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FL-16: Chris Craft Launches Bid Against Rooney

by: James L.

Wed Aug 05, 2009 at 6:57 PM EDT


It's been a pretty good day for the DCCC so far today, and it just got a bit better: St. Lucie Co. Commissioner Chris Craft, who has been the party's top choice to challenge frosh GOP Rep. Tom Rooney after state Sen. Dave Aronberg declined the race, has announced that he will run. From the Palm Beach Post:

"I'm running for Congress because we need a representative who has shared the struggles of hardworking Floridians and can relate to the people of this district," said Craft, who pledged to work with Republicans and Democrats as a "moderate voice" in Washington.

Craft, 36, was recruited by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee after the party failed to woo state Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, to challenge Rooney. Aronberg instead launched a bid for attorney general in June.

Rooney's going to be a pretty challenging incumbent to beat, given his slam-dunk 60-40 win over disgraced Democrat Tim Mahoney and the district's overall slight Republican lean (it's supported Republican presidential nominees by anywhere between 5 and 8 points in the last three cycles). However, it's always a good idea to keep a frosh Republican on his toes -- especially with redistricting looming around the corner.

RaceTracer Wiki: FL-16

James L. :: FL-16: Chris Craft Launches Bid Against Rooney
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Rooney is definately vulnerable
He only won because of a scandal

I agree
The margin of his victory in 2008 is meaningless.  There seems to be this myth that Rooney is a "tough" candidate.  This is not the first time I've heard it on SSP.  

Rooney was set to get pasted by Mahoney before the scandal broke.  Mahoney was up 25 in a Republican poll on 10/9/08.  The national Republicans had pulled out of the race.  Then the scandal broke and Rooney was up 26 by 10/16/08.  The 50-point swing did not happen because of Rooney's good looks, charm, or "toughness."  It happened because Mahoney is a scumbag whose scumbaggery was exposed.

34, WM, Democrat, FL-11


[ Parent ]
Who called him "tough"?


[ Parent ]
Well
You called him a "pretty challenging incumbent" and someone else jumped down my throat on this site a few months ago for suggesting Rooney was vulnerable.  Said commenter suggested that Rooney was positioned to beat Mahoney pre-scandal, which is flat wrong.  

I really don't know why I used the word "tough" in quotes though.  I think I was badly misquoting your "pretty challenging."  To much ganja and too early in the morning.

34, WM, Democrat, FL-11


[ Parent ]
FL
Sounds like a good candidate.

Any chance Gelber drops out of the AG race and runs in a house race?  What district does he live in?

29/D/Male/NY-01


Mahoney was a douschbag. We were all happy his ass was getting the boot.
Glad Rooney isn't getting a second free election in a row.  

I would not be surprise
if Rooney looses by anywhere from 15 to 20 points

FL
What in the world makes you say this?  Mahoney hardly won with Foley still on the ballot for gods sakes.

29/D/Male/NY-01

[ Parent ]
I think he's jokingly assuming scandal, you know, third times the charm? But I could be wrong.


[ Parent ]
That's taking it a little far.
This is a historically Republican district.  It will be a close one if Craft wins it.

34, WM, Democrat, FL-11

[ Parent ]
it's a 51/49 district at present

The foreclosures and such make it tricky to guess which way.


[ Parent ]
2000,2004,2008
Gore-47%
Kerry-46%
Obama-47%

All Craft has to do is run 3 points better than the average democrat.
It will also have a lot to do with how Kendrick Meek and Alex Sink perform in the district in their runs for senate and governor.
If we do pick up seats in Florida the three most likely house seats I think we can pick up are FL 10,13,16


Do you mean
12 instead of 13? We have a reasonable shot in the 12th with the open seat, but the 13th isn't really a target this year... well, barring an indictment for Vern Buchanan, in which case we'd have an interesting race, but I don't think things are moving in that direction for him.

[ Parent ]
I meant 13
I think Buchanan is definatly vulnerable especially since he stole the election 2006 for his house seat.

[ Parent ]
Which is why 2008 was so close, right?


[ Parent ]

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