The Davis Record posses some serious problems for Democrats

US Sugar's attacks on Jim Davis have been below the belt and in many ways tasteless. The Davis team has done a fantastic job of spinning the situation to make US Sugar and its affiliated ECOs the primary issue of this weekend in the race for the Democratic nomination. The record of big sugar in political campaigns and with regards to legislative action is abhorent at best and it seems like Rod Smith has become too chumy with Sugar for my comfort, but sugar's involvement with Rod Smith should not obscure some disturbing votes Jim Davis has cast both in the State Legislature and in the Congress.

A recent mailer bankrolled by US Sugar discusses Davis' record on issues of race. Most notably, the vote by Davis to deny compensation to Pitts and Lee could be a major problem for the Democrats in the General Election. Charlie Crist took a leadership role in helping Kendrick Meek pass the compensation bill during the 1998 Legislative session, and can with some credibility argue to African-Americans that he is more compassionate than Jim Davis.

Jim Davis' vote on the 2005 Federal Bankrupcy Bill is equally troubling. However, a quick look at Davis financial reports shows that the credit card companies have been very thankful for Davis' support and have funded him generously.

Davis, has been a consistent supporter of School Prayer, something that even Jeb Bush doesn't openly support. While Davis' stance on school prayer doesn't bother me, it's sure to irk some of the Democrats most loyal activists. Davis voted for the 1996 school prayer bill that was vetoed by Governor Lawton Chiles.

The Democrats have two moderate, but flawed candidates seeking the nomination for Governor. Perhaps that's why "undecided" is still leading in some of the most recent polls on the Democratic side.

The GOP really blew it

I'm not stating anything radical when I point out that the GOP really blew this year's US Senate race, on Katherine Harris who is unelectable. But the Florida GOP, led by the always meddling Jeb Bush made the wrong move trying to convince a reluctant and unknown Alan Bense to seek the seat. It turns out the GOP had two perfectly good candidates willing to run for the US Senate, both of whom jumped in at the last minute.

Peter Monroe is the former chief operating officer of the Federal Housing Administration during the President George H.W. Bush administration. He was also president and chief administrative officer of the Resolution Trust Oversight Board, which oversaw the cleanup of the savings and loan scandal of the 1990s. Monroe has proven on the campaign trail to be a credible and conventional conservative republican with a deep understanding of both federal and state issues. Monroe has been endorsed by the Palm Beach Post.

Leroy Collins Jr. is the son of "liberal" LeRoy Collins, one of the greatest governors any southern state has had in the last hundred years. Unlike his famous father Collins is a Republican and a conservative one at that. But much like his father, Collins is well versed on public issues and is running a deeply serious campaign. Collins, who at 71 is seeking public office for the first time was recently endorsed by the St Petersburg Times. Collins is a retired Naval Admiral who brings some interesting and innovative views on foreign policy issues such as the Cuban embargo to the forefront.

I have been impressed by the thoughtful nature of both these GOP candidates and believe had either of them been recruited earlier they not only would have beaten the embarrassing Katherine Harris, but would have given Bill Nelson a real run for his money. It's a shame that in this day in age the GOP has become a party of Tallahassee insiders who focus only on recruiting political powerhouses for statewide elective office. The days when the Florida GOP thought outside the box and ran experienced businessmen and former federal officials is dead. If Bob Milligen entered politics today he would have been opposed by a GOP legislator who was just seeking to office climb but was backed by the party establishment and lobbyists.

Do Newspaper endorsements really affect voters?

Congressman Jim Davis who until today had been shut out of the major newspaper editorial board endorsements received the recommendation from his hometown paper the Tampa Tribune. The endorsement from the Tribune read more like a thank you for Davis' record as a Congressman than a recommendation of his ability to serve as Governor.

The continued success of Rod Smith in front of the state papers editorial boards is a great credit to Senator Smith's knowledge of the issues that our state faces. Both Democratic candidates seem to be thoughtful and somewhat wonkish, but Smith clearly interviews better in a tough setting.

