FL-16 Oak Leaf Prediction (Republican Hold)
Right now, the Republican Party in Florida is working to determine who will go against the “token democrat” who is running in Florida-16. Yes, Mahoney is/was the “token Democrat” put in that race.
According to The Corner, the Mahoney Campaign has $226,000 of debts and only $343,755 of cash. So the Republican nominee will be starting off “no worse off” than the Democrat.
Here is some background on this token Democrats business from his website:
Tim Mahoney is the co-founder, Chairman and COO of vFinance, Inc and the founder and President of The Center for Innovative Entrepreneurship. Since its inception five years ago, vFinance has grown to become a $26 million provider of financial services in the Retail Brokerage, Investment Banking and Institutional Service businesses. The company manages in excess of $1 billion of client assets and has over 200 employees located in more than 30 offices nationwide.
Tim has over 25 years of experience in the computing and financial service industries. He was a pioneer in the personal computer business where he is regarded as an expert in the commercialization of technology, its production and mass distribution on a global basis.
My initial observation is that there was probably little opposition research performed on him because he was a long shot to begin with. That said, in todays environmentit is impossible to be in the “financial services industry” without a whole lot of litigation against you. I am confident that NASD records along with court filings and there will be a wide assortment of intersting reading.
I have seen refernces that he was a “former Republican.” This may have an effect on the race as well with respect to the leftnuts providing support.
It is very important that the local republicans in Florida quickly unite around a single candidate and present a united front. It appears that is happening and we have a solid nominee in waiting:
“Joe Negron has lined up a lot of support,” agreed state Rep. Carl Domino, R-Jupiter. Domino said he probably would not run, but wouldn’t decide until today.
Negron said he has about $1 million in his bank account from his race for attorney general. He dropped out of the race in July after concluding that he could not beat former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum in the GOP primary.
Negron would not be allowed to transfer that money into a federal race. But he would have a strong potential contributor base for a campaign in which the Republican candidate will need to raise money quickly.
Earlier, I wrote “(URGENT) Foley CAN Be Removed From The Ballot” in which it appears that Governor Jeb Bush can thread the needle on this and push for a “special primary election” in an effort to get Foleys name removed from the ballot. This is very important for two reasons. First, it will generate tremendous local media coverage that “Foley does not belong on the ballot” and “__________ is the Republican nominee.” This will end up in Leon County Circuit Court which tends to interpret election law liberaly. The Republican Party can offer to pay for the printing of new ballots, though there a very few to be printed because of electronic voting. Further, existing election law already allows, and in fact requires, that the new nominee gets the votes of the old nominee which covers the overseas ballots that may have been sent out.
-- Oak Leaf