Anne Geggis
Broward County is a famously Democratic stronghold, but more than 100 people who packed Wings Plus in Coral Springs Thursday came not for lunch but for training aimed at making the county redder.
The event drew a totally unmasked crowd and was part of the Republican National Committee National Week of Training. Organizers were ebullient at Republican accomplishments thus far and what Thursday’s turnout portended.
“You are the backbone of what’s going to help us in Broward County. … The changes we’ve made and the changes we’ll continue to make are phenomenal,” said Tom Powers, Broward County Republican Party chairman and former Coral Springs City Commissioner.
“We have flipped the state of Florida officially to a red state,” Powers said, inciting wild applause from the crowd jammed cheek to jowl in the two adjoining meeting rooms of the restaurant.
Powers told the group that it was going to be “easy” this year as President Joe Biden’s “failed policies” are helping Republicans with recruiting.
“Just think of where we were 18 months ago. … It’s all come apart in just one year,” he said.
Since Powers was elected to his post leading the Broward County GOP in December 2020, he said party precinct men and women have doubled from 200 to 400 and there are 100 more applying for those positions. There are currently 577 precincts in Broward County.
Later, Power marveled over the diversity of Thursday’s crowd. Past events have drawn mostly senior citizens. He said his goal was to increase Gov. Ron DeSantis’ margin of victory in the Governor’s race.
No mention was made of President Donald Trump during the introductory remarks Thursday, but DeSantis’ name drew cheers and applause.
“I’m excited about being here and I just recently signed the endorsement for Republican mayors,” said Weston Mayor Peggy Brown. “I just added my name to endorse Gov. Ron DeSantis.”
Members of the press were escorted from the event before the actual training began, but some other Republican activities in South Florida have been drawing Democratic concern.
Two days earlier, Democratic Sen. Annette Taddeo called for an investigation into reports that elderly, lifelong Democrats in Miami-Dade County were surprised to get new voter identification cards saying they were registered Republicans after being visited by people with clipboards wearing red hats.
Lauren Cooley, executive director of the Republican Party of Broward County, said the Broward volunteers are being told to target newcomers to the area rather than turning party affiliation. She argued many of these new residents were drawn from bluer states because of the Governor’s approach to handling the pandemic.
“We’re focused on voter registration because there are a lot of people who moved here from other states,” she said.
Figures from the Broward County Supervisor of Elections show Republicans have plenty of ground to make up. There are 630,139 registered Democrats in Broward County, compared to 270,360 Republicans.
5 comments
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February 4, 2022 at 7:09 am
Training for Repugs. = Knock on doors of the elderly. Tell them they have to sign the form to vote.
Do let them read the form, don’t tell them that they are consenting to change their party to Repug from Democrat. Run as fast as you can!
Concern Citizen
February 4, 2022 at 8:38 am
Will the Governor closely review their activity to ensure that there’s no voters fraud?
Andy
February 4, 2022 at 10:26 am
tThe part about about Biden’s failed policies is laughable. The republicans have accomplished nothing and stand for nothing! Under Trump they passed a tax cut that exploded the deficit and only helped the rich. Let’s look at the facts.
GDP- 6.9PERCENT HIGHEST SINCE THE ARLY 80’S
-UNEMPLOYEMENT 3.9 PERCENT
-JOB GROWTH , HIGHER THAN ANY PRESIDENT IN THEIR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE AND TODAYS NUMBERS PROVE THAT HIS POLICIES ARE WORKING.
-INFRASTRUCTURE BILL , YES THE BILL TRUMP COULD NOT PASS EVEN WITH A REPUBLICAN HOUSE AND SENATE. THIS WILL CREATE MILLIONS OF JOBS AND MANY IN FLORIDA.
-COVID RELIEF PACKAGE SAVED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND SMALL BUSINESSES INCLUDING REPUBLICAN VOTERS.
-LEFT CORRUPT AFGHANISTAN, REMEMBER TRUMP WANTED OUT, BUT COULD NOT GET THE JOB DONE. BIDEN DID.
OH YES ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC POLICY THAT MANY SHIT ON, AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.2.3 MILLION PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE SIGNED UP, MOST IN THE NATION.
BIDEN HAS DONE ALL OF THIS IN 13 MONTHS , WHAT POLICIES DO REPUBLICANS HAVE TO OFFER THAT WILL HELP WORKING PEOPLE?
ON THE GAS AND INFLATION ISSUE , THIS WAS GOING TO OCCUR NO MATTER WHO WAS PRESIDENT BECAUSE OF COVID, HOWEVER BIDEN IS PRESIDENT SO HE OWNS IT AND HAS TO FIX IT! BUT PLEASE JUST LOOK AT THE FACTS!!
Tom
February 4, 2022 at 1:52 pm
Crock of manure Andy pal,
You need mental review.
39% Floridians approve of incompetent Joe.
America’s Governor leads Biden 52% to 44%. N Fraud 51% to 40%. Crispy 49% to 43%. Marco 49% to Dum Dum Deming 41%.
Dems have no chance in Florida.
As for issues, 7% inflation and 9% producer prices inflation are real.
Gas prices increases cause of incompetence cutting 2 million barrels domestically.
Collusion with Putin on nordstream pipeline. Putins thanks is to invade Ukraine. Naive
Trump in 19, 20 had 3.5% unemployment
You lie, Tax cuts brought more revenue in taxes in American history. Fact, per IRS and U S Treasury last fall. The fake liberal lie on taxes is B S.
As for infrastructure bill, he had that at go. Less than 20% for infrastructure. Schumer & Dems refused to Negotiate with 45. Don’t lie. Repub had 10 senators who went along with that garbage.
The stimulus bill passed in March bailed out unions and teacher unions who gave America the finger.
You know nothing. Just a dumb Manchurian. Welcome in pal, I suffer Manchurian easily, gladly.
I’m A legend on FP. Big leagues
Enjoy
Tom
February 4, 2022 at 2:01 pm
We are still million short on jobs from pandemic beginning.
Glad people are working. Welcome back.
Dems losing 40 house seats and 6 senate seats. Enjoy.
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