Politics
Republicans Line Up to Take Down Bill Nelson
After 2010 blowout, Democratic senator in crosshairs for 2012
Around the State
After the Republican wave washed over Florida this fall, the two-term senator is the only statewide Democrat left standing. And his days may be numbered.
"That thing on Bill Nelson's back? It's a big, fat target," says Rick Wilson, a veteran state Republican consultant. "Bill Nelson is precisely the kind of weak Democrat the GOP will be after in 2012."
Across the country, moderate and "blue dog" Democrats were killed off in droves. The mortality rate was especially high in conservative and swing states.
Those descriptions stick to both Nelson and Florida like a wet Ron-Jon T-shirt.
Nelson made syndicated columnist Fred Barnes' top-10 list of Democratic senators in trouble in 2012. Barnes says Nelson & Co. will be under intense pressure from both left and right -- and could well end up fatally wounded in the crossfire.
If Nelson hangs with Democratic leaders, he may find himself out on an island because other fearful Dems might cut deals with the rising Republican minority.
"With Democratic allies, Republicans will have operational control of the Senate more often than Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Barack Obama will," Barnes theorizes.
If Nelson tacks rightward, he may find himself running into a Republican field that's already starting to form.
Whether Nelson plays the proud liberal or the pragmatic compromiser, Wilson believes the former astronaut is political toast.
"He's tired, he's dull, he's mostly irrelevant. Quick, name a single legislative accomplishment that defines Bill Nelson," Wilson says.
"Florida just proved that it has little place for Obama cheerleaders and toadies."
THE REPUBLICAN LINEUP
Starting with interim Sen. George LeMieux, several Republicans are maneuvering to take Nelson's seat.
LeMieux, who leaves office in January, already has a campaign website up, and he has noticeably stepped up his personal appearances around Florida.
Though he hasn't talked directly about the 2012 campaign (yet), he began currying favor with the state Republican Party when he endorsed Marco Rubio in this year's Senate race. He's also worked his way into the Rick Scott administration, landing a spot on the incoming governor's advisory team.
Still, LeMieux carries troublesome baggage. Appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to fill Mel Martinez's vacated Senate seat last year, he was Crist's former chief of staff and longtime confidant before the governor bolted the party.
The Fort Lauderdale attorney also had close ties to ex-GOP chairman Jim Greer, the disgraced party boss who was arrested on fraud and money laundering charges earlier this year.
"LeMieux was the promoter, defender and protector of the corrupt Republican Party of Florida chairman and took $350,000 in party funds from Greer to line his pockets. LeMieux in 2012? No thanks," Roger Stone, a longtime national political consultant, told Sunshine State News.
"We'll see if LeMieux can get the stink off him," said another GOP campaign adviser speaking on condition of anonymity.
From a constituent-services standpoint, neither Nelson nor LeMieux has impressed Eugene Benson, a Vero Beach political activist who corresponds frequently with both senators' offices.
"I find their staffs to be excessively wordy, slow and useless," says Benson, who describes himself as independent. "Neither one has been a very effective legislator."
Comments (6)
We will see!
Harry Reid , all though he was elected anther term, will fine the new Washington sphere way different than 4 years! As a long term Floridian I lokk forward to the new changes in my state! Even though I reside in AZ for now!
George LeMieux, might have a chance without a primary, other than that he will have a bad rap even though he rejected Crist when Crist left the party. The primary is too close to drag that anchor through the primary.
Haridopolos might be a fit for the seat, but must walk away from his Florida Senate Seat on a gamble that he can win the primary. Without the field established I doubt he will run unless there is overwhelming support from the Tea Party and the Republican establishment.
Webster has to put the Congressional seat on the line to run and he looked tired. I would love to have him, but I think that he needs to deal with the responsibility he took on first.
JEB has a good shot, but he is going to be extremely polarizing, and give too much energy to the Democrats especially in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County.
I cannot believe that the Quinnell has the stones to deliver an ultimatum to Nelson. Comparing Nelson to Kosmas and Boyd who lost close races and forgetting about Grayson who was the poster child of Progressivism was trounced, shows how out of touch Quinnell is. Grayson's loss was tantamount to being tarred and feathered. It was Progressivism that was rejected and the more you had the greater your rejection.