This having been said, I have yet to find a Governor's race that hinged primarily on the endorsements of newspapers. These editorials are read by a select few political insiders, the vast majority of whom have long ago chosen a horse to ride in this year's election. Smith will need a lot more than the endorsement of the state's editorial writers to come from behind and claim the Democratic nomination.

Davis ads effective and timely

Jim Davis hit the television airwaves this past week with an ad narrated by Former Senator Bob Graham. Not only was the ad timely as Davis was beaten to the tube by his Democratic rival, State Senator Rod Smith, but the ad is actually quite good.

Bob Graham is a familiar and comforting figure for the vast majority of likely Democratic primary voters. In an election where both major candidates claim to be more electable, and the better Democrat, the third party credibility of Graham helps to sell Davis.

Senator Rod Smith hit the airwaves a few weeks ago with reality television themed ads. Most political insiders inclduing your truly hated them, but if recent polls are any indication the ads were at least somewhat effective in getting Smith's name out in a memorable fashion.

Tampa Bay Beltway shortsighted

Public officials in the Tampa Bay area, much like those in Orlando before them are convinced that the traffic woes of their area can be solved by building an expressway beltway which ties together disparate communities through underdeveloped and rural areas. This idea of traffic control relief is foolhardy to say the least.

In Orlando which serves as a test case thanks to the building of the Greenway (SR 417/SR 429), traffic congestion has actually increased since the completion of a toll road that is far flung from the city centre and does little to relieve the morning and evening rush hour drives.

The proposed four county highway circling the Tampa Bay area may help the traffic flow in the Brandon/Plant City area slightly but it does nothing to connect suburban areas to the central areas of Tampa, St Petersburg or Clearwater. Moreover, like the area in which the Greenway was built over a decade ago much of the region the road would traverse is currently undeveloped. Perhaps the elected officials of the Tampa Bay area are just interested in stimulating development? If this is so, they should just come clean and sell the road for what it is, not as a solution for traffic relief.

New Smith Ad more conventional and effective

After two statewide television ads that met with mixed reviews, Rod Smith has returned to a more conventional format for his newest TV spot. The ad focuses on the single issue of Stem Cell Research and is very well produced.

Smith turned to veteran DC firm Strother Duffy who have an extremely strong track record for winning races in the South to produce their new ads.

Gallagher staying put for now

Despite the suggestions he drop out of the Governor's race by many of his close advisors including Former Secretary of State Jim Smith and Former GOP Chairman Tom Slade, Tom Gallagher is staying in his now futile effort to wrest the Republican nomination from Charlie Crist. Gallagher is currently down by over 20 points in every major poll.

Air Tran's New Florida Strategy

Orlando based Air Tran Airways is the largest airline based in the state of Florida. In this capacity, Air Tran is the successor to a proud legacy of Florida based carriers including Eastern, Pan Am, National and Air Florida.Air Tran, like Eastern has its major hub in Atlanta, and now like Eastern before it is linking popular Florida destinations with major cities of the north by flying over Atlanta. Previously, Air Tran avoided competition by flying from Orlando, Tampa, Ft Myers and Fort Lauderdale to second tier markets of northeast and midwest like Akron/Canton, Flint, Rochester and Milwaukee. Travel to major cities was routed via the Atlanta hub.

However, now with Delta Airlines continuing to struggle (despite turning a modest 2006 Q2 profit), Air Tran has decided to link the four aforementioned Florida cities with Boston and Detroit nonstop. Also, new nonstop service will begin soon from Orlando to Washington National, and Air Tran has already begun serving Chicago Midway nonstop from Orlando and Sarasota/Bradenton.These new flights represent a major shift in Air Tran's cautious, slow growth strategy of the past few years. That strategy helped make Air Tran one of the few profitable airlines in the country post 9/11. With the exception of a full fledged frontal assault on Delta in Atlanta (where Air Tran seems to be winning the battle), the airline has avoided competition with major airlines by flying to secondary markets that typically receive no major airline nonstop service. Now, Air Tran is taking direct assault on Jet Blue, Southwest and Spirit Airlines with its new service.If Air Tran continues to follow this new strategy, the airline's route map will look more and more like that of the defunct Eastern Airlines and will be a worthy successor as Florida's airline.