Next on the list was former CFO and 2012 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink with 25 percent of the votes. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer received 7 percent, state Senator Nan Rich (the only declared candidate at this time) received 3.5 percent, and Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith received 3.4 percent.
Though we don't know any of the folks at St.Petersburg Opinion Polls and Surveys and haven't heard of them until they produced polls earlier this year regarding The Pier and a possible new stadium for the Rays, the survey taken before the Aug. 14 primary showed their credibility.
In any event, we're willing to entertain this past Saturday's poll as having merit.
What does this mean?
Well, despite the fact that Alex Sink and Bob Buckhorn didn't think much of the Democrats giving Crist a major platform as a speaking gig in Charlotte, it's not up to them to determine who Florida Democratic primary voters will choose as their nominee in two years.
Like Republicans nationwide who want to bring down Obama, Democrats in Florida lust for whomever can be their vehicle to take down Rick Scott. There are a lot of different reasons why Sink lost to Scott two years, and not all of them can be attributed to the $73 million he spent to win by a little more than a percentage point.
As we've written before, Sink would undoubtedly be a different (i.e, better) candidate next time around, but the speculation that it's her nomination to lose is insane.
What about other candidates? The Orlando Sentinel reported last week that Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is serious about the nomination. CL has never heard the mayor speak so can't provide much analysis on what his chances might be, but if he's serious then he's going to begin appearing in places like the Bay area to get his name and voice seen and heard.
Another local mayor who some say has ambitions is Tampa's, the aforementioned Mr. Buckhorn.
But would he dare enter the race before running for Tampa re-election in 2015? We say no, believing him when he said this is the only job he wants (for now, anyway).
