Vote-Rich Florida Can Be Kind to Riches

Kendall Coffey on his Spinning the Law Discussion Group

Kendall Coffey

To many Floridians, the previous GOP Presidential contests in smaller states were sideshows.

Of the early primaries, only Florida has the size and diversity to truly reflect our nation. Although the race here is too close to call presently, Florida’s pivotal role could be good news for Mitt Romney. In the Sunshine State, a candidate’s bags of money do not seem to create much political baggage. Just ask our current Governor, Rick Scott.

The political novice ran in 2010 with very controversial wealth – Scott’s former company paid $1.7 billion in fines and damages for health care fraud. But his massive waves of television ads derailed a powerhouse primary opponent as well as a formidable Democrat in the general election. Romney’s Bain Capital issues pale in comparison to Scott’s problems (like taking the 5th Amendment dozens of times).

Throughout Florida, television executives are smiling about the medium’s critical role in the Presidential sweepstakes. While more than $13 million in pro-Romney funds have already been spent or committed – and more may be on the way – the Gingrich PAC has reportedly amassed at least $5 million. Much of the battle for Florida could turn on whose Super PAC can beat up the other – a candidate’s ground game may have too much ground to cover before January 31st.

Even so, Romney’s organization may have secured a crucial advantage with absentee voters. Plenty of them received mailings from the Romney campaign in December. Gingrich, whose organizational fumbling cost him a place on Virginia’s ballot, apparently missed that key opportunity. Like early voting, absentees make decisions before Election Day. Even with his recent surge, Gingrich may be too late for many of these voters.

Thanks to inconclusive results in the earlier states, Florida is positioned to deliver a powerful verdict in what has been a topsy-turvy GOP contest. Debates can be important, but wealth – tainted or not – can be a candidate’s best friend in a state too large for retail politics and with ten media markets that can be fed only by massive television dollars.