U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., took off the gloves again on Monday and went after Democratic challenger Gwen Graham. Southerlands team followed up on attacks made against Graham last week, hitting her for her work for a Washington law firm and her role on Democratic presidential campaigns -- namely those of her father, former Gov. Howard Dean, D-Vt. and then U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in the 2004 election -- and releasing their take on her resume. While Graham denies she worked as a lobbyist for a law firm based out of Washington while her father Bob served in the U.S. Senate, Southerlands team insists she did.
Gwen Graham talks like a Washington outsider, but dont let her fool you, said Southerland campaign manager Luke Strickland. Youd be hard-pressed to find a first-time candidate whos more entrenched in the ways of Washington, D.C. Ms. Graham continues to dodge the truth with the agility of a seasoned politician, but she cant cover up her record as a D.C. lobbyist and liberal political consultant. If Gwen Graham will lie to voters about something as cut-and-dried as her own resume, how can we ever trust her in Congress?
But Democrats countered by continuing to bash Southerland for a series of missteps, including holding a fundraiser back in March for men only and then comparing it last week to a lingerie shower when asked about it.
Grahams looked to fundraise off Southerlands error on Monday as Elizabeth Davis, the campaigns finance director, sending out an email, attacking Southerland in personal terms.
It has never been more clear that Congressman Southerland is out of touch with North Florida, Davis wrote. Steve's actions continue to prove he has a fundamental disrespect for women.
In the meantime, despite her claims to be a Washington outsider, Democrats in the Beltway continue to support Graham with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) piling on Southerland over the weekend. David Bergstein, a spokesman for the DCCC, noted Southerland said there was no appetite for a government shutdown and pointed to his past record.
Only a Washington politician like Congressman Southerland would shut down the government one year and then say the opposite two months before the election all in a flailing attempt to keep his taxpayer-funded $174,000 salary, said Bergstein on Saturday. After his lingerie party gaffe this week, now Steve Southerland is finally being honest about what motivates him: saving his own political skin, not delivering on the common-sense solutions that North Florida needs.
Also at the end of last week, Katie Prill, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), insisted Graham was clearly a Washington insider and mocked her North Florida Way campaign slogan.
Gwen Graham can continue to lie about her past work as a D.C. lobbyist but voters are smarter than that and can clearly see she is being dishonest, Prill said. Gwen spent a huge chunk of time working and hobnobbing with fellow lobbyists in Washington and thats frankly not the North Florida Way.
Luther Lee, who is running with no party affiliation, jabbed both of his rivals at the end of last week.
Claiming to be the only candidate who hasn't lied to or misled voters in this district, Lee fired away at the both of the two major party candidates.
Graham is trying to claim independent but majority of her contributions come from special interests and PACs and all the evidence suggests that she will just vote right on down party lines like a good Democrat," Lee insisted. Southerland isn't even trying to hide that he's a Washington puppet.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter" @KevinDerbySSN
