Florida Democrats - at Fontainebleau Hotel- get behind Alex Sink

BY BETH REINHARD AND AMY SHERMAN
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Florida Democrats have attended many a Jefferson-Jackson dinner where the flow of cocktails was crucial to keeping the mood upbeat.

But 1,000 activists and elected officials at the state party's annual gathering on Saturday were buzzed before they even arrived, intoxicated by having a popular president in the White House, a 694,000-voter edge in statewide registration, and opportunities to challenge the GOP's hold on state government in 2010.

''We're actually looking forward to the next campaign season rather than fearing it,'' said Mitch Ceasar, Broward County's Democratic Party chair.

It was a major mood shift from past years.

Keynote speaker Tim Kaine, the governor of Virginia and chair of the Democratic National Committee, vowed to help state party leaders take back the governor's mansion -- where a Democrat hasn't lived for a decade.

''I understand your current governor decided he had enough after a couple of years,'' said Kaine.

The state party's gala at the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach came less than three weeks after Gov. Charlie Crist's decision to forego a second term and run for the Senate, triggering Florida's biggest political shakeup in decades.

All four of the seats in Florida's Cabinet -- including the governor's -- are up for grabs, along with the Senate seat that will be available when Republican Mel Martinez steps down in 2010.

Saturday amounted to a coming-out party for Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who Democrats view as their best hope for wresting the governor's mansion from the Republican party. It's a tall order for a politician who has served only 17 months in public office. Democrats hope her rural upbringing, business background and home base in competitive Tampa Bay make her an ideal candidate. She would be the state's first female governor if elected.

Her speech after dinner drew the most interest.

Sink touched on her farm background and lessons she learned about the need to balance the books. She spoke in general terms about creating jobs, cutting wasteful spending and improving education but offered no specifics. Though she has served as the state's elected chief financial officer, she spent little time talking about that role and presented herself as someone new.

''The status quo has got to go,'' she said.

Sink emphasized she would bring the perspective of a working mother to the governor's mansion.

''For the first time in 12 years, we can have a governor whose own children graduated from Florida's public schools,'' she said, drawing applause. ``I am asking for your help. Every single Floridian will have a place in this campaign.''

Sink is expected to avoid a competitive primary. The Republican front-runner for governor is Bill McCollum, a former congressman and ally of the party's conservative base who lost two statewide bids before he was elected attorney general in 2006.

The Democratic party also showcased Saturday what was expected to be its major Senate candidates: U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, state Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach and North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns.

But Gelber announced Saturday that he was withdrawing to ''contemplate other positions.'' Party insiders have been coaxing him to run for attorney general.

That leaves Meek as the party's strongest contender against the popular Crist.

Meek took advantage, holding a press conference backed by supporters holding signs as backdrop in the posh lobby of the hotel.

While reporters questioned Meek about serious topics such as Guantánamo Bay, Social Security and the deficit, he largely avoided giving policy answers and instead reiterated a theme that worked for President Barack Obama.

''We look forward to seeing very positive change,'' Meek said.

Some conservatives have grown disenchanted with Crist, and his Republican rival in the Senate race, former House Speaker Marco Rubio, picked up an endorsement this week from the son of former Gov. Jeb Bush.

But Crist remains the state's most popular politician, and Republicans are betting that Obama will have lost his luster by 2010.

Steve Geller a former longtime legislator, who is running for Broward County Commission, said he fears Democrats have become over confident.

''There is such enthusiasm here, everyone is so happy, so excited, we need to remember we need to keep organizing,'' he said.