CAMPAIGN 2006 | GOVERNOR
Debating Democrats direct all their criticism at GOPThe Palm Beach Democratic Party organized Thursday's debate between U.S. Rep. Jim Davis of Tampa and state Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua.
BY BETH REINHARDbreinhard@MiamiHerald.com
BOYNTON BEACH - The only time the Democrats running for governor acknowledged each other during Thursday's debate was when one candidate joked that the rigors of the statewide campaign would keep their own dogs from recognizing them.
An ignorant voter who stumbled into the Park Vista Community High School auditorium might even think that U.S. Rep. Jim Davis and state Sen. Rod Smith were running against ex-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, instead of each other. Davis referred to the indicted Republican congressman four times in his opening remarks, while Smith made a joke about DeLay's also-indicted lobbyist friend, Jack Abramoff.
It was tough for the roughly 800 voters in the audience to discern any policy differences between the two men.
Smith and Davis both condemned the state's ban on adoption by same-sex couples. Smith is co-sponsoring a bill that would allow gay foster parents to adopt.
''If a foster parent is willing to make that relationship permanent, then shame on us for telling a child they don't fit a lifestyle we approve of,'' Smith said. ''I believe we are all equal in the eyes of God and in the eyes of each other,'' Davis said.
A SHOT AT JEB
Smith criticized Gov. Jeb Bush for hiring private companies to provide child welfare and juvenile justice services. Davis added: ``How the Republican leadership in Tallahassee has treated our children is one of the most disgraceful legacies of this administration.''
Term limits prevent Bush from seeking another term. The leading Republican candidates are Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.
One question from the panel of journalists seemed to catch Smith off guard. Asked whether he supports Oregon's doctor-assisted suicide law, the quick-tongued former prosecutor paused. Then he said, ``I believe it raises issues that are very frightening to me . . . I'm not prepared to go to where Oregon is, and I'm not sure that many people in the state of Florida would want to go in that direction.''
Not surprisingly, Davis agreed.
Their rapport contrasts with the feistier Republican contest. ''We've got two well-known candidates who are trying to get ahead of each other, so of course they're going to get their noses bloodied,'' said Sharon Day, Republican state committeewoman from Broward.
The 2002 Democratic primary race for governor, between Bill McBride and Janet Reno, was fairly friendly. But harsh attacks marked the 2004 U.S. Senate primary between Betty Castor, Peter Deutsch and Alex Penelas. Some said Deutsch's ads blasting Castor weakened her profile and contributed to her defeat by Republican Mel Martinez.
''We've learned our lesson,'' said Todd Wilder, Smith's political director. ``It's been preached that we can't afford a divisive primary.''
CASH-CHALLENGED
Another reason for the Democratic truce -- for now -- is financial. Smith and Davis have only a fraction of the Republicans' campaign accounts and can't afford to blow their money on each other.
The gentleman's agreement between the Democrats was demanded months ago by the party's dean in Florida, Sen. Bill Nelson. Advisors to the gubernatorial campaigns -- Screven Watson for Smith and Karl Koch for Davis -- confer weekly.
''Sometimes it's just about family, but we keep an open line of communication that Jim and Rod are aware of,'' said Watson, former executive director of the Florida Democratic Party. ``We're using that back channel to make sure things don't get out of hand.''
Privately, representatives from both camps acknowledge that the peace may not, cannot, last in such a high-stakes race.http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/13778743.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_state
BY BETH REINHARDbreinhard@MiamiHerald.com
BOYNTON BEACH - The only time the Democrats running for governor acknowledged each other during Thursday's debate was when one candidate joked that the rigors of the statewide campaign would keep their own dogs from recognizing them.
An ignorant voter who stumbled into the Park Vista Community High School auditorium might even think that U.S. Rep. Jim Davis and state Sen. Rod Smith were running against ex-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, instead of each other. Davis referred to the indicted Republican congressman four times in his opening remarks, while Smith made a joke about DeLay's also-indicted lobbyist friend, Jack Abramoff.
It was tough for the roughly 800 voters in the audience to discern any policy differences between the two men.
Smith and Davis both condemned the state's ban on adoption by same-sex couples. Smith is co-sponsoring a bill that would allow gay foster parents to adopt.
''If a foster parent is willing to make that relationship permanent, then shame on us for telling a child they don't fit a lifestyle we approve of,'' Smith said. ''I believe we are all equal in the eyes of God and in the eyes of each other,'' Davis said.
A SHOT AT JEB
Smith criticized Gov. Jeb Bush for hiring private companies to provide child welfare and juvenile justice services. Davis added: ``How the Republican leadership in Tallahassee has treated our children is one of the most disgraceful legacies of this administration.''
Term limits prevent Bush from seeking another term. The leading Republican candidates are Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.
One question from the panel of journalists seemed to catch Smith off guard. Asked whether he supports Oregon's doctor-assisted suicide law, the quick-tongued former prosecutor paused. Then he said, ``I believe it raises issues that are very frightening to me . . . I'm not prepared to go to where Oregon is, and I'm not sure that many people in the state of Florida would want to go in that direction.''
Not surprisingly, Davis agreed.
Their rapport contrasts with the feistier Republican contest. ''We've got two well-known candidates who are trying to get ahead of each other, so of course they're going to get their noses bloodied,'' said Sharon Day, Republican state committeewoman from Broward.
The 2002 Democratic primary race for governor, between Bill McBride and Janet Reno, was fairly friendly. But harsh attacks marked the 2004 U.S. Senate primary between Betty Castor, Peter Deutsch and Alex Penelas. Some said Deutsch's ads blasting Castor weakened her profile and contributed to her defeat by Republican Mel Martinez.
''We've learned our lesson,'' said Todd Wilder, Smith's political director. ``It's been preached that we can't afford a divisive primary.''
CASH-CHALLENGED
Another reason for the Democratic truce -- for now -- is financial. Smith and Davis have only a fraction of the Republicans' campaign accounts and can't afford to blow their money on each other.
The gentleman's agreement between the Democrats was demanded months ago by the party's dean in Florida, Sen. Bill Nelson. Advisors to the gubernatorial campaigns -- Screven Watson for Smith and Karl Koch for Davis -- confer weekly.
''Sometimes it's just about family, but we keep an open line of communication that Jim and Rod are aware of,'' said Watson, former executive director of the Florida Democratic Party. ``We're using that back channel to make sure things don't get out of hand.''
Privately, representatives from both camps acknowledge that the peace may not, cannot, last in such a high-stakes race.http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/13778743.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_state
