Mitt Romney won the state of Florida’s GOP Primary, and we congratulate him – To paraphrase Dr. Ray Stantz in Ghostbusters 2 – “Mr. Romney, you’ll be happy to
know that almost 33% of our staff voted for you in the Primary…”
That being said, as the staff sat around the conference table on Wednesday, we asked each other what the GOP Primary showed us both good and bad – here’s what we came up with…
First, we learned that Romney is not a pushover when he is behind the 8 ball. Coming off of a pretty crummy showing in South Carolina, Romney was determined to make a good showing in Florida and did so. He exercised good strategy in spending a massive amount of money in the more populous areas for advertising. Outspending Gingrich by 5 to 1*, Romney blanketed the airwaves, and his numbers in these areas showed the results.
Second, we learned that Romney can get Florida Republican voters. Well, half of them at least – in the areas where there is a large portion of Republicans of a more moderate demeanor. This worked well for Romney in the Primary, where only Republicans were able to vote. Florida (particularly SOUTH Florida) has had a tremendous upsurge in voters who have switched their party from Republican to Independent. Like much of the country, this switch in Party affiliation is not to demonstrate ‘Centrism’ but instead to voice a lack of confidence in the Republican Party’s Conservativism. While this bodes well for a Republican candidate in the General election, Gingrich and Santorum were much more heavily favored in his group. It should also be noted that despite an increase in membership numbers, the Republican Party is now the 3rd Party in Broward County from a membership perspective. The independents are often members of conservative grassroots organizations such as 9/12 and the Tea Party and their focus is constitutional Conservativism, which is by all indications is to the right of where the bulk of Romney’s platform sits.
Also, we learned that Romney can perform well in a debate. Romney took Gingrich to task during the Florida Debate about th
e negative ads that Newt’s campaign had run. Instead of taking the most expeditious and genteel route, an immediate apology, Gingrich responded with further attack, giving Romney greater latitude. Furthermore, Romney was able to justify the significant attack ad spend as a response to Gingrich’s truculent attitude in the debate. It was a well-played debate by Romney, and may have cost Gingrich all 50 of the Florida Delegates (at least at the time of this writing). Gingrich is normally very strong in a debate, but had an off night, and came under serious attack. We will state for the record that BOTH Romney and Gingrich are entirely too thin skinned in the debates. All of the candidates are politically experienced, and should be beyond this kind of rattling
Finally, we learned that Romney is good on the economy, but will run into difficulties with the Government-provided healthcare issue. Senator Rick Santorum pointed this out in the debate, and it is likely that no matter how many times Romney says he will make the repeal of Obamacare his primary mission; all it will take is Obama demonstrating the similarities between the Massachusetts plan and the Federal Plan to effectively hamstring Romney’s arguments. Romney needs to strengthen his case on this issue.
The primary also showed us that Gingrich can rally Tea Party support, but that he needs a more effective ground team in each of the states. We also learned that establishment Republicans are worried about having Gingrich as the Republican nominee. It can be inferred that this concern is due to his knowledge of the way things work in DC. Bottom line, they won’t be able to pull one over on Gingrich. Gingrich has need of a good, trustworthy, consistent ground team – and it is not too late to have one. If he gets that in the next few weeks then FL becomes a hiccup, rather than an ulcer.
Additionally we learned that Santorum can give a good accounting of himself when he is given the chance, but that unless he is able to canvass the state, his election performance will be curtailed. Santorum has strong convictions, and is, by all acounts, a very ‘nice guy’. Some of the moderate elements of the Republican ‘Big Tent’ have differences of opinion with his personal beliefs, but outside of Florida that group will not be as significant.
The Florida GOP Primary was tough for many of our staff to watch, because every one of the candidates has one or two (or several) supporters on our team. All of the candidates have strengths and despite our internal preferences, we are all committed to supporting the eventual nominee when the National GOP Primary process has been completed. Each of us has our own “favorite” candidate, but we recognize that this election is too important to let our 20% differences derail efforts to turn this country from the dangerous path it is on.
Hopefully all Republicans, both Moderate and Conservative will be able to accomplish that same unification when the dust from the GOP Primary has settled!
Keep Watch!
One of Newt Gingrich’s best events yet was missed by the mainstream media. It wasn’t a big event, and it wasn’t surrounded by fanfare. It didn’t have massive press coverage, and it wasn’t ostentatious, but because he had said he would do it, he did.
Obama’s decision to moth ball NASA has left the once active and tourist-friendly Cocoa Beach area reeling under the weight of a stagnate economy. Gingrich’s speech described a vision that lit fires in the eyes of more than a few of the more than 600 attendees.
alanced budget. It can be argued that the former Speaker of the House is aggressive in getting things done, sometimes with conflict, but he does get them done. 
West Palm Beach, Fl - Noon- Jan 12, 2012 - With the South Carolina Primary a little over a week away, Republican Candidate Mitt Romney gave a significant show of confidence for the South Carolina Primary by breaking from the campaign there to show up at a rally in West Palm Beach, FL today. Introduced by Florida CFO Jeff Atwater, and speaking to a smiling crowd of a little over 300 attendees, containing more than a few people of the Jewish faith, the Republican Primary Candidate had some well-aimed criticisms of the President’s foreign policy towards Israel, the U.S. Economy, and some insights into the heart of America.
