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Miami Herald: President Clinton in South Florida Monday to campaign for Kendrick Meek (2128 hits)

www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/15/v-fullstory/1777294/president-clinton-in-south-florida.html

``On the scale of 1 to 10,'' U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek says of Bill Clinton's visit to Florida on Monday, ``this is an 11.''

Locked in a tough Democratic primary and polls showing no obvious winner, Meek is hoping the 42nd president will provide the kick he needs in the final week.

If anyone can deliver, it's Clinton, whose love among Democrats seems to be only outmatched by love from Democrats in South Florida, where the two will campaign together -- eight days before the primary.

``It will help bring about clarity,'' said Meek, who has been far outspent by billionaire rival Jeff Greene.

Clinton and Meek will appear together at three allies, starting in Palm Beach, then Broward and ending in Miami-Dade. Demand was so high for the 4:30 p.m. Palm Beach rally that a larger venue had to be reserved, Meek's campaign said.

Broward's rally will be at 6:45 p.m. at the Signature Grand, 6900 State Road 84; Miami-Dade's will be at 8 p.m. at Gusman Theater, 174 E. Flagler St. in downtown Miami.

The TV coverage alone could be worth the equivalent of millions in campaign ads.

``This is pivotal for Kendrick,'' said Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar. ``The locations are hotbeds for Democratic activists and it will generate a buzz that Kendrick should be able to ride into the 24th primary successfully.''

Greene played down Clinton's role and has cast Meek as an ineffective congressman.

``People in Florida are too smart to rely on another political figure endorsing someone.''

But in a Democratic primary where turnout could be low, the candidate who most energizes the base could win. Black voters account for a quarter of Democratic voters in Florida.

``There's nobody that can stimulate that African-American vote more than Bill Clinton,'' said Darryl Paulson, a retired political scientist from the University of South Florida. ``You would think a black president could do that but I think even the African-American community feels some disappointment with [President Barack] Obama.''

The Clinton-Meek alliance began when Meek was a Florida state trooper providing security for a little-known visiting governor from Arkansas. But their story is also one of political alliances and circumstance -- a situation that could help Clinton as it helps Meek.

Meek, a congressman from Miami, endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for president in 2008, giving her an early foothold in the critical state and among the African-American community that was witnessing history in Obama.

Several other black lawmakers in Florida backed Clinton over Obama, a testament to the man once referred to as the nation's ``first black president.'' But the former president lost favor in the community for comments during the tough primary season, including calling Obama's campaign a ``fairy tale.''

It was no dream. But the euphoria and high hopes that swept Obama into office have given way to the reality of high unemployment and divisive battles over health care reform and government spending. Obama's ratings are down and, as such, his ability to help candidates is significantly diminished.

Some have shied away from his involvement in their races, and Obama has told members of Congress he may do more good by staying away. Obama has been on an aggressive fundraising pace, including Wednesday in Miami at an event Meek and gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink will attend, but those are out of public view.

Clinton, who turns 64 this week, carries no such burden. When he stumped for state Democrats in 2006, he drew frenzied crowds. Some shed literal tears of joy. A Gallup Poll last month found his favorability rating 9 points higher than Obama's.

The current president's overall approval rating among Florida voters is at 44 percent, down from 48 percent in May, according to a Ipsos Public Affairs poll conducted this month for The Miami Herald/the St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9/Central Florida News 13.

So, as time would have it, Meek may have stuck by the right candidate.

``It's payback time,'' said Paulson.

Meek, 43, dismissed that notion. Noting Clinton has held five fundraisers for him (raising $730,000), he said he ``could have ducked out a long time ago.''

Clinton could do well, too.

By coming to South Florida and appearing with a candidate who is trying to make history as the first African-American elected to the Senate from the South, he could help repair self-inflicted damage from the 2008 presidential primary.

In addition to offending blacks by calling Obama's bid a ``fairy tale,'' he suggested that Obama could win the South Carolina primary, where half the voters were black, because of his race.

``For the first time in his career African-American leaders were severely criticizing him,'' said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. ``To the extent he needs to be restored, this helps. But I think he's already restored. They don't call Bill Clinton the `comeback kid' for nothing.''

Meek said he thought Clinton's comments were misconstrued. ``No one thinks President Clinton looks at color as an issue,'' he said.

He added: ``Last I checked, President Clinton and President Obama have been working together to move America forward. I don't think there's anyone walking around saying he has to prove himself to the black community.''
Posted By: Kendrick Meek
Monday, August 16th 2010 at 1:34PM
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