Peter Schorsch
Michael Putney s the dean of South Florida political analysts.
Every Sunday on WPLG Channel 10 in MiamiPutney co-hosts “The Week in South Florida,” an hourlong program that is must-viewing for anyone interested in public affairs.
At 74, Putney is at the top of the game. The son of a minister, he holds his guests accountable.
The preceding three sentences come from our INFLUENCE Magazine, where we named Putney one of the 100 most influential people in Florida politics.
It’s because Putney is so influential and knowledgeable that we don’t enjoy pointing out where “the strong man stumbled.” However, in his most recent column, Putney makes a glaring error that has to be called out.
In an otherwise excellent profile of Todd Wilcox and the Republican primary for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat, Putney writes that Carlos “Lopez-Cantera is relying on his Miami-Dade roots to make it into a run-off in a crowded GOP field.”
Um, I’m sorry Mr. Putney, but there has not been a run-off since 2002. In 2006, the Republican-led Florida Legislature made permanent the temporary ban on run-offs that began in 2002.
It’s not clear from Putney’s article whether he had a brain fart or if someone in CLC’s sphere is telling him that the LG thinks there is the possibility of a run-off election. Wouldn’t it be interesting if the latter is the case?
We won’t beat this horse to death. After all, Michael Putney is still one of the best in business.
