Many Floridians Undecided on Cabinet Races

With interesting battles shaping up in Florida for both the U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections, its natural that the other Cabinet seats would not receive as much notice. Thats confirmed in a recent Mason-Dixon poll showing many Floridians have no idea who they are voting for in the Cabinet races.

Most Florida Republicans and Democrats have no idea who they are backing for attorney general. 73 percent of Florida Democrats are undecided, while 15 percent back Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach and 12 percent back Sen. Dave Aronberg from Greenacres. 72 percent of Republicans are undecided, while 13 percent are backing Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, 10 percent are for prosecutor Pam Bondi and 5 percent are for former Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Holly Benson.

Undecided voters will also determine the other Cabinet races. In the CFO race, Senate President Jeff Atwater is backed by 33 percent of Florida voters, compared to the 26 percent held by Democratic candidate and former state representative Loranne Ausley. But 41 percent of Floridians are still undecided. Former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination to be commissioner of agriculture and consumer services, is backed by 31 percent of Floridians, while 30 percent of them support Republican Congressman Adam Putnam. Undecided again leads the pack with 39 percent.

The Cabinet candidates have their work cut out for them this summer. They have to raise money, garner endorsements and try to define themselves since many Floridians have no idea who they are and what they stand for. They also will have to defend themselves from attacks while looking to label their own opponents.

But the Cabinet candidates face an even bigger challenge. Charlie Crist, the newly independent governor, is planning on calling a special session of the Legislature. Hes also in a tight three-way battle for the U.S. Senate. Interesting contests are forming for the Republican gubernatorial nomination and the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. There will be several constitutional amendments before the voters come November and some interesting congressional races. The Cabinet candidates face the challenge of finding a place on an increasingly crowded political stage.