote, followed by John Thrasher (24%), Stan Jordan (10%) and Art Graham (9%). Another 26% of voters are undecided. Among voters who have an opinion of both Quiggle and Thrasher, Quiggle leads 47% to 26%. Voters who have heard of both candidates also prefer Quiggle 35% to 23%. This shows that not only is Quiggle the frontrunner in the race, but it also shows that he has more intensity to his support than the other candidates,” the polling memo says.

Plenty of campaigning left in this one, with Thrasher likely to outspend his opponents with the help of his friend, former Gov. Jeb Bush. But in an off-election year special election where turnout may struggle to reach 10 percent, conventional wisdom may be diminished.

“The only poll that counts is on Election Day,” said Thrasher spokeswoman Sarah Bascom. “John Thrasher has received overwhelming support in the community and we are confident that Republican voters in the district know that he is the best Republican for the job.”

[sure]

eric has let the power get to him. it is disappointing, really.

[The Real Florida]

I don’t know which candidate is paying for “Don’t Tax and Delaney’s” media budget or where this dude lives, but he is certainly not from Jacksonville. Under Delaney my taxes went down for six straight years. And then he asked all of us — Ortega to the Beach, North side to Southside, and everywhere in between — if we wanted to kick in and build a Better Jacksonville and we gave him a resounding YES. If he could have run for a third term he would have won hands down. Even today if you ask ANY ONE and EVERY ONE in the city or county who they would most like to have back in office it would be Delaney.

[Jax Republican]

The Real Florida is right!
I was in Jacksonville when Delaney was Mayor...he was GREAT! He lowered property taxes every year for eight years straight (His entire two terms). When he offered us a great vision of a new Jacksonville, (The Better Jacksonville) I was one of the majority of citizens that voted to increase our taxes. It has been the best thing that has ever happend to Jacksonville, and it was Mayor Delaney's vision that made it possible.
John Delaney would be a great pick by Governor Crist and a fantastic US Senator!!

[Grassroots]

Kirsten Borman is putting her application in too. She can twitter from the Senate Floor.

[Go Ospreys]

I overwhelming agree with Jax Republican!
Does any one remember that Delaney was the 1st Republican Mayor in Jacksonville since 1870's???
Does anyone remember that he was a successful prosecutor with the City of Jacksonville? Unbelievable, to think otherwise! Where do these people come from?
I've lived in Jacksonville for years, while he was Mayor and we never saw a tax increase or fees in 8 years as MAYOR!!!

[john]

John Delaney ran unopposed his 2nd term because he was a real fiscal conservative and was VERY popular with the base. He cut taxes. He raised revenue for better jacksonville plan and capital investment only after he took it to the voters and they passed it in a landslide. He has been a jewel as the University of North Florida President and was a committed successful prosecutor with the State Attorney. Everything he touches is a win. Go John for U.S. Senate.

[Fred]

Delaney is the Man. Jacksonville was known as the most responsible and fiscally conservative local govt. during his tenure.

[Jax GOP 4Ever]

I find it amusing that some anonymous political hack is trying to discredit John Delaney. He is one of the best and brightest Republican Politicians ever. He took Jacksonville to great places, improved the City in countless ways - put more cops on the streets, cut taxes, was a leader to manage growth while protecting property rights and held the line on government waste - he was the first Mayor to win the Governor's Sterling Award - not an easy task - for smart government management. The hack who is leading the charge needs to come clean and then go back under the rock from where they have emerged!

[NF Citizen]

As a resident of Duval County, I can say that Delaney was one of the best things to happen to Jacksonville. He has a record of lowering property taxes for 8 consecutive years and the initiative of the better Jacksonville plan revitalized our community. He was a great consensus builder and visionary for the Northeast FL area. He brought unparalleled leadership and is sorely missed in the Mayor's office. It is absolutely suitable in my opinion for him to be mentioned as a candidate for the US Senate seat and think he would make a great Senator.

[Bob]

Anyone else think it's problematic that Shaw thinks being a member of a former anti-Semitic yact club is HILARIOUS!?

[Bob]

Anyone else think it's problematic that Shaw thinks being a member of a former anti-Semitic yact club is HILARIOUS!?