Kerry finding money base in Florida

[Nicholas_J]

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts is staking a surprisingly strong claim for financial support in Florida, more than 1,000 miles from his Northeastern base.

New campaign finance reports show Kerry has raised more money in the state than any other Democratic White House hopeful besides Sen. Bob Graham -- more than even Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, an adopted favorite for his role in the 2000 election as Al Gore's running mate.

Kerry strategists say he has tapped into new, younger donors in Florida who have no personal ties to Graham -- a network they say belies the criticism from some that Kerry is a regional contender with questionable appeal outside the Northeast.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/6342572.htm

[DrFunkenstein]

1. Florida Is Definitely More Democrat Than The Rest of The South

It has a lot of former North Easterns, too. We should definitely pick it up if everyone is not rounded up and put in jail by Jeb.

---

''He's the only one who looks like a president, acts like a president and sounds like a president,'' said Wagar, 34, who met Kerry when he spoke to the Florida Democratic Party convention last year.

Who else could you imagine saying, "Four score and seven years ago..."

[polpilot]

2. Mo $$$..No message.

Dean '04

[blm]

7. Dean lifted Nader's messages: Dem candidates = Bushlite

Dean likes to attack Democrats even though he accomodated Republicans for 11 years. Aligning with the GOP, how Naderlike. How Deanlike.

[revcarol]

3. Is Kerry taking the little guy/gal for granted, since he has mostly been

getting "big money" so far?

[Nicholas_J]

4. My local democratic party in the largest city in Northeast Florida

Did a simple poll,(today) on paper handouts at a public library, and out of 200 polled 2 knew who Dean was and one said they were planning to vote for him. I didnt have anything to do with the poll itself, but Was intersted in what they found out. Of course Graham came out on top, but Kerry was higher than expected. Everyone expected Lieberman to come in second place, and then Edwards third, But it was Kerry. A lot of military in the area, and a lot of military families come in, as we have TWO naval bases in the city. On on the ocean adn the other a large naval air station inland. The military democrats all supported Kerry over Graham.

[ModerateMiddle]

5. You're going to find

that many military folks who had considered themselves Republican will vote for Kerry too. This guy Bush doesn't have a clue how to protect our military folks overseas.

[blm]

6. He's never taken corporate pac money

so his donor list has always been filled with smaller donors throughout his career.