Bill McCollum For Governor: What They’re Really Saying: The Latest News from Alex Sink’s Campaign in Disarray
Tallahassee, FL – Today, McCollum for Governor Campaign Manager Matt Williams issued the following statement on Alex Sink’s latest campaign “shake-up”:
“Despite just yesterday claiming ‘historic’ fundraising and an ‘outpouring of support for her campaign,’ it is clear Alex Sink sees what Florida voters do – a campaign in disarray that has failed to gain traction and failed to make a convincing case for her candidacy.
“The news that Alex Sink fired her campaign manager and her finance director is just the latest tumultuous personnel shake-up in a string of failed attempts to reintroduce a lackluster candidate that even fellow Democrats continue to vocally doubt.”
“If Alex Sink can’t manage her own campaign, how can Floridians expect her to run the fourth largest state in the nation?”
The Latest News from the Sink Campaign Staff:
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES: “Staff shake-up in Alex Sink’s campaign. Campaign manager Paul Dunn is out.” (St. Petersburg Times Buzz Blog, “Alex Sink shakes up campaign staff,” 04/08/10)
MIAMI HERALD: “Just a few months ago, the leading Democratic candidate for governor, Alex Sink, was viewed as heavily competitive against Republican frontrunner Bill McCollum. But no longer outraising him and slipping in the polls, the outlook on Sink has dimmed (yes, there’s still plenty of time to rebound), and with that, the inevitable campaign staff shakeup.” (Miami Herald Naked Politics Blog, “Down in polls and cash, Sink shakes up campaign,” 04/08/10)
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES: “Senior adviser leaves Alex Sink campaign.” (St. Petersburg Times, “Senior adviser leaves Alex Sink campaign”02/25/10)
· TIMES: “Not a great sign for a campaign already facing widespread doubts about its strength and stability: Marc Farinella, general consultant to the Alex Sink gubernatorial campaign, has jumped ship.” (St. Petersburg Times, “Senior adviser leaves Alex Sink campaign,” 02/25/10)
Bill McCollum Outraises Alex Sink for Second Straight Quarter:
TAMPA TRIBUNE: “Sink, likely Democratic nominee for the office, raised less this quarter than her likely Republican opponent, Bill McCollum, who announced yesterday he raised $1.4 million in the quarter. After Sink started out significantly stronger than McCollum in fundraising, he has now outpaced her for two quarterly reporting periods in a row.” (TAMPA TRIBUNE MARCH ON POLITICS BLOG, “Sink: $1.1M in Q1,” 04/08/10)
ORLANDO SENTINEL: “Attorney General Bill McCollum beat out CFO Alex Sink in the gubernatorial fundraising race last quarter, announcing ‘a projected total of nearly $1.4 million in contributions’ to Sink’s ‘over $1.1 million.’” (ORLANDO SENTINEL CENTRAL FLORIDA POLITICAL PULSE BLOG, “McCollum fundraising edges Sink — but she says she’s the best-funded Dem ever,” 04/08/10)
What Democrats are Really Saying:
MSNBC’s CHUCK TODD: “…Democrats are whispering worries about Sink both in Florida and in Washington. They feel like the campaign has gotten off to a slow start…” (MSNBC THE DAILY RUNDOWN, 02/24/10)
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES: “Veteran political pros and Democratic activists across Florida increasingly fret that the woman once viewed as a sure winner for governor is proving to be a hypercautious candidate without a potent message or viable political operation.” (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES BUZZ BLOG, “Sink has money, but fans want a message, 02/14/10)
· TIMES: “’There’s certainly time to turn it around and get it on the right path,’ said Democratic consultant Jeff Garcia of Miami, ‘but the campaign appears to be behind the eight ball and a little bit slow in developing.’ (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES BUZZ BLOG, “Sink has money, but fans want a message, 02/14/10)
What Floridians are Really Saying:
ORLANDO SENTINEL: “McCollum leads Sink by 15 points in governor’s race.” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, “McCollum leads Sink by 15 points in governor’s race,” 03/30/10)
TAMPA TRIBUNE: “McCollum’s lead over Sink grows” (TAMPA TRIBUNE, “McCollum’s lead over Sink grows,” 03/30/10)
GANNETT NEWS SERVICE: “Poll: McCollum widens his lead.” (GANNETT NEWS SERVICE, “Poll: McCollum widens his lead,” 03/30/10)
ORLANDO SENTINEL: “Rasmussen Poll: McCollum up 13 points on Sink” (Orlando Sentinel Central Florida Political Pulse Blog, “Rasmussen Poll: McCollum up 13 points on Sink,” 02/26/10)
What the Press is Really Saying:
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES: “It would be better if the Democrats ran somebody for governor this year.” (St. Petersburg Times, “MacKay, McBride, Davis,…Sink?” 04/1/10)
· TIMES: “So the Democrats ought to come up with a candidate, which, at last check, they have not done.” (St. Petersburg Times, “MacKay, McBride, Davis,…Sink?” 04/1/10)
ORLANDO SENTINEL: “How incompetent are Florida Democrats?” (Orlando Sentinel Mike Thomas Blog, “How incompetent are Florida Democrats?,” 02/24/10)
MIAMI HERALD: “McCollum gains steam.” (MIAMI HERALD/ ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, “McCollum gains steam,” 03/30/10)
For more information, campaign news, and updates, visit www.BillMcCollum.com.
