Sink gaining momentum in focus on Gulf oil spill

TALLAHASSEE -- Never mind the voice coaches who worked to get Alex Sink to soften her Southern twang, or the image-makers who urged her to be more aggressive, or the handlers who lined up free TV time.

The state chief financial officer and presumed Democratic nominee for governor may have found her campaign voice in the Gulf oil spill disaster that has consumed the coast of several states.

During the past two months, Sink has berated a BP executive whom she called to appear before the governor and Cabinet, criticized the Obama administration for failing to address troubles in BP's claims process, and worked to position herself as the spokeswoman for small businesses crippled by the oil catastrophe.

``She's the only one that has stepped forward and taken the bull by the horns,'' said Tommy Holmes, owner of Outcast Bait & Tackle, a Pensacola company he built 23 years ago now facing bankruptcy.

BP offered to pay him $17,300 to cover his first $73,000 of lost revenues but he rejected it. Now Sink, a former banking executive, has taken up his cause and considers Holmes the poster child for the failures of the claims process and the need for more disaster assistance.

She has assigned her consumer advocate to monitor how Holmes is treated by BP as he appeals their decision. She personally told Obama last week to take over the claims process and ``send BP the bill'' and told him he needs to tell bankers to negotiate more lenient terms for affected companies. And she has called on the state tax collectors to offer emergency exceptions for past-due tax payments.

Holmes, a Republican, now pledges to vote for Sink.

Sink is not the only statewide candidate to use the oil spotlight to bring attention to herself. Attorney General Bill McCollum, a Republican rival for governor, and U.S. Senate candidate Gov. Charlie Crist, have also made repeated trips to the Panhandle to respond to problems and demonstrate their concern.

But Sink's newfound focus marks a pivot for her -- away from a foundering campaign and a muddled message to an approach that attempts to highlight her experience in the business world.

For months, her campaign was criticized for losing momentum as she cautiously avoided taking a position on healthcare reform and other issues until McCollum started raising more money and opened a lead in the polls.

Now, although neck and neck in the polls with McCollum, she's trailing billionaire Republican upstart Rick Scott. But her supporters have stopped complaining.

``I absolutely can see her turning a corner,'' said state Sen. Nan Rich of Weston, a leading Democrat who criticized Sink's slow start earlier this year.

Rich said she noticed the difference at a recent Broward County event where Sink hit the partisan high notes to get a roar from the crowd. ``It was a tremendous difference,'' Rich added. ``I think the oil spill has been a terrific example of her coming out really strong.''

For months, Sink's campaign struggled to find a message as the candidate compounded problems with her risk-averse approach to contentious issues. The frustration from the ranks didn't manifest itself immediately -- a testament to her keen ability to raise money. But as complaints mounted, Sink upended the campaign team and made changes, aides said.

In April, she ousted campaign manager Paul Dunn and recruited a number of veteran political operatives and consultants, such as Steve Schale, the political director of Barack Obama's Florida victory, and Emily's List strategist Shellie Levin, who is now Sink's deputy campaign manager.

Son of late Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles may run against Sink