The Day After

WINNER AND LOSERS FROM PRIMARY DAY 2006


WINNERS

Charlie Crist

The Republican Primary electorate in Florida is less ideological and issues based than many analysts thought. Crist ran to the middle and still crushed Tom Gallagher who has won six previous statewide elections. Crist is now perfectly positioned to dispose of Jim Davis in the General, since Davis lacks Crist's charisma and comes out of his primary much more bloody than does Crist.


Robert Wexler

Congressman Robert Wexler's personal popularity can be credited with two somewhat surprising results from Democratic state Senate primaries in South Florida. Jeremy Ring defeated Broward Mayor and former state Representative Ben Graber largely due to Wexler's support, and Ted Deutch shocked multi millionaire state Rep. Irv Slosberg thanks largely to Wexler's stumping.



LOSERS


Jeb Bush

Bush stumped heavily for Frank Bolanos in the State Senate District 38 primary. Miami-Dade Republican voters rejected Bolanos and by extension Bush in re-electing Alex Villalobos. After 8 years hard edged conservative ideology, Republican voters statewide nominated Charlie Crist who is far more moderate than Bush and uses softer, more comfortable rhetoric to describe his vision.



Ken Pruitt

Pruitt's hold on the Senate is now in doubt following Alex Villalobos victory over Frank Bolanos and an estimated $5-$7 million in campaign cash directed against him.



Big Money in State Senate Campaigns

Big money was spent on behalf of Frank Bolanos, and Irv Slosberg, making them the two best funded state senate campaigns in Florida history. Both candidates lost as excessively negative mail and TV seemed to do more to annoy voters than to win their vote.