Mitch Perry
Two of the most astute observers (and participants) in Florida politics are Steve Schale and Adam Goodman.
In recent years, the Democrat from Jacksonville and Republican from Tampa (or has he moved to St. Petersburg yet?) have sat down before audiences to give their breakdowns on the state of Florida politics, and it’s always a treat for political junkies.
The two men bring that roadshow to St. Petersburg on Wednesday afternoon, where they’re scheduled to break down the results of Florida’s presidential primary.
The two will meet for a noon Suncoast Tiger Bay meeting at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.
Schale worked on Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, as well as Charlie Crist’s 2014 gubernatorial run, among others.
Goodman has been in the political consulting business for decades, and has produced ads for a huge list of Republicans (and some Democrats) over the years, including Rudy Giuliani, David Jolly, Trent Lott and Rick Baker.
We’re not a member of Tiger Bay, but if we were, what would we ask these men? Well, what about five questions?
Here we go (with the caveat that Tuesday night’s results could dictate other issues need answering):
- Explain why Marco Rubio has become so unpopular in Florida among Republicans?
- For Steve: Hillary Clinton held consistently large leads in Florida over Bernie Sanders. If that result holds out, why is she so popular here, adding that she also beat Barack Obama solidly in the January 2008 primary?
- For Adam: Can Rick Baker, if he decides to get into the Congressional District 13 race, defeat Charlie Crist, if he is the Democratic Party nominee this fall?
- Will Florida Republicans fall in line and back Donald Trump if he is the party’s nominee this November?
- Does Trump – if he is the nominee – ultimately add or hurt the party’s chances of winning the White House and the U.S. Senate?
