The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) took aim at former Miami Dade Democratic Chairwoman Annette Taddeo on Tuesday, insisting her inability to clear the decks shows she is a weak candidate as she vies to take on U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., in November.
Businessman Andrew Korge, the son of a prominent supporter of former U.S. Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, announced on Monday that he would enter the Democratic primary, the Miami Herald reported. Korge had been aiming for a Florida Senate seat.
Korge took to Facebook on Tuesday and tried to draw up some contrasts between himself and Taddeo who has run as former Gov. Charlie Crist’s running mate in 2014 and for Congress and county office without success.
“South Florida needs new representation from someone who has ideas for the 21st century, a clean slate, and who will fight for all of the residents in the district,” Korge insisted on Tuesday.
Taddeo has the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and leading Washington Democrats including U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-NM, the chairman of the DCCC, and U.S. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Mary., but could not keep Korge out of the race. The NRCC mocked Taddeo for that on Tuesday.
“Annette Taddeo scoring a primary opponent this late in the game despite having the full backing of Nancy Pelosi and the DCCC is an indictment on Taddeo’s viability as a candidate,” said Chris Pack, a spokesman for the NRCC. “If Taddeo somehow survives a primary against a deep-pocketed Democrat, she will be completely defenseless for the general election. In the meantime, Carlos Curbelo will continue voting the right way for his district and raising the resources necessary to be successful when it counts – in November.”
Taddeo could have other primary opposition as former U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., who Curbelo beat in 2014, is mulling over entering the race.
Even as Taddeo faces new primary opposition, congressional Democrats continue to support her. On Monday, retiring U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, D-NY, a former chairman of the DCCC, threw his support to Taddeo.
“This is a critical time for the United States and we need people in Washington who will stand up for what is right, even when it may be politically difficult,” Israel said in his endorsement. “As former chairman of the DCCC and the communications chair of the Democratic Caucus, I’ve helped recruit and encourage many candidates and I would consider Annette Taddeo among the very best. Not only would she be the first Jewish Latina in Congress, she would bring a unique perspective representing all the voices of South Florida.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
