David Rivera robocall indicates he ain’t out of race just yet

David Rivera robocall indicates he ain’t out of race just yet
  • Sumo

Looks like former Congressman David “Nine Lives” Rivera is back in the race he said he wanted no part of just weeks ago.

David RiveraOr that’s what one would surmise from a robocall delivered to some Republican voters in District 26 Wednesday.

Several sources told Ladra that they had received phone calls from a recording of Rivera telling them that it was important to vote and asking them for their support.

But guess what? Rivera, who is still on the ballot, never fully withdrew from the race. He always was careful to say he had “suspended campaigning” for the seat he lost in 2012 to Democrat Joe Garcia.

Read related story: David Rivera’s reasons for leaving FL26 race ring false

Guess that suspension is over.

Rivera, who had said that he was going to focus on a 2016 run for State House, reminded Ladra Thursday that he had only suspended campaigning and that it was due to a state judge ruling that districts had to be redrawn, which he said at the time he would not be held hostage to.

So does this mean we might see mailers, or ads, or bus benches with his familiar face on them in the district? Is he going to campaign, after all.

“Stay tuned,” is all Rivera would say on the matter.

But former Miami-Dade Commmissioner Joe Martinez, one of the other four Republicans on the primary ballot, told Ladra that his mother-in-law got the short call. He wouldn’t speculate on whether Rivera’s sudden reappearance the day after absentee ballots were mailed out would be bad for him or good for him when the results are counted.

“It’s bad for the electorate,” Martinez said. “Either you’re in or you’re out. Either you want the position or you don’t.

“Don’t ‘suspend’ your campaign and then pull votes from somebody who really does want the position,” Martinez added.

Ladra keeps hearing “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash in my head.

“We don’t need indecision in Washington,” Martinez said. “We have plenty of it already.”

6 Responses to "David Rivera robocall indicates he ain’t out of race just yet"

  1. Delincuente y Mentiroso! Acuerdo se de la foto q publico el Diario Las Americas Donde sale Davicito brindando con el HIJO del comunista Sandinista y amigo intimo de Fidel y Chavez, Daniel Ortega y otros ex guerrilleros junto all otro corrupto convicto Al Gutman. Ese ES el candidato de Lacra… Sorry, Ladra.

  2. It certainly does seem that the old Cubans will vote for any trash as long as it has an ‘R’ in front of its name yet they complain about how poorly run Miami is .

    No different than the old “Blacks” vote for any trash with a “D’ in front of its name.

    This is what David Rivera is counting on. Blind lemming loyalty to a letter.

  3. Two things: David Rivera doesn’t show any campaign contributions or expenditures in his federal campaign filings. If he’s taking and spending unreported money, then he may add more potential campaign law violations to the list that the FBI is already probing. Second thing: David Rivera and Ed MacDougall are coming at this election from opposite ends, but using the same basic tactic: hope you can secure the largest percentage of the vote while your opponents split the vote. David is hoping that his name recognition will carry him through, while the public develops amnesia over why he was beaten by Joe Garcia in the first place. There’s also a bit of a self preservation motive. The perception is the FBI won’t arrest a federal candidate in the midst of a campaign. So, by sneaking into the general election, Rivera pushes back the date of his possible arrest for campaign law violations. The possible conviction of Ala Sol Allegro and her potential flip against Rivera may upend that schedule. Plus, David may hope to back the RCCC into backing him if he gets into the general. The GOP wants to take back Garcia’s seat so badly, it make their eyeteeth hurt. MacDougall, on the other hand, had built his strategy on having as many Hispanics in the primary as possible and will work — if they split the Hispanic vote evenly. That doesn’t seem likely. Lorenzo Palomares-Starbuck is a whack-a-doodle. He may get a few votes from Frappuccino® fanatics, but that’s about it. Carlos Curbelo has the money and the endorsements of the GOP elite, but Joe Martinez is ahead in the polls. MacDougall’s recent piece — in English — pointing out that all four of his opponents are Cuban is not likely to be well received by the average Republican primary voter in District 26 (which is a 64 year old Cuban abuelita). So good luck, David. Good luck, Ed. Pour yourself another espresso, Lorenzo. This is a two man race.

  4. Clever tactic by Tricky David. He still appears on the ballot and avoid all the attacks against him. Sounds like he’s hoping to win the primary without having any mud thrown at him by “suspending” his campaign.

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