Nan Rich Draws Fire from the RPOF on Abortion

Despite leading Democrats in the Florida Senate and having entered the race more than a year ago, Nan Rich has made little progress in her gubernatorial campaign. In recent weeks, though, Rich has started to become more visible in the media and is staking out more liberal positions as she seeks to define herself. Theres some indication that she is making progress even as the likes of Charlie Crist and Alex Sink continue to ponder entering the race. In recent days, Rich won the backing of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

Rich is now drawing fire from the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) for her liberal record on abortion and other issues. The RPOF launched an attack on Rich on Thursday for extreme liberal positions on abortion over the years.

Strangely enough, the Republican attack on Rich probably helps her in the short run. With possible primary opponents Crist, Sink and even Bill Nelson still on the sidelines, Rich is trying to define herself as the liberal in the field -- a real Democrats Democrat as opposed to, say, Crist who spent most of his political career as a Republican before running for the U.S. Senate with no party affiliation in 2010 and then jumping over to the Democrats in December. Rich has even swatted at her former Senate Democratic colleagues in recent days for backing the Republican version ofMedicaidexpansion mandated by President Barack Obamas federal health-care law.

While going left is a poor general electionstrategy in Florida,its probably Richs only way of distinguishingherselfagainst Crist in the primary and she seems to have doubled down on this plan in recent weeks. Keep an eye on Sunshine State News this weekend for a look at how Rich hopes running to the left will help bolster her underdog bid for the Democratic nomination.