Big weekend: The Miami Herald runs a story about Kendrick Meek, his mother (also a former Member of Congress), an aide, and a developer that could smell trouble. Some Palm Beach County Democrats are getting on the Crist train. And a new poll shows Rubio regaining his lead in the three way Senate race, after the Crist independent announcement momentum evaporated.
The takeaway: the Meek issues in Palm Beach are largely related to his lack of campaigning in the County, which led to several bruised egos among some of the County political players. People want to feel important – even if they are not. The Greene candidacy isn’t entirely unrelated to either Meek’s lack of progress in Palm Beach and to the possibility of a Meek scandal – but isn’t really catching on among Democrats who think Crist is a better deal than losing to Rubio. Crist’s real hope at this point is to start peeling away the Democratic voters in South Florida (what Republicans have long referred to as “the killing fields” – as Democrats have typically been able to put up gaudy numbers in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.
I am on record that I think Crist maxes out around 40% of the vote, but I think he will probably be closer to 30% by the time it’s all over – as long as Meek stays in the race. That seemed fairly certain just a few weeks ago, and while still the most likely scenario – it is no longer a sure thing.
About Me
- Martin J. Sweet
- is a professor, political commentator, and Director of Content for thelaw.tv. Sweet was the 2005 co-winner of the APSA's Corwin Prize for the nation's best dissertation in the area of public law. His book, "Merely Judgment: Ignoring, Evading and Trumping the Supreme Court," is forthcoming from the University of Virginia Press in November 2010. Professor Sweet is a regular political contributor for local television and radio stations, and has been interviewed for his political analysis numerous times by the Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Orlando Sentinel, Sarasota Herald Tribune, Scripps-Howard News Service, as well as the Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Daily News, and the Washington Post. Sweet has also been an invited speaker and panel moderator for national and local education, civic, and religious organizations.
