Lori Edwards, Karen Diebel called "fundraising flame-outs"

Political analyst Charlie Cook released his fourth quarter fundraising asessments for congressional races the other day and listed a couple Florida candidates as "fundraising flame-outs": Democrat Lori Edwards, running to succeed Adam Putnam, and Republican Karen Diebel, challenging Suzanne Kosmas:

FL-12: Lori Edwards (D)- For the second straight fundraising quarter, Edwards raised less than $50,000, all but assuring she will have a hard time getting her message out once this open seat race against Republican state Rep. Dennis Ross actually engages.

FL-24: Karen Diebel (R)- Diebel, a Winter Park councilwoman, raised just $55,000 in the fourth quarter, an indication that her campaign operation isn't in strong enough shape for a race against freshman Democratic Rep. Suzanne Kosmas. Republicans are excited about a new candidate, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse CEO Craig Miller.

UPDATE: The Diebel campaign filed an amended report showing it actually raised about $61,000.

Comments

[Thumper]

Edwards can't raise money? Hey Lori, Where are all your blue dog buddies??? Ha-Ha!

Just ask Cruz-Rifkin what it is like taking on the grassroots. What money you do have, we will bleed you dry in the primary because you do not represent the democratic party or democratic ideals and values.

You are nothing more than a republican. I'll be knocking this weekend for your opponent!

[Edwards is a democrat?]

I think Edwards is a little confused. She is spending more than she is bringing in. She should go ahead and switch parties.

[Lori Who?]

Lori Edwards is done. She can't even buy enough ad time to get her name known in Polk County let alone HIlliborough. Plus, with all the Democratic open seats and defending incumbents, there is no way the national Dems are going to help her.

Dennis Ross has raised $500,000, and Edwards, without the $8,500 she got on the last day of the quarter, raised $25,000?

In this national environment, the GOP has this seat. Congratulations Dennis, it could not have been won by a better man. Ross tells his own party to stick it when they veer off course. I like that.

[Interesting]

Diebel has outraised Adams 2-1, so I guess that means Sandy is not even a competitor.

[2000 Redux]

Lori Edwards did this before!!!!
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8J0sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Pv0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=lori-edwards%20congress&pg=2863%2C5286749

Ran, couldn't raise money or get local support, dropped out.

DCCC, this is what happens when you push a DINO on us!

[Obama Lost 12]

Obama lost District 12. No Dem is winning there. Dennis Ross is a good man and will do very well.

[Proud Dem]

No Dem is winning there? Really? Great political insight there.

Not sure what you consider a "good man," but most people wouldn't consider that a description of a man who worked for insurance companies to guarantee that ANYONE with an injury claim would have a hard as hell time recouping money lost because of a valid accident.

I see he's done a bang-up job so far in Tallahassee. Why, just look at graduation rates in high school, jobs coming into the district and the rate of those living in poverty.

Good, good man. Uh-huh.

[Taxed to death]

As a small business owner, I just learned that the state unemployment tax I must pay is going from $130 per week to $890 per week!

It is because of slim balls like Dennis Ross. He is a tax and spender!!! I don't trust any of the republicans.

From what I can tell, Edwards is no better.

[Taxed to Death Huh?]

Considering Dennis Ross was not in the legislature after 2008, if your tax just went up, he didn't vote for it.

Personal responsibility means getting your facts straight.

[Seth]

Doug Tudor is the best candidate for this seat. The Democratic Party needs to wake up and start supporting a real Democrat. We don't need more Republican-lite.

[obvious]

Taxed to death = Doug Tudor.

[Get it straight]

@5:38: So, you are telling me that Ross never had one vote on unemployment tax and system while in the legislature?

For the record, it wasn't a vote in the last year that has triggered the increase. The increase was part of the law that was put into place during Jeb Bush's last term as governor. The law called for an automatic trigger of the unemployment tax to be raised in the event the state unemployment fund reached certain levels. Surprise! The fund reached those levels. And the automatic trigger kicked in.

So, tell me 5:38, was Dennis in the legislature during Jeb Bush's last term?

Thousands of business owners in Florida are now paying the price for the last 10 years of republican rule.

[Edwards???]

Edwards who??? I have never heard of this person. Is she troll like Ross? Do they pick each other's gums after eating corn???

[Tally Airport]

Ross is a complete idiot. I heard he got lost in the Tallahassee airport once. That's right - an airport with 8 gates and he got lost. They found him in the men's bathroom trying to buy Skittles out of the condom machine.

[Kaboom]

5:38 got schooled!

Dennis Ross = Pig - lipstick

LMFAO!

[Tudor has my vote]

I guess the question that needs to be posed to the voters in CD-12 is, Who would best serve the interest of the people in 12?

Lori Edwards- what does she stand for? Can anyone tell me?
Do we need another career politician to go up to Washington and get bogged down with special interests groups? Maybe Sen. Nelson will ask her to join the Family on K Street.

