http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-24cong0606aug06,0,2214497.story?page=1&coll=orl-home-headlinesOpponent, where art thou? asks Democrat The primary battle to face Tom Feeney is for now a one-man show.
Robert Perez | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted August 6, 2006
The Democratic primary for Florida's 24th congressional district pits Andy Michaud, a well-financed veteran of two election campaigns, against Clint Curtis, an underfunded political newcomer.
But less than three weeks before early voting begins, it's Curtis who is out pressing the flesh, making stump speeches and pushing for donations.
Michaud, meanwhile, has been missing in action.
Curtis, a Titusville computer programmer, says his opponent in the Sept. 5 Democratic primary is ducking him.
"He doesn't show up at events where I'm at," Curtis said. "It's the oddest campaigning I ever saw."
Indeed, Michaud's campaign appears to have gone into hibernation. He announced his intention to run in July 2005 and quickly amassed a sizable campaign war chest.
"He
has no ability to sway the 7 percent of Republicans necessary to win this district," Curtis said of his opponent. "I do."
The way Curtis sees it, the real battle is a personal one between himself and Feeney.
Curtis claims Feeney asked him and his former employer, Yang Enterprises, to create a software program in 2000 to rig elections.
In 2004, Curtis testified before a congressional hearing in Ohio about the alleged incident and submitted to a lie-detector test that, he said, proved he was being truthful.
Feeney has denied any such dealings with Curtis.
Since then, Curtis quit his job at Yang, was fired from his subsequent job with the Florida Department of Transportation and was forced to declare bankruptcy in 2002, when the only job he could get was stocking shelves at a Dollar Store, he said.
Maintaining the integrity of elections is the key issue in Curtis' campaign, and that's why, he says, a showdown with Feeney is inevitable.
"Everyone knows that my facing Feeney in the general election will receive national attention," he said. "National news agencies and independent bloggers are poised for the epic battle of good versus evil."
But Curtis has to get by Michaud first.
snip
HELP SEND CLINT CURTIS TO CONGRESS!
SEND $5 (OR MORE)-- www.clintcurtis.com
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