January 5th, 2012 – Redistricting in Florida is causing an outcry from South Florida and a ‘call to arms’ effort to keep Florida Congressional District 22 leaning slightly Republican, and in the hands of Allen West. 
n West. The 22nd U.S. Congressional District has historically been slightly Republican leaning, thanks to certain sidesteps into heavily Republican neighborhoods. Candidate Lt. Colonel Allen West benefitted from the District lines during his campaign, and secured victory in the 2010 election by a significant “get out and vote” effort by his campaign staff, and his genuine grassroots appeal.
While Adam Hasner started out as a Grassroots favorite, and continues to be the leader in this race, his numbers and support do not demonstrate enough favorability to defeat the long-time incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson. Additionally, Hasner’s voting record continues to be used against him, as it shows a tendency towards the moderate, rather than the hard-charging conservative stance he has made the cornerstone of his candidacy. In a straw poll held at the CPAC event in Orlando, Hasner did take 34% of the vote, but directly behind him was Col. Mike McCalister with 30% of the vote – not that great considering that McCalister is still a relative unknown, having never served as an elected official.
Mike McCalister is holding on to his grassroots support, but he isn’t gaining any real ground. While Col. McCalister is a fiery speaker, and should be respected for his long service in our military, his fire and outrage alone will not be enough to carry him across the finish line to beat Smilin’ Bill Nelson.
District 20 – Florida – The race against Debbie Wasserman-Schultz for the United States House of Representatives seat in Florida’s 20th Congressional District may or may not have just gotten a shot of adrenaline. On October 4th, 2011 Ozzie deFaria announced his run for the District 20 seat that, to date, has been a candidate-killer for the Republican side of the ticket. To all appearances, Mr. deFaria is just what the race has needed – a true businessperson, with the education and experience to recognize what will help America’s economy, and first-hand knowledge of what happens to business when government gets in the way.
ve been fed to the sharks by their own kind. Rep. Wasserman-Schultz is no dummy, and liberal Democrat machine she’s built has worked hard to ensure that the weakest Republican candidate is the opponent she would face in elections. The Republican Primary of 2010 was a prime example of the Dem Machine combining with self-described ‘conservative’ infiltrators to tear down some of the most promising candidates in years, e.g. Donna Milo – a conservative contractor of Cuban descent; Robert Lowry- an irreverent and humorous, yet highly intelligent businessman. Both of these candidates were the subject of numerous attacks and wrongful allegations. Both were strong candidates who were attacked by alleged conservatives. Both were well capable of taking on Wasserman-Schultz, and were committed to doing so, but because of the Dem Machine and ‘friendly’ fire, both were passed over. District 20 was left with the weakest, and most unqualified candidate for the Republican ticket – Karen Harrington. Ozzie deFaria would do well to keep that 2010 race in mind.
Joe Kaufman, an outspoken activist against Muslim extremism, and Islamic Terrorism. He is the founder of Americans Against Hate, has been an investigative journalist, and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communications.
Karen Harrington, a restaurant manager from Davie, Fl. Wife, and mother of three, as well as a cancer survivor, but apparently chose to work at her family’s business rather than attend college after High School.
Joe Goldner, a self-described Tea Party activist, and leads a group himself, and indicates that he graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
On the 11th, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos spoke to the attendees of the Broward GOP BBQ. He spoke of the need for proven leadership in the U.S. Senate. Of all the candidates running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Bill Nelson, Haridopolos is the only candidate that is currently in office. He stated that Nelson has grown out of touch with the Florida voters he represents in the Senate. “He’s a nice guy but he’s voted the wrong way on issues… Bill Nelson been in office since I was 2 years old…”.
verlooking the vital support, strength and charisma their efforts created for campaigns. In the modern era, political wives regularly publically champion their spouse’s qualifications, and their support adds a powerful dynamic to the candidate’s campaign. Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos is a prime example of this teamwork between candidate and spouse.
While most political candidates display their family while on the campaign trail, it is clear that Haridopoloses are a team, and dedicated to working for the future of our country. The Republican primary to challenge Bill Nelson will be a hard fight, but Mike and Stephanie Haridopolos have made it clear that they are in it for the long haul. The Florida Senate President stated it clearly in his interview “… this isn’t just about winning a primary, it’s about being a principled conservative, and winning the general election…” All the candidates in the Republican Primary are coming on strong, but “Team Haridopolos” continues to gather speed, and will be one to keep watch on!
June 11, 2011 – Cowboys, candidates and BBQ’d food may have been the fixins for the Broward Republican Executive Committee BBQ, but the main course was served up by Congressman Allen West. In his speech to about 500 Broward County Republicans, he left no doubt about the goal that Florida Republicans and the Republicans nationwide should be working for in the 2012 Presidential Election.
June 11, 2011 – In a fiery speech at Broward GOP event on Saturday, Adam Hasner’s words demonstrated why he is considered to be the most conservative candidate in race to be the next U.S. Senator from Florida.