We know for a fact that Ross would be handed a key to K Street. Especially if his BFF Rubio is lucky enough to win the senate seat. I guess the basic question I have to ask about Ross is what has he done for the people of CD-12 prior to his run?

There is one candidate in this race that has a proven record for service, Doug Tudor. He is not a career politician, he was a career Navy-man. He is the only Democrat that stood up to Putnam and ran against him in 2008. He is the only DEMOCRAT in the race.

[Sal E. May]

I don't care if Edwards raised 500 or 500k she WON'T win this seat because the real democrats see her for who she is...a blue dog! And they are not going to vote for her. She has spent little to NO time in Hillsborough County because she thinks she doesn’t need their support to win. Is this who we would want representing us?!? I think not, if she is not interested in them now she is definitely not going to be interested if she was in Washington…

[Pooh Pooh]

Looks like Ross' little minions are coming back... they must be researching the facts on "the google"....

[Wayne]

That Lori lady, she is a flameout for sure! You know why she can't raise money? Because the "candidate" hasn't yet done her homework and can't have an intelligent conversation about one issue. Including voter registration. And she's the current Super of Elections.

Heck, she even had a candidate file who was ineligible and she allowed it to go through. The Lori lady, she can't do the job she's got well enough yet.

Bet Wasserman=Shultz, Graham, Wexler, etc are sorry for those endorsements. Should be. They lost my respect for not doing their homework before putting their name behind a candidate.

[El Matador]

Ross and Edwards: The only difference is one is pretending to be a Tea Bagger, the other pretending to be a Democrat. Both are slime ball politicians. Lets actually go with a newcomer who is not beholden to ANY PARTY. VOTE TUDOR.

[Trolls]

Looks like the Tudorites are out in full force. I guess they have alot of time in their parent's basement.

[6:11]

Do you know if Dennis voted for Section 443.131(3)(e)1.c F.S.? The so-called automatic trigger? No, I bet you don't.

I wonder if you would support NOT borrowing $300 million per month from the Federal Government to pay for unemployment payments? Would you? If so, where do we get $300 MILLION FROM?

Are you from the balance the budget crowd? If so, when a budget is required to be balanced, that is what you get. If you are from the "we have to extend unemployment benefits" camp, then you either raise taxes or borrow or both.

So 6:11, what would you choose? I don't think anyone expected the federal government to be so incredibly inept that the economy contracts at the level it has and THEN make things worse by trying to socialize health care and borrow trillions.

So before you go throwing names at anyone - flat out tell us all what legislators voted for the automatic trigger and who did not.

I won't respond to the more childish comments, because when you don't work for a living, it is easy to sit here all day and comment.

[To Proud Dem]

You guys have done a bang up job with the economy. You are worse than Bush!

You spend more, do less, subsidize irresponsibility, and socialize medicine and think that will create jobs????

Yeah, good work. I think when Ross was in the legislature we had a pretty darn good economy. He also didn't saddle the State with $30 billion in debt with your socialized property insurance market. But that's how you would like it right? The Government runs the show!

Lori Edwards and Doug Tudor couldn't win in District 12 if they tried. Obama lost it, Putnam wins every term by double digits, there is not one elected State Democrat from the area and only one Dem County leader.

Proud Dem - be proud, nominate Tudor or Edwards, and lose. Thank you for that!

[Sal E. May]

Hey "Trolls" a lot is two words, 6th grade grammer, go figure. We got educated in our parents basements as well. You should join us! he-uck

[Proud Dem]

9:35 As a reminder - Republicans have controlled both Florida and the Nation for quite some time. What does the votes for Putnam get the citizens of District 12? What has he done? Sure, you can thank him for Watermelon Day, but other than that, you get to thank him for the low high school graduation rate in the District, the levels of citizens living under the poverty line and the lack of jobs coming into the area. YOU OWN THAT. Don't rewrite history. That's called lying.

You can continue to scream "socialism" all you want ... even though NOTHING has been passed as law that proves this is the case; however, District 12 citizens are suffering because of the SUCCESS of Republican policies. Be proud.

[@6:11]

insert sarcastic tone here so Sarah Palin will think it is okay for using the word "retard"!

[@6:11]

@6:11: Got a job? Oh how funny you are! I am not sure if you have ever heard of a hand-held smart phone with an internet connection, but it allows someone to connect to the internet and post comments -regardless where the person is. Oh, and while multitasking. That means doing two things at the same time.But your one dimensional mind probably doesn't allow for you to comprehend the fact that someone has the wits to do more than one thing at a time.

So, to answer your question: yes, I have a job. I own a company. And because Ross and the republicans OVERSPENT during the good times and didn't require sufficient funds to the unemployment fund, I am getting hit twice: once for the Bush economy and again from the LACK of planning by Ross.

I am trashing Ross at every Chamber of Commerce event, small business forum, and economic roundtable. I have switched to independent and will NOT vote for a single republican. How many other business owners will do the same do you think? How many of us are sick of being used by a party that can not govern?

