McCain Gets Head Start In Florida

(AP) It was a fortunate coincidence for Republican presidential candidate John McCain this week that major parts of his life happened to take place in a state that's considered crucial for him to win in November.

His time learning to be a Navy pilot in Pensacola and being stationed in the Jacksonville area before and after going to Vietnam gave him a reason to spend two days here as part of a biographical tour as he lets voters get to know him, and thus giving him attention in the largest of swing states.

It will be one of many trips McCain will make here over the next few months, and for now he'll have Florida to himself while Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton continue to fight for delegates elsewhere and state and national Democrats figure out how to get Florida's delegates to the August convention.

"By the time the Democrats are done squabbling over their Florida delegates, McCain will have already made several laps across the I-4 corridor and other critical parts of the state," said Todd Harris, a Washington-based political adviser who worked for McCain during his 2000 presidential run and later for former Gov. Jeb Bush's re-election.

And it's not just the television coverage and rallies that help McCain while Sens. Obama and Clinton are competing in the Pennsylvania primary.

"More importantly he's building an organization right now and the Democrats don't have a candidate to build an organization around," said David Beattie, a Florida-based Democratic consultant.

Obama and Clinton have virtually no organized staff in Florida other than a few fundraisers. Both stopped campaigning here last fall after the Democratic National Committee stripped Florida of its delegates, punishment for holding a primary before Feb. 5 in violation of party rules. While Clinton held a rally the night of the Jan. 29 primary, both candidates have since moved on to other states while the Democratic nomination remains in limbo.

Meanwhile, McCain is raising money in Florida and planning more trips. He is also receiving help from Gov. Charlie Crist in building an organization. Crist proved to be a formidable fundraiser with a strong grass-roots network during his 2006 election. He put his team in motion when he endorsed McCain three days before the primary.

"Huge. It was huge," McCain said of Crist's help while sitting across from the governor on a campaign bus.
McCain Gets Head Start In Florida, GOP Nominee-In-Waiting Builds Infrastructure In Critical State While Democrats Fight It Out - CBS News

HUGE advantage not having to work the primary trail. Sure, Obama and Clinton are collecting more money right now but how much are they spending compared to McCain? This guy is free floating, shaking hands, kissing babies, not really in any fight or controversy like the other two.

Have a good one!:s4:

Hope he doesn't come to my area. Can't stand it when the presidential scumbags litter our area with their presence.. like they did, for example, after the hurricane in '04. That was the most disgusting.. Bush and Kerry using our misery for their photo-ops. I think just as badly of McCain. (and the other two, for that matter)

Oh well, one of them has to be elected, unless it's an especially good season for lone whackos (ones that can be bothered, anyway) with good aim..