A.G. Gancarski
State Rep. Jay Fant has no intentions of withdrawing from the 2018 GOP race for the Attorney General nomination.
Indeed, he’s able to point to some traction in his bid for the nomination against better-funded Hillsborough Judge Ashley Moody.
Gov. Rick Scott lauded Fant for backing Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida in the last Legislative Session, in one of those statements that stops short of an actual endorsement. For his part, Fant promoted the linked article stating that on Facebook, vowing to “model the same business approach that enabled Florida to prosper under your leadership” as AG.
Though some commenters wondered what it means, exactly, for an Attorney General to be “business-friendly,” for Fant the Scott plaudits were a much needed shot in the arm for his campaign, as he enters what looks to be a do-or-die period in fundraising — with a so-called “neighborhood event” next week.
“Getting the message out about the importance of having a business friendly Attorney General and a Cabinet member from Jacksonville is definitely resonating and interest is growing. We are putting together another neighborhood event for this month and I’m hoping you can attend,” Fant wrote supporters.
Fant’s invite promises “fellowship” and an opportunity to “hear about the campaign.” Eagle eyed observers will note that the classically minimalist graphic design is unencumbered by textual crowding at the top, the kind often provided by names of members of a host committee.
Fant is in tough shape in terms of campaign finance, as this writer notes in his most recent Folio Weekly column: “Moody has roughly $700,000 on hand compared to Fant’s $200,000+. And she got $12K of that at a fundraiser in Fant’s own backyard.”
As well, even key local endorsers, such as Sheriff Mike Williams, are backing Moody.
However, Fant’s playing the long game. Someone familiar with the thinking of Fant’s campaign organization notes that Fant intends to hang around through qualifying, at which point he expects to have traction.
And if the Governor and “business-friendly” interests come through, he may. However, that’s still an open question.
