Likewise the Florida GOP TV ads almost sound like Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink must be running for office in Washington instead of Tallahassee: footage of President Barack Obama urging people to do ``whatever it takes'' to elect Sink and a grave narrator noting that Sink supported Obama's healthcare overhaul and stimulus package.
And Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott rarely misses a chance to accuse Sink of supporting Obama's ``big government'' agenda.
With most signs pointing to big Republican gains in the fall midterm elections, Republican strategists are determined to turn even local and state races into referendums on Obama and the Democratic party nationally. But one of the key questions is whether the Republican tide will rise to the level of a tsunami that not only changes control over the U.S. House and Senate, but sweeps Republicans into offices up and down the ticket in Florida and across the country.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll found 47 percent of Florida voters approved of Obama's performance and 47 percent disapproved, but Obama critics appear much more energized.
``He is a single radioactive boat anchor, to mix metaphors, for every Democrat candidate,'' said Republican consultant Rick Wilson. ``Welcome to our party circa 2008 when every word out of the Democrats' mouth was George W. Bush.''
University of Florida political scientist Daniel Smith said well-funded, high-profile candidates like Sink may be able to avoid being pulled down by the national Democratic image, but it may be harder for lesser-known Democrats. He noted that nearly 400,000 more Republicans turned out in the Aug. 24 primary than Democrats, another ominous sign for down-ballot Democrats.
Keeping those Republicans fired up is a big reason to keep hammering on Obama and Washington.
``My opponent shares Obama's vision for the future, whereas I think the people of this state do not,'' Bondi said of her Democratic rival for attorney general, state Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach.
Noting that Republicans in Florida and across the country appear much more energized to turn out than Democrats, Republican consultant David Johnson of Tallahassee said, ``To keep the intensity level strong you focus on those issues people are angry about and it's, `Look, you've got the keys to the car and we don't like the way you're driving right now.' ''
Democrats, though, say it's Republicans, not Democrats, who have been in the driver's seat in Florida and who will insulate Democrats running for state office.
``It's hard to be anti-incumbent in a state where Republicans are incumbents,'' said Democrat Gelber, noting that Bondi has featured Pelosi and Sarah Palin on her campaign website. ``It's almost like she's creating an alternative election where it's Sarah Palin versus Nancy Pelosi instead of talking about our visions.''
Sink has done her own nationalizing of the race, accusing Scott of years ago hinting that he would support privatizing Medicare and Medicaid. She is scoffing at efforts to wrap Obama around her neck.
``Unfortunately, Rick Scott seems to think that running for governor is all about President Obama,'' Sink says in a new TV spot. ``While Rick Scott is focused on Obama, I'm focused on creating jobs.''
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