So who is this dude? Don't feel bad you haven't heard of him. He is an opportunist billionaire whose last run for public office was as a Republican in California. And he's running as an outsider. A filthy rich, corporate tycoon outsider. I love Florida.
So why am I glad he is here? Because until about a day ago, almost nobody ever heard of Kendrick Meek, the actual Democratic frontrunner in this Senate race. Meek has never run statewide. He hasn't even seriously run district-wide. He holds a seat once held by his mother, and has run unopposed term after term after term. And it looked like he was going to get through this primary untested. That spelled out certain doom for the Democrats, and the events of the last few days demonstrated why. The Rubio-Crist fight on the Republican side was sucking up all media attention, and Meek was invisible. That meant he didn't have to spend money, sure, but he also wasn't raising much, as most national donors thought his candidacy was a lost cause, and were probably right.
Now the Senate race is likely going to a victor who pulls in 30-something percent of the vote, and national Dems see Meek has got a chance. But the news cycle in the last day has still been about Crist and Rubio. Meek is a footnote, but that is better than he was before.
Now Jeff Greene has put up this almost comical announcement video, and shown a dedication to self-funding. The RedState guys are talking about how Meek will spend all his money in the primary now, but I think that is money well spent. Finally, Meek will develop some name recognition, and if he comes out of the August primary smelling like a winner, all the better in November.
But didn't you just say the other day that Crist was gonna win this? Indeed, and I still think the governor has the edge. But a lot can change between now and November. And Greene's entry into the race gives Meek a chance to change things in his favor.
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