Ryan Ray
The progressive Orlando-based Randolph political machine cranked up Monday afternoon, circulating an email that seeks to raise money in reaction to recent attacks by a local conservative blogger.
The missive — called Who’s Afraid of Susannah Randolph? after an Edward Albee classic — cites a post from last week by Tea Partier Tom Tillison as a sign from enemy quarters that belies the candidate’s strength.
“Of course, there was nothing new or novel about these conservative attacks,” states the post whose “From” line reads Scott Randolph, the 9th Congressional District candidate’s husband and Orange County Tax Collector. “But what is really signaled is just who Republicans see as the biggest threat in this District 9 congressional race. Republicans know Susannah will consistently fight for progressive values and a middle-class economic agenda. She’s done it all her life.
“No other Democrat in the race can say that, and that’s why Republicans are already attacking Susannah,” the appeal went on.
Tillison criticized Randolph sharply on his Florida Rattle Tale blog last week. He laid into the longtime activist for seeking to advance her left-leaning political program, including affordable college and universal healthcare, at the expense of taxpayers.
The takedown — which in turn was a response to an earlier email from the Randolph camp — even tarred and feathered Randolph with the tag of “social justice warrior,” an eye-rolling conservative slur.
Randolph told supporters in a campaign kickoff communique that she is running on behalf of future Florida residents, including her own young daughter.
“She tells potential donors her run is ‘about fighting for fairness,’ but her vision of fairness doesn’t seem to be about equal opportunity as much as it’s about the false notion that liberal, big government policies can regulate equal outcome,” Tillison inveighed.
“And Randolph spends little time talking about how to pay for all the goodies. It’s commendable that she wants so much for HER daughter … unfortunately, it will come at YOUR expense.”
Randolph — Grayson’s congressional district director — was recently joined in her quest to replace U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson in the U.S. House by Dena Minning, a biotech entrepreneur romantically linked to Grayson.
Sen. Darren Soto and former Rep. Ricardo Rangel have also declared their candidacies.
