When presidential candidates attend private fund-raisers, no matter how well hyped in the media, they are still private affairs. It was no different two weeks ago when Alex Sink hosted Hillary Clinton at her Thonotosassa home for Clinton’s first campaign event in the Tampa area. A token media presence stayed on the far fringe up the road. Humbling.
Had they been there–or had access to a mole–here is what they would have gleaned:
* With approximately 300 ardent contributors–$500 to $2,700 each–Clinton did well.
* Demographically, it was an even gender split, mostly white and diverse in age.
* Democrat VIPS included: Tampa’s Bob Buckhorn, Pat Frank, Betty Castor, Sandy Freedman and Jim Davis as well as St. Pete’s Rick Kriseman and Charlie Crist. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, it was well-noted, was in Washington “fighting for the transportation bill” that passed in both the House and Senate.
* After photo ops inside, the candidate spoke to the converted for more than 30 minutes from the front porch. The economy was the point of biggest emphasis. She also stressed that she will “defend the ACA (Affordable Care Act),” seek to “reverse Citizens United,” defend Social Security from “privatization,” “take on” the gun lobby, push for immigration reform, back Planned Parenthood, improve the VA and support the military. She also underscored that she wasn’t running as the next big-name Democrat up.
* “I’m not running for a third Clinton term nor a third Obama term. I’m running for my first term.”
* “I will support small business. My father was a small business man. I’ll raise the minimum wage but in a graduated way.”
* “(Solar’s) big in Iowa–why not here?”
* “I’m not a scientist, but I will address climate change.”
* “Talent is universal, but opportunity isn’t.”