Tampa Bay Times political editor Adam Smith wrote this afternoon that former Sen. Nan Rich “barely passes the threshold of viability,” citing her limited fundraising efforts. Smith notes that though the primary is still ten months out, she has raised less in her statewide race than St. Pete Mayor-elect Rick Kriseman raised for a municipal campaign.
Some speculate that money has been slow to trickle in because Charlie Crist’s looming presence has divided Democratic donors. She acknowledges this disadvantage but vies to run a low-cost grassroots campaign driven by activists and volunteers. Rich likens her campaign to those of Lawton Chiles and Reubin Askew, who intentionally eschewed large donations and soft money. Pundits wonder aloud if such a campaign is still possible in post-Citizens United Florida.
We reserve judgment on that matter but we want to know what you think.
The Florida Squeeze 
Why are you and Adam Smith so focused on Senator Rich’s fundraising? Senator Rich is a very viable candidate based on her credentials to be one of the best governors of Florida. Certainly Charlie Crist and Rick Scott have shown themselves to be very poor leaders. Senator Rich is the only true credible candidate in the race for governor. Focusing on the relative credentials of the candidates will show that Senator Rich is the best candidate. Stop being so negative and start thinking about what Floridians need to help us move forward after years of having devastating leaders who have decimated our state. Just stop it!
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I agree that she’s a fine candidate. No one is counting her out, especially not us. Early in a primary is the time for vetting the candidates and probing their weaknesses.
Fundraising is going to be a real issue in this race though and it’s fair to ask this question, the same way we’ve raised questions about Charlie Crist’s record.
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I know how the state can save a lot of money. We cancel elections and just see who has the biggest bank account. Who cares what the voters think?
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I agree with the above comments. It seems that the media is electing the candidates and the voters have to go along with who they say is a winner. No one has cast a vote as yet and this will only make voters, especially democrats, apathetic and stay home. Why vote, if the media has already called the election. This is a sure way for Rick Scott to get re-elected. The danger is all democrats are not crazy about Charlie Crist. The republicans will support Rick Scott because he is the republican candidate. As a matter of fact, he’s been a republican longer than Charlie Crist has been a democrat. This “win at any cost” attitude of some of the democratic leadership to me shows a lack of respect for die hard democrats who take the party serious. I’m embarrassed to say that my party would fall on its sword to support a former republican, and Democrat in name only, who just recently (a week ago) changed his party. I won’t throw away my vote just to win an election. God willing, I’m voting for Nan Rich.
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Actually, Crist changed his party affiliation with the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office earlier this year, as demanded by state law (remember the Argenziano fiasco in 12).
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I have my doubts that Nan Rich will even qualify. Her campaign is stuck. She should have run for Congress last year if she wanted to advance politically. I like Nan, I supported her for Dade School Board in ’84, (she lost that Dem primary), but she is not viable statewide, plain and simple.
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Sorry Mark, you don’t know squat.
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sorry, joe, I respectfully disagree!
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Nan has no interest in ” advancing politically ” Her goal is to save Florida for the people, not the corrupt money grubbers.
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Charlie will be decimated by Rick Snott. He needs a u-haul for all his baggage. When Nan beats Charlie she will have the Dem. votes, women vote, LGBT vote, minority vote, money, Clintons, Obama’s and everybody elses support. Nan Rocks……..
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Nobody knowns Nan Rich, unfortunately. I sure as hell hope Crist doesn’t win, but Me and several friends have tried to reach out to the Nan Rich campaign so that we could become volunteers, but we can’t get a response.
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Tyler, please friend me on FB. I’ll fill you in.
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[…] Poll: Is Nan Rich a viable candidate? […]
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