So, while you were trying to falsely ridicule someone by not being truthful about Ross' voting record, you got schooled. And your response is to deflect and make it about the hard-working business owner who is a taxpayer. You know, the typical republican demographic.

Well, I've got news for you and Ross: you are idiots. When you want to play in my sandbox, you better be ready to eat a mudpie. You retard (insert sarcastic tone here so Sarah Palin will think it is okay)!

[Tea Bagging Morons Unite]

@6:11 - man you are fool!

Fact: Because the republican governor and legislature refused to accept the unemployment extension benefits in the 09 stimulus plan, Florida's small businesses have seen an increase in their STATE unemployment tax of an average of 400% due to the state trigger law. Florida's tax payers are supporting other states who accepted the benefit with the federal tax dollars they pay, but our republican controlled state government wanted to make a political statement. The REPUBLICANS made that political statement on the back of every business in the state of Florida.

Fact: When Bill Clinton left office, the US had a budget surplus of $250 billion with a national debt of $5.7 trillion. On the other hand, when Bush left office, we had a budget deficit of $1.25 trillion and a national debt of $12.5 trillion. It took 30 years to hit a national debt of $12.5 trillion and a republican was president for 2/3 of that time.

Question: What is a run up of the national debt under Bush and a republican-controlled congress? Answer: A tax on future generations.

Dennis Ross wants to run on his record. Great. He is in for a rude awakening! Dennis Ross not having a clue as to how to legislate sound economic tax policies will come back to bite him square in the pants. Part of a leaders job is to plan ahead. You admitted that he didn't do that. Did you ever take a basic debate class from your mom during your homeschooling days???

And for the record: this is going to be a fun race. We will bleed Dennis' donors dry. Ever heard of the 50 state strategy? Game on, wankers! Let his fat-cat, corporate donors know: this will be hard fought.

[@trolls]

@trolls
Basements? Um, this is Florida. In Florida the sea level is too high to have basements. AWere your parents seriously that much against you getting an education? You must be working for the RNC.

[Paul Revere]

As far as FL-24 ...

I guess the Republican Party is still dictating who our candidates should be. The FL GOP still doesn't get it and I blame them too for the problems this county faces. The grassroots movement will be the force who defeats Suzanne Kosmas, not them.

I think it is hunorous that the FL GOP is looking for money and deep pockets in terms of its candidates. Maybe Sandy Adam and Karen Diebel could raise more money if they were not stealing it in Florida.

Lawmakers pulled nearly $1 million from Republican Party of Florida

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-florida-republican-party-reeling-20100209,0,5793663.story

GOP fundraiser charged huge sums to AmEx card

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/os-republican-party-finances-20100204,0,3931133.story

Florida GOP leader Jim Greer formally resigns; party to pick new chairman next month

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/state/os-bk-florida-gop-new-chairman-20100109,0,7649288.story

By the way FL GOP ... isn't "your" new guy the same Craig Miller who was fired as CEO after Ruth's Chris Steakhouse share price plunged nearly 70 percent during his watch??

Geesh ...more of the same RINO tactics.

[RINOplasty]

Ya Paul, that's the same one:
"Miller, expressing shock, is ousted from Ruth’s Chris"
Read more: http://www.nrn.com/breakingNews.aspx?id=353436
Just another out of work CEO looking to feed at the public's trough.

[LMFAO]

"Skittles"!!!

OMG ROTF!

[Here Kitty, Kitty]

Where are all the repiggies that thought they would just get on here and blast the democrats?

Here kitty, kitty

[Fairness]

Governor Crist & Legislators, please watch SB 610 & HB 417. I find it interesting that deputy sheriffs can't have a fair process. Police officers in FL that work for cities and towns and across this country do. They don't get paid alot of money for what they do and they put their lives on the line to protect us all. Why in the world would we give one person (Constitutional Officers), Sheriffs, Clerks of the Courts, Supervisory of Elections, County Appraisers & the Tax Collectors that much power to rule over one group of people. Where would be the checks and balances for them? Aren't the republicans crying foul with the President of the US for doing what he wants and now some republicans in FL want to give that much authority to this group of elected officers. God Help Us All. Our US President, Governors & Mayors don't have that authority and there's a reason for it, so again, let me ask, why would you give it to these individuals. These elected officials already have the executive authority, now you will be giving them legislative authority by passing these bills so they will no longer need the County Commissioners. I hope someone is watching this carefully in Tallahasse, what's next.

[S.B. Pickering]

Karen Diebel has raised over $200,000... That's a pretty good start for an election that is practically nine months in the future. Although it doesn't match Ms. Kosmas' total, it's certainly a respectable amount.

Let's not forget that Suzanne started fundraising immediately after she took office. She's also scored over $500,000 in PAC and other non-party contributions. For example, she received $2,000 from "Friends of Rahm Emmanuel" on January 2, 2009, before she was sworn into office.

Yes, Kosmas is currently ahead in fundraising, BUT that can change very quickly once Karen Diebel wins the primary in August.

It's a bit too early to prognosticate on this race!