www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/aug/03/editorials-elections-2010-us-senate-meek-gives-dem/ Democrat: Kendrick Meek
The eyes of the nation will be on this U.S. Senate race on Nov. 2.
What happens in the primary on Aug. 24, for which early voting starts Monday, will help set the table.
Marco Rubio, who faces only token Republican opposition, will be the GOP nominee.
Rubio’s resonance with Republican voters led Gov. Charlie Crist to leave behind the GOP for a bid for the Senate as an independent.
Who will be the third candidate in that race?
The Daily News recommends:
Democrat: Kendrick Meek
Meek’s Democratic primary opponent, Jeff Greene, has found plenty in Meek’s past six years in the U.S. House, representing Miami’s District 17, to raise ethical questions that make scary TV ads when repeated over and over. Meek counters, albeit less forcefully, with questions about Greene’s tenure in Florida (about three years, according to Greene) and party loyalty (he ran for the U.S. House in California as a Republican).
This is what shakes out from all that:
Meek has been a reliable vote for Democrats on issues ranging from health care and the environment to cap and trade.
He has held leadership positions on the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chaired the Democrats’ “30 Something” Working Group, composed of legislators under the age of 40 and formed with the express aim of reaching out to younger voters. During his eight years in the Florida Legislature, he fought against Gov. Jeb Bush’s One Florida plan to replace affirmative action and effectively championed the 2002 class-size amendment.
Agree or disagree with those stands, in Meek, unlike multimillionaire newcomer Greene, voters know exactly what they’re getting — a Democrat who shares their ideas and beliefs, and who has spent the past 15 years in public office, advancing the party’s agenda at a state and national level.
Though the precedent for wealthy people rising in politics is hardly news, Greene is treating a seat in the U.S. Senate as if it is for sale and he is the highest bidder. We are compelled to give Greene credit for facing questions about that in person and head-on. He is what he is and he is proud of it. If Greene is really serious about being a public servant, he will still be around and involved six years from now. Then we’ll be more inclined to listen.
Also in race: Glenn Burkett, Maurice Ferre
Who can vote? All 46,000 Democrats in Collier and 108,000 in Lee.
What happens next? The winner advances to face Rubio and Crist on Nov. 2.
Posted By: Kendrick Meek
Tuesday, August 3rd 2010 at 8:29PM
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