Sick and tired of the presidential campaigns already? All the coverage of the great pressing issues of the day, such as John Edwards' $400 haircut or whether the Republican candidates believe in evolution (three of them indicated they didn't)? The scintillating debates? The informative YouTube ads?
Oh, the memories.
Here's the bad news: It's only just getting started.
But there is good news, too, my politically concerned brethren. This campaign season, something other than Florida's cash is going to matter as the various Democratic and Republican candidates begin to enlist on-the-ground workers and volunteers in advance of the Jan. 29 primary.
For years, our state has been screwed when it comes to choosing presidential candidates. Unlike our central (and controversial) role in the past two presidential general elections, because our primary was so far back in the pack we never got to see all of our choices. By the time Florida rolled around, the nominees had already been decided by less-populous states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
This time, the crowded fields on both sides of the aisle will have to campaign here and (gasp) listen to us for a change!
"The focus that we'll see on Florida as we talk is changing because of Jan. 29," said Democratic strategist Bernie Campbell, who is not aligned with a campaign yet. "I've heard from a number of folks who are trying to take the temperature."
"Up to this point, Florida's been the ATM," he said.
And how. According to federal campaign records, the major candidates have withdrawn more than $7 million in contributions from the Sunshine State, most of that coming from South Florida, Orlando and Tallahassee. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney top that list, in that order.
Now, presidential-wannabes have to start spending some of that cash. Let's hope they blow it on real campaign organizations staffed by local folks and some extended tours through the state — not just a multimillion-dollar push for television and radio ads in January. (Sorry, TV ad sales execs.)
Then it's our turn. If we want meaningful politics, better candidates and honest government, we have to take it at near-gunpoint. Telephone the campaigns. Ask serious questions. Demand the candidates come to town to give speeches and answer questions, not just for $1,000-a-head fundraisers. We have to show up at those rallies and speeches and show our approval or displeasure with what the campaigns are saying. We have to demand detailed plans and agendas for change. We have to let the campaigns know we are unhappy with sound bites and platitudes. We have to let them know we're unhappy when we sign up for their e-mail updates and all we get are fundraising appeals every two days.
So far, few campaigns have a real presence in Tampa Bay. Obama's is the most developed, with a team of anywhere from 25 to 75 steady volunteers comprising O-Train Tampa Bay. These are the folks who, along with Obama fundraiser Frank Sanchez, put more than 2,000 people in an Ybor City courtyard earlier this year for the largest presidential rally of the season in these parts.
It won't take long before you start to see the other campaigns gearing up. Many of them have been through town to raise money; now, you should get a chance to interact with their campaigns in some way or another.
Don't write any candidates off just yet. Yeah, I know, there's little chance that we'll be playing "Hail to the Chief" to Mike Gravel any time soon, but each candidate deserves to be heard on the issues. And even those who look like the odds are against them (I'm looking at you, haircut boy) could be reborn after a pre-Florida win in another early primary state, like Iowa, for instance.
We need to be vigilant if we want a better political outcome, regardless of your affiliation or ideology. Given our experiences over the past seven years, this time, Florida, let's get it right.
Can't wait for the next issue of CL for more info about Florida media and politics? Check my blog, thepoliticalwhore.com, for a daily dose or to leave a comment about this column.
This article appears in Jun 27 – Jul 3, 2007.