FL-GOV

Will Indy Chiles Dropping Out Help Dem In FL-GOV Race?

Eric Kleefeld | September 2, 2010, 9:08AM

Alex Sink and Bud Chiles (inset).

So what should we make of the withdrawal of independent candidate Bud Chiles from the Florida gubernatorial race, and his endorsement of Democratic nominee Alex Sink? At first glance, it would seem that this is a pure plus for Dems -- but a closer look shows that it's not so totally cut and dry.

Chiles, a son of the late Dem Gov. Lawton Chiles, had been promoting children's issues and clean energy in his bid -- the sort of stuff that would make you think he would draw Dem voters. And he was having at least some success there. An August 19 Quinnipiac poll of a three-way race between Sink, Republican Rick Scott and Chiles showed the independent taking 13% of the Dem vote -- compared to 7% of the Republican vote.

Chiles said last week that he thought the upset win in the Republican primary by right-wing former health care executive Rick Scott would help his own campaign. But he also made it clear which candidate he would prefer if he couldn't get traction himself: "I'll say this till the end: I'm not in this race to create a situation where Rick Scott becomes governor."

The TPM Poll Average of the three-way race gives Sink the lead with 40.9%, followed by Scott at 36.7%, and Chiles with only 7.7%.

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FL-GOV

Indy Candidate Chiles Drops Out Of FL-GOV Race -- And Endorses Dem

Eric Kleefeld | September 1, 2010, 4:40PM

Lawton "Bud" Chiles

Bud Chiles, the independent candidate for governor of Florida and a son of the late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, has officially announced that he is dropping out of the race -- and endorsing the Democratic nominee, state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink.

"I need to be able to look people in the face and really believe in my heart that this was a campaign I could win and really be viable," Chiles told the St. Petersburg Times. "I just got to the point where it was difficult for me to do that." Chiles also said that he met with Sink, and came away "feeling a whole lot better" about her stances on topics such as children's issues and small businesses. "It seemed to me like that there was a lot more agreement than I might have thought."

Chiles said last week that he thought the upset win in the Republican primary by right-wing former health care executive Rick Scott would help his own campaign. However, he also said at the same time that he did not want to be a spoiler who would help elect Scott, already making it clear which candidate he would prefer.

The TPM Poll Average of the (now outdated) three-way race gives Sink the lead with 40.9%, followed by Scott at 36.7%, and Chiles with only 7.7%.

FL-GOV

Report: Indy Candidate Bud Chiles To Drop Out Of FL-GOV Race

Eric Kleefeld | August 31, 2010, 5:38PM

Lawton "Bud" Chiles

The Florida gubernatorial race could be getting yet another curveball thrown into it, the St. Petersburg Times reports, with independent candidate Bud Chiles expected to drop out soon. And at first glance, it looks like this could ultimately benefit the Democrats.

Chiles, a businessman and activist for health care for children in poor areas, is a son of the late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, and had acknowledged that his views are closer to the Democratic side than the GOP. Interestingly, Chiles said last week that he thought the upset win in the Republican primary by right-wing former health care executive Rick Scott would help his own campaign -- but that he would not want to be a spoiler.

"I'll say this till the end: I'm not in this race to create a situation where Rick Scott becomes governor," Chiles told reporters last Thursday. "I believe every day, and I think what happened in the (Republican) primary is a very strong indication that I have a very viable candidacy. As long as my candidacy is viable, then, if I'm sending the message that Floridians want to hear, I'm going to keep doing that. And if, at some point, I feel that it's not viable then we can have another discussion about it."

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