The Florida Governor's Race

I'm sorry I have not posted in awhile I just left on a trip. In the next couple of days Floridians will vote to choose who will run against each other for governor in the general election.

The Candidates
(R)Charlie Crist, Florida State Attorney General 2003-Present, Florida State Commissioner of Education 2001-2003, Deputy Secretary of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 1997-2001, 1998 Republican U.S. Senate Nominee, Florida State Senator 1993-1997,

(R)Tom Gallagher, 1st Florida State Chief Finacial Officer 2003-Present, Last Florida State Treasurer 2001-2003, Florida State Commissioner of Education 1999-2001, State Treasurer & Insurance Commissioner 1989-1999, Florida State House of Representitives 1973-1987 & Republican Whip, Candidate for Governor in 1986 & 1994

(D)Jim Davis, U.S. Congressman 1997-Present, Florida State House Majority Leader 1995, Florida State House of Representitives 1989-1997 Attorney At Law

(D)Rod Smith, Florida State Senator 2001-Present, Florida State Attorney 1993-2001, Attorney At Law

This Race is definately going to be a close one. Florida voters will decide in the next few months who will succeed Governor Jeb Bush as Florida's chief excutive officer. In the GOP primary State Attroney General Charlie Crist is facing off against State CFO Tom Gallagher. Crist has had the upperhand in this race. Both state they want to continue the Jeb Bush legacy. Gallagher feels Crist can't do that because he is too liberal. Crist tends to stick with the issues and ignores the attacks. In the last face to face debate between Crist and Gallagher last week showed the race at its height. Gallagher tried to paint Crist as a typical liberal, but Crist held his ground. Crist appears to have won the debate with his smoothness and concern for the issues. Gallagher has appeared to have recieved a small boost in support so this might not be over yet. On the Democratic side Congressman Jim Davis is facing off against State Senator Rod Smith. Smtih has been the small underdog in this race but a surge of energy has hit his campaign and has given him a boost in support. Davis has started use his great standings against GOP front runner Charlie Crist as as a way to show voters that he is the dems last chance at the governors mansion. In their debate last week according to the viewers response Smith won over Davis. This might also give Smith a surge in support but Davis will most likely prevail.

My Predictions
GOP Primary
(R)Crist 54%
(R)Gallagher 40%
other 6%

Dem. Priamry
(D)Davis 51%
(D)Smith 45%
Other 4%

The General Election
(R)Crist 52%
(D)Davis 47%
Other 1%

Actual Polls
Dem. Primary Polls
(Florida Chamber of Commerce/Insider Advantage)
(D)Davis 36%
(D)Smith 27%

(Quinnipiac University)
(D)Davis 43%
(D)Smtih 32%

(Strategic Vision)
(D)Davis 40%
(D)Smith 35%

GOP Primary
(Florida Chamber of Commerce/ Insider Advantage)
(R)Crist 39%
(R)Gallagher 29%

(Quinnipiac University)
(R)Crist 57%
(R)Gallagher 32%

(Strategic Vision)
(R)Crist 57%
(R)Gallagher 29%

The General Election
(Zogby/WSJ)
(R)Crist 52.4%
(D)Davis 38.5%

(R)Crist 50.9%
(D)Smith 36.8%

(Rasmussen Reports)
(R)Crist 47%
(D)Davis 42%

(D)Davis 44%
(R)Gallagher 41%

(R)Crist 48%
(D)Smith 35%

(R)Gallagher 45%
(D)Smith 40%

The primary is next tuesday so tune into this blog for more info. on it.