Guest Editorial: Ed Dean On RPOF vs. Candidate Nan Rich

By  //  September 5, 2013

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Nan_Rich_Senate_portrait
Nan Rich

The Republican Party of Florida’s (RPOF) latest attack on Democratic Gubernatorial State Sen. Nan Rich isn’t so much because she is a threat to Gov. Rick Scott, but rather a political ploy to show how liberal the Democratic party is.

Over the last several months, the RPOF has been bashing the flip flops of former Gov. Charlie Crist. But what was supposed to be the “Summer of Charlie” has turned disappointing for political observers.

Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist

Many had viewed Crist as ready to announce his candidacy for Governor, but that has been postponed.

Since Crist’s announcement for Governor will most likely not take place until November, something has to fill the void of exposing just how weak the Democratic bench is. And with that, there is Nan Rich.

Democratic party activists are publicly giddy of the thought of beating Rick Scott. Their press releases to the party faithful brag about how weak Rick Scott is. But off the record, they will tell you if their is one weaker than Rick Scott, It’s Nan Rich. Polls show that Crist today, could defeat Scott, but the polls don’t show Rich defeating our current governor.

Gov. Rick Scott
Gov. Rick Scott

Politically, the RPOF is smart to go after Nan Rich. Between her liberal views on issues such as school choice, Obamacare, taxes and the “evolving” (flip flops) of Charlie Crist, the RPOF hopes to create an atmosphere showing how desperate the Democrats are in their quest to defeat Rick Scott.

Politically, the RPOF is smart to go after Nan Rich.  Between her liberal views on issues such as school choice, Obamacare,  taxes and the “evolving” (flip flops) of Charlie Crist, the RPOF hopes to create an atmosphere showing how desperate the Democrats are in their quest to defeat Rick Scott. Desperate as in, a extreme liberal that even loyal democrats fear would lose in a general election.

Republicans insiders openly admit they would love to see Sen. Nan Rich in a Democratic primary. They know that Nan Rich represents the liberal progressive wing of the party and that group would go after the record of Charlie Crist. The idea is have the liberals beat up Charlie from the left, and then Republicans would beat up Charlie from the right, showing the weakness of Crist.

But one thing the RPOF is doing is giving free advertisement for Nan Rich. They always say advertisement is always a good thing, but in the case of Nan Rich and her liberal views, this may not be the case.