Florida and Georgia Filing Deadlines
Posted by Sean Trende | Email This | Permalink | Email Author
Today is the Florida filing deadline, and there's still some challenger spots yet to be filled. Democrats will try to recruit someone to take on Republicans Ander Crenshaw (FL-04), Gus Bilirakis (FL-09) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18). Republicans have found competitors in every House district in the state.
But the biggest news here is that billionaire real estate developer Jeff Greene may decide to get in the race on the Democratic side, complicating Rep. Kendrick Meek's road to the nomination and forcing him to spend money (this comes just as Marco Rubio learned that he would not have to battle in an expensive primary fight). Greene has an interesting profile, and his deep pockets will obviously help, but he has some warts as well: He could be portrayed as involved in the subprime mortgage debacle, Mike Tyson was best man at his wedding, Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss lived with him for a period of time, and his family only recently moved to the state. Still, these factors may come together to form more of the Clinton-esque "lovable rogue" picture than the "sleazebag" picture, depending on how the primary goes.
It is more of the same in Georgia, where Jack Kingston (GA-01), Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03), Tom Price (GA-06), and Phil Gingrey (GA-11) are all unopposed. John Lewis (GA-05) has yet to draw an opponent as well.
So far, Republicans have failed to field challengers in (by my last count) only three districts, while Democrats have come up short in fourteen. Both of those numbers could grow today.
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