Watching a debate more than 48 hours after it was recorded, and a day after you read the newspaper accounts, is sort of the equivalent of seeing a movie that you've read too many reviews about.
But with all due respect to Steve Bosquet, CL tuned into Monday night's tape delayed Attorney General debate on Bay News 9 between Pam Bondi and Dan Gelber to check out the body language, if nothing else, between the two candidates.
It aired just as a Suffolk University poll showed Bondi with her biggest lead yet in the race, with the former Hillsborough County Assistant Prosecutor now up 8% over the Miami Beach Democrat.
Body language was an issue, as the two candidates were seated quite closely to each other in the studio of News 13 in Orlando, and on one occasion, Gelber pointed a finger at Bondi, invading her space somewhat, forcing her to lean back.
Gelber has one of the most formidable intellects in Florida public life, and at times he almost came across as condescending, lecturing Bondi on how things really work. He relentlessly mentioned Bondi's meeting up with members of Associated Industries of Florida, one of the most powerful business groups in the state. He criticized her for telling that group that she would support deregulating the insurance market, which he said would lead to high property insurance rates.
Bondi responded that she believes opening up the insurance market would do the opposite, saying, "I don't want Citizens to be the insurer of first resort. We have $2.1 trillion in exposure, if a hurricane hits us, we're in trouble. I believe in the free market, let market rates take their place…we have got to protect our state."
Never have the words "career politician"been such a powerful epitaph as it has been in 2010, and even though Gelber was 40 years old before he entered politics, Bondi repeatedly characterized her Democratic party opponent of using the AG's office as a stepping stone for higher office Several times she referenced the fact that Gelber was a member of the House just two years ago before moving to the state Senate (he was term limited out of the House), then a few months later announced he was running for U.S. Senate – until Charlie Crist got into the race and he then ran for Attorney General. Bondi hammered that home that point repeatedly.
Gelber responded that it was less than honest of Bondi to harp on that, since he had spent a decade as a career prosecutor. He then threw in the fact that he won 98% of his cases, quipping "which I don't think you can say about yourself."
Later Bondi got back at that comment, turning to Gelber as she said, "how many jury trials, 20? I've tried state cases that applied to the Attorney General office."
This article appears in Oct 14-20, 2010.