http://www.pnj.com/article/20100804/OPINIO... PNJ picks: U.S. Senate
August 4, 2010
In the primaries for U.S. Senate, there shouldn't be much of a race on either side. But the power of money has put the Democratic primary in doubt.
Our picks:
Democrat: Kendrick Meek.
Meek hasn't exactly set the political world on fire, and it wouldn't surprise us if more Democrats end up voting for Charlie Crist, running as an Independent, in November. But Meek is the only candidate with a political or legislative resume on the Democratic side.
However, following the new trend in politics — mirrored in the GOP gubernatorial primary, as well as high-profile races in California — billionaire Jeff Greene has bought his way into the race with liberal use of his own money.
A poll last week had Greene — after spending $8 million of his own cash — leading Meek, although many voters remain undecided.
For Democrats, Meek has been a solid if uninspired U.S. representative from Miami after assuming the seat from his well-known mother, Carrie Meek. He is a loyal Democrat with a solid voting record on a variety of progressive issues, from the environment to health care to financial regulation to ethics reform (but gave less-than-convincing responses to questions about assistance he provided to a developer who hired his mother as a high-priced consultant).
Based on Greene's pronouncements, there's not much in the way of policy differences between them. But Greene has no public track record — other than for making money on sophisticated investments. He also showed prescience in making investments that paid off when the housing and sub-prime mortgage markets crashed.
His own ethics have been questioned, including a misleading attack ad against Meek, and delays in filing financial disclosures.
Meanwhile, Northwest Florida voters' only real chance to see him has come on his television ads ... hardly a sign of his interest in our interests.
Posted By: Kendrick Meek
Wednesday, August 4th 2010 at 10:56AM
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