John Nance Gardner, who spent eight years as vice president under FDR, colorfully described the vice presidency as not worth a bucket of warm piss." Traditionally, the same has been true of the lieutenant governorship of Florida, because the politicians who have held it have generally used it as a springboard to political obscurity.
But things could be different in the 2014 election cycle. As he looks to run for a second term but remains hampered by crashing poll results, Gov. Rick Scott needs a game-changer badly -- and a strong running mate could help turn things around. An ambitious Democrat could also find some rewards by ending as the lieutenant governor candidate.
Scott promised to name a new lieutenant governor after the Legislature adjourns in early May. The office became suddenly vacant in March, after Jennifer Carroll resigned in disgrace because her connections to Internet cafes attracted too much attention at the wrong time.
A host of names have been getting veep-buzz in Capitol halls and Tallahassee bars as possible replacements for Carroll.
Many insiders have Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, at the top of Scotts short list. Theres certainly a logic for Scott to add to the ticket a charismatic Cuban-American who comes from Miami-Dade and has built her reputation on education issues. Flores has also been a leading figure in both chambers of the Legislature for a decade and could help Scott sell his priorities.
But there are other Republicans also catching buzz as potential understudies for Scott. This weekend, the spotlight turned on Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa. Hailing from Tampa Bay, Young could help Scott in that critical region. A key ally to House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, Young could also help Scott on that front. Weatherford has been a sharp critic of many of Scotts recent decisions, particularly the governor agreeing to accept federal dollars for the Medicaid expansion mandated by President Barack Obamas federal health care law.
Despite most lieutenant governors going nowhere politically, accepting the position makes some sense for both Flores and Young.
Flores is only 36 and has been mentioned as a possible candidate for statewide office down the road. If she winds up as lieutenant governor, she will certainly be better known outside her district and could use the post as a springboard for future campaigns.
Young, meanwhile, is in her late 40s and the post would raise her visibility as well, especially as her options for running for higher office are blocked by Republicans currently holding those posts.
If Scotts bad poll numbers turn around, whoever winds up as his running mate could reap the rewards even if they are undeserved. With the unemployment rate dropping, a skilled politician could be able to position himself or herself as having salvaged Scotts re-election bid if the Republicans stay in office in 2014. Its certainly a risk but it could be one worth taking.
With former Gov. Charlie Crist --who left the Republicans in 2010 to run for the U.S. Senate with no party affiliation before joining the Democrats in 2012 --as his new partys front-runner to run for his old job, Democratic politicians could benefit from signing on as his running mate.
Crist bounces around between political posts almost as much as he does political affiliations. Despite holding three statewide elected offices, he never bothered to seek a second term for any of them. That could come into play in 2018 if Crist wins in 2014.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., will be 76 in 2018 when he comes up for a fourth term. If he beats Scott in 2014, Crist, who has already run for the U.S. Senate twice, could set his eyes -- yet again -- on Washington. Its something Democratic officeholders looking to move up the political ladder will keep in mind.
An ambitious Democrat could also use the lieutenant governorship as a political stepping stone. Nelson is currently the only Democrat to hold statewide office in Florida. Its hard to see most of the Democrats currently representing Florida in Congress winning statewide races. While Scott won the closest governors race in Floridas history in 2010, his colleagues on the Republican ticket -- state CFO Jeff Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam -- blew out their Democratic opponents that year. Currently, Atwater, Bondi and Putnam appear very strong favorites to win second terms in 2014.
In short, there is a thin Democratic bench for statewide office in Florida. Whoever winds up as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014 -- especially if Crist is at the top of the ticket -- will be well-positioned for bids for future office.
Tallahassee political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this analysis piece exclusively for Sunshine State News.
