Ralph Nader's dream has at last come true.When the national scold ran for president in 2000, amid cries that he was swiping votes from the Democrats, Nader prophesized that a good dose of Republican power was just what the country needed. Once conservatives trounced on the values that the left holds dear, Nader predicted apathetic voters would come to their senses and start appreciating liberals once again.
That remains to be seen.
What's certain is that a large percentage of once-dependable Democrats — blacks and Hispanics — decided to sit out Nov. 5. The result was the first Republican trifecta in Florida history.
Theories abound about why the GOP controls the Governor's Mansion and both chambers of the Florida Legislature. But nobody doubts that voter turnout was a factor.
The Democrats needed voters to flood the polls in large numbers in order to close the gap between neophyte politico Bill McBride and incumbent Gov. Jeb Bush. Instead, 67 percent of Republican voters went to the polls versus 60 percent of Democrats.
A significant number of registered voters who abstained were minorities. In 2000, nearly 70 percent of registered black voters cast a ballot. On Nov. 5, just 52 percent voted. Hispanic turnout dropped by almost 20 percent.
There were several factors that played into the lack of participation, says state Rep. Frank Peterman Jr. of St. Petersburg, a member of the Florida House's Democratic Black Caucus. Much of the heat should go to McBride, Peterman said.
"He wasn't the kind of candidate that you could get excited about," Peterman said. "People didn't quite have a feel for him."
McBride's strategy for reaching out to voters may have hurt him as well, said Peterman.
Peterman suspects McBride's camp thought it should go after swing voters, independents and moderate Republicans instead of the Democratic base.
"That theory didn't really bear out," he said. "I think a lot of people learned a lesson that you always try to energize your base — your blacks, your Hispanics — not just take them for granted."
Peterman also thinks McBride's decision to focus primarily on education didn't resonate with voters who are equally concerned about the economy, unemployment and health care.
But some are so disillusioned with the process that almost no message will get them back to the polls.
Samie Rogers, 49, is one of the black voters who sat this one out. The Tampa resident intends to continue to stay home on Election Days, no matter what any politician's message is.
"I didn't vote because they're going to do what they want to do anyway," said Rogers, who received McBride campaign literature and was not unimpressed. "They'll promise you the world, but once they get into office it's a different ball game."
McBride seemed like a good man and may have made a better governor than Bush, Rogers said. And McBride may not have. "I thought a lot of politicians were good men but they proved me wrong," said Rogers.
Not all voters are as disillusioned as Rogers. Rudine Sampson, 48, votes in every election for one reason only — because she can. "I vote because that's my right and I'm going to use it," she said.
Sampson is a lifelong Democrat and always votes with the party, she said, but her reasons for voting for McBride went beyond party affiliation. She liked what he had to say.
"Especially about helping children in schools, that's the main thing," she said. "I have grandchildren in [public] schools."
Democrats are now left to lick their wounds and figure out a plan for 2004. Many are calling for the head — or resignation — of Florida Democratic Chairman Bob Poe.
No matter who's in charge, said Peterman, change needs to start at the top.
Republicans launched a far-reaching effort to send absentee ballots to Republican voters, while Democrats lagged behind. That's a leadership issue, said Peterman.
"There are some basic things that you need to do and be up on, and one of those things is absentee ballots," he said. "We didn't do a good job with that."
The party also didn't do a good job of defining themselves as Democrats.
"Republicans take the Democratic message and repackage it and the public is buying it," said Peterman. "We have to stop allowing that to happen."
Peterman asserts that Democrats are actually stronger on family values than Republicans — not in campaign ads, but in real life. Democrats are the ones who back social programs that help keep people afloat, especially in tough economic times, said Peterman.
In the end, the problem of declining voter turnout may be larger than any political party alone can fix. Asked what would get him back to the polls, Rogers had just one word: nothing.
Disillusionment doesn't play politics.
Staff Writer Rochelle Renford didn't vote on Nov. 5. She can be contacted at 813-248-8888, ext. 163, or rochelle.renford@weeklyplanet.com.
This article appears in Dec 4-10, 2002.