This afternoon, Democrats will be calling voters from a home in Pinecrest, but don’t worry my 305 friends — they’re calling in the 727 area code several counties away and north of Tampa.
The South Dade Democrats have organized a phone bank from 4 to 6 p.m. today for Amanda Murphy, the only blue candidate in Florida House District 36, where Rep. Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey) resigned to become Pasco County tax collector. Republican Bill Gunter beat out Jeromy Harding and James Mathieu for a run-off with Murphy, who the Tampa Times have winning by three points in the Oct. 15 special election. Of course, they have also endorsed her.
Still, the VP at some investment firm has longtime community volunteer ties and is seen as a very viable candidate to take a seat rather easily from the red side in advance of the coming 2014 bloodmatch. She even got a big nod from former Gov. Charlie Crist. Dems statewide see the Murphy as an easy win and as a nice opener, so they will do what they can to support her.
That is why the Miami-Dade Democratic Party — which has been supporting other candidates across the state and recruiting some to run locally — also did a phone bank for Murphy on Saturday and sent a group of volunteers to knock on West Coast doors.
Miami-Dade is not alone. Democrats around the state have rallied for Murphy. There was a Tallhassee phone bank last week.
But the 305 will not be left out.
“A house seat that we can hold make a difference for Miami-Dade,” said Annette Taddeo, chairwoman of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party.
“We’ll get the majority, but it’s one seat at a time,” Taddeo told Ladra. “We figure we will get one per cycle in Miami-Dade, so these special elections are important opportunities.”
Also, since the Miami-Dade Dems are the largest and most organized of the county party groups, it makes sense to them that they lend a hand.
“We are able to do it,” Taddeo said. “So for every special election, we’re no longer going to stay home.”
But Ladra also knows what this is. Practice for the phone banking volunteers so they hone their skills for the big 2014 battle.
They don’t want those finger muscles to atrophy.
Dade Dems assist in election for a candidate 300+ miles away added by Ladra on
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