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Top GOP Prospect Dan Webster Not Running Against Grayson


Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

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Republicans just lost their top prospect to run against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), with former state Sen. Dan Webster announcing that he won't make the race.

"This has been a very difficult decision for me personally, especially because of the tremendous outpouring of support that has flooded me from all sides," said Webster, a big name among the state's religious conservatives. "However, in spite of this incredible encouragement, I still have a certain check in my spirit, prompting me to follow a principle that has always served me well: 'When in doubt, don't.'"

Grayson, of course, is the Democratic Congressman who has attacked the Republicans as having a health care plan for Americans to "die quickly," called them "knuckle-dragging neanderthals," and even borrowed the late GOP Vice President Spiro Agnew's words and called the GOP "nattering nabobs of negativism." The national GOP does not have a candidate yet, but has set up a special fund to raise money for the eventual opponent.

Florida's 8th District historically voted Republican, but went 52%-47% for Barack Obama in 2008, and elected the now-famous Grayson by 52%-48% over a Republican incumbent.

Comments (15) | Join the Conversation!

Recommend Recommend (3)

October 13, 2009 6:19 PM   

Cluck cluck..

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October 13, 2009 6:24 PM   

A "check in my spirit"? Nooooooooo...more like a skeleton in his closet.

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October 14, 2009 10:29 AM    in reply to Snarky

Yeah - how obvious is that????

Co-sign on the cluck cluck

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October 13, 2009 6:32 PM   

Obviously the devil told Daniel Webster not to get involved with such a disgusting bunch of nutjobs.

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October 13, 2009 7:12 PM   

Given how big the Republicans have been talking about winning this seat back, losing it would be the effing kiss of death for an aspiring Republican politician. Add that to all the goat sacrificing and inking of contracts in your own blood and it's just not a very attractive process.

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October 13, 2009 8:07 PM   

great news! now can the Fla Dem Party find an opponent for the 14th congressional district? i'm sick of Cornelius Harvey McGillicuddy IV -- Rep Mary Bono's hubby

http://mack.house.gov/

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October 13, 2009 8:50 PM    in reply to a SC mom

Is that Connie Mack's full name? It sounds like a character from a Warner Bros. cartoon.

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October 13, 2009 8:31 PM   

I apologize for this being of topic, but this is the funniest thing I have ever read with regards to Glenn Beck. Must read

http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=3138

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October 13, 2009 9:10 PM   

Here's another reason to like Grayson:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/20803685/Senate-Letter-100709

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October 13, 2009 11:33 PM   

The 'nattering nabobs' line was written for spiggy agnew by william safire

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October 14, 2009 1:58 AM   

there have been like five or so other prominent Republican candidates (including the Mayor of Orange City and the Florida State House speaker from Ocala) who have declined to run in this race, despite the RNC and the NRCC offering millions of dollars to their nominee to run for the general election for this seat.

lol

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October 14, 2009 4:18 AM   

A Democrat who isn't afraid to just come right out and tell the simple truth is definitly a scarry thing for Republicans.

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October 14, 2009 7:20 AM   

Be on the lookout for this kid

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2009/10/gop-hopeful-for-grayson-seat-cancels-kickoff-nabs-endoresment.html

Gutierrez is among a handful of Republicans lining up to take on U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando.

"Armando is a work horse, not a show horse," said Brian Graham, a campaign adviser.

-- The kid that his one of this campaign advisers was in my frat and is the head of the Young Republicans of Florida

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October 14, 2009 10:33 AM    in reply to fsudirectory

Grayson will clean his clock -

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October 14, 2009 11:49 AM    in reply to lousgirl84

Without a doubt

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