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Desperate Florida Democrats have reportedly invested $2.5 million in a “laughable,” last-ditch effort to try to eventually turn Florida blue again, despite Republicans’ overwhelming victories in the Sunshine State.
“The new campaign comes in the wake of Republicans surpassing registered Democrats for the first time in Florida history. But there are questions over how far such efforts can go to turn back a tide that has been growing for over a decade,” according to a Newsweek report published Tuesday.
“Back in 2008, fueled by Barack Obama’s first campaign, Democrats enjoyed a robust 700,000 voter edge. But beginning in 2012, when the advantage sat at 558,000, Republicans began to chip away at the Democratic lead.”
And then late last year, Republicans finally overtook Democrats in voter registration, marking a cornerstone moment for the Republican Party at large.
Florida now officially ‘red’; DGA gives up on unseating DeSantis https://t.co/5AqRYfN0VX
— American Wire News (@americanwire_) November 6, 2021
“When I got elected governor, we had 280,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state of Florida. Today … for the first time in the history of Florida, we’ve now overtaken Democrats. There are more registered Republicans in Florida than Democrats. And it’s good for us,” the governor said at the time.
“But I mean honestly, it looks like we would have probably won the New Jersey governor’s race, but all the Republicans moved to Florida from New Jersey because they get so frustrated,” he added in jest, eliciting laughter.
The joke was in reference to New Jersey almost going red during the 2021 gubernatorial race. While the state ultimately remained blue, a previously unknown Republican truck driver did manage to oust a longtime Democrat from the New Jersey Senate.
Despite Florida’s massive shift to the right, some on the left believe it’s possible to reverse the trend.
“Contrary to the conventional wisdom, Florida has not suddenly transformed into Utah or Wyoming, a ruby-red state that cannot be won by Democrats,” Fernand Amandi, the top consultant for Obama’s Latino vote polling during his 2008 and 2014 campaigns, told Newsweek.
“It can still be won, even in 2022, but they must invest early and they must treat it as a state that they are trying to flip, instead of waiting for the final two or three months before the election to engage.”
As of March, incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis was beating all of his Democrat challengers in the voting averages maintained by RealClearPolitics.
Democrats’ strategy for chipping away at his support appears to currently revolve around smearing him over the Parental Rights in Education bill, which both they and their media allies have incorrectly labeled the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
They claim the bill prohibits children from coming out. As such, their strategy for smearing DeSantis has involved them literally just yelling out the word “gay”:
We’ve got one thing to say to our GOP colleagues — GAY! pic.twitter.com/AiXzW0chUq
— Florida Senate Democrats (@FLSenateDems) March 7, 2022
In reality, the bill simply prevents teachers from indoctrinating children in third grade or lower with radical LGBT dogma by barring them from discussing sexual matters with kids that young.
The public’s reaction to the Democrats’ stunt appears to speak volumes:
Gay people are going to see this and stay in the closet to avoid being associated with you.
— (@LemonDeepfried) March 7, 2022
I thought this was an opposition attack ad before I realized it came from the verified FL Dems page ROFL
— Ben (@Lewified) March 7, 2022
I hope every Dem running for office nationwide this year states clearly and repeatedly that they favor sexual orientation/ gender identity ‘instruction’ in kindergarten through 3rd grade. Good idea @FLSenateDems?
— Finman now in Duluth (@Finman1988) March 8, 2022
It’s 2022. The vast majority of people couldn’t care less about your sexuality. But we do want our kids to learn how to read, divide, and think critically. But I’m so glad you had your moment in the spotlight. That’s the only thing that actually matters.
— Snarky-brie (@BrieSnarky) March 8, 2022
I’m a little surprised by the adults in the room.
You could have made a thousand heart felt comments about those impacted and how they felt they were hurt by this but your answer was theater rather than emotional maturity and educated analysis.
This helps no one.
— Eli (@xBrokenGenRatn) March 7, 2022
During a recent Florida Democrat Party press conference, Democrat strategist Christian Ulvert recalled called for “six-figure registration numbers by October.”
“He said the the level of coordination was unprecedented — there had not been a joint announcement featuring party, caucus, and donor leaders since at least 2006,” according to Newsweek.
But sadly for him, Democrats’ expectations were reportedly far lower given “the string of losses [they] have endured — from close statewide races in 2018 to a bad showing against Donald Trump and Republicans down the ticket in 2020.”
“They give the same quotes every year, in every election cycle, since 2014,” one unnamed veteran Democrat pessimistically lamented to Newsweek.
It apparently hasn’t made much difference. And even if Florida Democrats’ newfound methods were to make a difference, Newsweek rightly notes that it took Republicans over a decade to surpass them in registrations. So what makes them think they can change the tide in just a matter of months?
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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