Gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich* hit town last weekend. She was politely welcomed by the Tiger Bay Club of Tampa and properly covered by local media.
As still the only major declared Democratic candidate for Florida governor, she has earned that asterisk. But she has also picked up another, less-welcome one. While the former Weston legislator has spent a dozen years in Tallahassee, including as minority leader in the Senate, she still has major name-recognition problems. Not good. And it was embarrassing when she wasn’t allowed even a cameo at the recent Jefferson-Jackson fundraising gala and party love-in.
As a result of the name-game challenge, she also has fund-raising questions. Consequently, she has credibility issues. Call it the political hat trick no candidate for any office would want. Let alone one in a mega state with pricey, multiple media markets. In polls involving the usual Democratic suspects–former Gov. Charlie Crist, former CFO Alex Sink and Sen. Bill Nelson–Rich is the only one who actually trails incumbent Gov. Rick Scott. Yes, someone besides Bill McCollum still trails the country’s least popular governor.
In addressing the Tiger Bay luncheon last Friday–largely preaching to the Democratic converted–she offered hints as to why she remains traction-challenged. She comes across as informed and progressive but uninspiring at a time when her party needs someone to rally around. Her response to a (Quinnipiac) poll-related query seemed quixotic. “I’m an optimist. I was actually amazed I was only six points down (to Scott). I feel kinda good about it.”
She likely does. It could be worse. She also notes that there’s ample precedent for relatively unknown state senators becoming governor–namely, Reubin Askew, Lawton Chiles and Bob Graham. But that was them, and this is not.
The “life-long Democrat” and former president of the National Council of Jewish Women seems earnest, if scripted, and in the race for all the right reasons. Her checklist of priority rights–from public education and health care to voting and women’s reproduction–resonates with the left who are anxiously looking to replace the gubernatorial anti-Christ. But the electorate–Democrats, Independents, Republicans–also votes for a messenger, not just a message.
What Democrats desperately want is a winner. Rich is getting no traction with no one else in the race. When the battle is finally joined, it won’t get easier.
Two other points.
Rich should consider maxing out on the concept of “local control.” She characterized Scott as the “Big Brother” in Tallahassee who doesn’t respect local control across a spectrum of issues–from the environment to public schools. It’s an effective rejoinder to leading questions about being a stereotypical “top-down”/big government liberal.
Cuba As Game-changer?
Al Fox, well known as this area’s pre-eminent advocate for normalizing relations with Cuba, tried to bait Rich with a question. She should have taken the bait.
Fox wanted to know if she would entertain going to Cuba herself and maybe taking some “farmers” with her to underscore that there are deals to be made in certain sectors with the right approach. It could, implied Fox, possibly be a game-changer.
She responded that it was, indeed, time “to try a new tact” regarding Cuba and then lamely referenced the need for “dialogue”–especially the “constructive” kind–more than once. Kathy Castor, she’s not.
If you’re Nan Rich, this was a missed opportunity.
Yes, even blatant, enlightened self-interest when it comes to Cuba is still a volatile issue in parts of South Florida, but Rich wants to be governor of the entire Sunshine State. Sure, being proactive on Cuba would be an unorthodox hustings gambit, but her no-name-liberal-from-South Florida candidacy is a long shot.
So, why not show some pragmatic savvy and some political guts? Voters, the vast majority of whom are not the embargo-loving, vendetta crowd, would certainly know her name as a result.