With just 11 days to go in the Florida Democratic Primary, over half of those surveyed in a recent Mason/Dixon poll of Democrats say they don't have a preference in the Dan Gelber/Dave Aronberg race.
That's why every audience and every vote is important, as the South Florida legislators flew into Tampa yesterday afternoon for debate held by the Hillsborough Democratic Black Caucus at the First Baptist Church in College Hill in East Tampa.
Although they have been feuding in the press and in competing ads, the two seemed to be getting along fine last night in the somewhat stuffy room, attended by over 100 people.
In the one hour debate, the two differed only on a few issues. For star endorsement power, Aronberg broke out Alan Crotzer, who was exonerated in 2006 after spending 24 years in prison for rape he did not commit. In 2008, he was awarded $1.25 million for his time in prison, in a bill that was sponsored by Aronberg.
Issues regarding the criminal justice system was front and center in the debate, as Aronberg several times said he wouldn't be afraid of "speaking truth to power," in bringing social justice to the AG's position.