Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam crossed the most taboo of Floridas partisan lines Tuesday as he campaigned for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services: The University of Florida graduate took his message to the campus of his schools hated rival, Florida State University.
Former FSU football great Peter Boulware hosted a fund-raiser for Putnam, bringing his campaign to the home turf of his Democratic opponent, Scott Maddox, the former mayor of Tallahassee and an FSU graduate.
Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson spoke at the fund-raiser, saying he didnt mind stepping aside, as long as Putnam takes the reins.
What (people) really dont think about is the amount of jobs involved. (Putnam) understands because hes been there. He gets it. Hes worked in it, Bronson said.
Putnam, from Bartow, spoke to FSUs College Republicans, stressing the importance of the often-overlooked agriculture commissioner seat, but also the need for young volunteers and voters in what most analysts believe will be a wave election for the GOP.
No one knows social media better than young people. Republicans cant afford to let Democrats take over social media, Putnam said.
He lauded President Obamas ability to entice new voters to the polls in 2008, but thats where the praise for the president stopped. Putnam cautioned his young supporters against overconfidence in the face of favorable odds for Republicans.
(Obama) showed all of us how to use new technology to connect to voters without costing the campaign a dime, he said.
The need for jobs in Florida is paramount, and Putnam tied the agriculture commissioner position to the push to attract high-tech, clean-tech, renewable energy businesses to Florida -- bringing high-wage jobs and young professionals with them.
You all know young professionals that left this state because they got a better job somewhere else. I want to steal other states talent and bring em here about four decades earlier than they were going to come here anyway, Putnam said at the fund-raiser.
Although Putnam grew up in agriculture-heavy Polk County, he said the agriculture commission race is not just for rural areas.
Even if you came here three weeks ago and bought a condo on the beach -- all of (the Cabinet positions) shape the business climate for our state, he said.
A poll released last week showed Putnam held a slight lead over Maddox, but many voters are undecided. Putnams campaign is high on its candidates chances and thinks it has made considerable progress since the primaries.
Weve obviously made quite a bit of a push since then, Trey McCarley, Putnams campaign manager said.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
