THE MIDTERMS ARE JUST DAYS AWAY, AND LIKE MOST ELECTION CYCLES,
FLORIDA'S RESULTS HAVE BIG IMPLICATIONS ACROSS THE NATION
AND IN WASHINGTON.
IN OUR STATE, VOTERS ARE SET TO DECIDE THE OUTCOME OF A SLEW OF
CONTENTIOUS RACES.
ONE OF THE MOST WATCHED IS FOR GOVERNOR-- BETWEEN TALLAHASSEE
MAYOR, DEMOCRAT ANDREW GILLUM AND FORMER U.S. CONGRESSMAN,
REPUBLICAN RON DESANTIS.
AND OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR, RICK SCOTT, IS TRYING TO UNSEAT
LONG-TIME DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BILL NELSON FOR HIS SEAT IN THE
U.S. SENATE.
EARLIER WE SPOKE TO PBS "NEWSHOUR" CORRESPONDENT LISA
DESJARDINS TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE KEY RACES IN THE SUNSHINE
STATE AND THE HOT-BUTTON ISSUES THAT COULD HAVE BIG IMPLICATIONS
NATIONWIDE.
NO STATE HAS MORE CLOSE AND PIVOTAL ELECTIONS ON THE BALLOT
THAN FLORIDA AND THAT'S ALL THE WAY FROM GOVERNOR AND SENATE
RACES DOWN TO THE HOUSE RACES.
FLORIDA COULD SHOW THE NATION WHICH WAY VOTERS ARE LEANING
BACK AND FORTH.
THE ISSUES IN FLORIDA ALSO SPEAK ABOUT
WHAT'S ON NATIONAL MINDS.
WE HAVE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN
FLORIDA THIS YEAR, THAT COULD BE PIVOTAL, ALONG WITH TAXES,
ALONG WITH THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY.
IMMIGRATION, GUNS, I THINK EVERY ISSUE OF NATIONAL CONCERN IS AN
ISSUE IN FLORIDA.
ALL RIGHT.
JOINING ME NOW TO HELP BREAK DOWN SOME OF THE KEY RACES AND
ISSUES ON THE BALLOT IS SEAN FOREMAN, CHAIR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE AT BARRY
UNIVERSITY; CHARLES ZELDEN, PROFESSOR OF
HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE AT NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY;
AND BRIAN CROWLEY OF CROWLEYPOLITICALREPORT.COM.
BRIAN, LET'S GO AHEAD AND START WITH YOU.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.
OF COURSE YOU HAVE DEMOCRAT ANDREW GILLUM AGAINST REPUBLICAN
DESANTIS.
THEY'VE HAD TWO CONTENTIOUS DEBATES ALREADY.
SO KIND OF WALK US THROUGH THIS RACE.
I COVERED MY FIRST GOVERNOR'S RACE IN THE 1980s.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS RACE.
THIS IS A RACE WHERE NORMALLY THE CANDIDATES AT THIS POINT
WOULD BE TRYING TO MOVE TOWARDS THE MIDDLE, TRYING TO ATTRACT
THE INDEPENDENT VOTER, TRYING TO ATTRACT THAT REPUBLICAN AND THAT
DEMOCRAT WHO IS NOT HARD CORE BUT A LITTLE IN THE MIDDLE.
NOT THIS YEAR.
IT'S A VERY HARD CORE RACE, IN SOME WAYS COPYING THE
PRESIDENTIAL RACE OF 2016.
RON DESANTIS IS VERY, VERY HARD-CORE TO THE RIGHT.
ANDREW GILLUM IS VERY, VERY HARD-CORE TO THE LEFT.
THEY MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT AND THE ELECTORATE IS VERY
SPLINTERED IN THIS STATE ON THESE TWO CANDIDATES.
I'VE SEEN COUPLE OF POLLS COME OUT SHOWING THESE MEN ARE
IN A TIGHT RACE.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK MIGHT HAPPEN?
WE STILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR INDEPENDENTS AND UNDECIDEDS.
TO GET OUT TO THE POLLS.
THE EARLY VOTING IS ALREADY OVER RIGHT SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT
HAPPENS ON TUESDAY RIGHT?
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CLUE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, THE
POLLS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
YOU CAN BUY A POLT THAT SHOWS EITHER ONE OF THEM UP.
I THINK THERE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE KIND OF REGIONAL.
YOU HAD THE RED TIDE AND THE ALGAE BLOOMS THAT ARE HAVING BIG
EFFECTS ON THE VOTERS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND TREASURE
COAST.
THE HURRICANE IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE VOTERS IN
MEXICO BEACH AND THAT AREA WHICH IS HEAVILY REPUBLICAN.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE TURNOUT WILL BE IN THAT AREA.
REPUBLICANS MAY HAVE TO MAKE UP THE LOSS IN THOSE AREAS BY
BUILDING UP IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.
I THINK IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED ELECTION YEAR AND OF COURSE WE
HAVE THE ADDED BONUS THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
IS COMING DOWN AND WORKING LARD TO HELP DESANTIS TO WIN THIS
RACE.
AND BARACK OBAMA IS GOING TO CAMPAIGN FOR GILLUM AS WELL.
CHARLES, SPEAKING OF THE GOVERNOR, RICK SCOTT, A
REPUBLICAN, IS TRYING TO UNSEAT LONG TERM.
INCUMBENT SENATOR BILL NELSON, WHO'S SERVED 18 YEARS.
WALK US THROUGH THIS.
RICK SCOTT VERY WELL-KNOWN IN OUR STATE, GETTING A LOT OF
PROPS HOW HE'S HANDLED HURRICANE IRMA AND SO FORTH.
YOU HAVE A CAMPAIGN BETWEEN TWO CUMENTS.
GRANTED ONE IS A GOVERNOR AND ONE IS A SENATOR.
BUT TWO TOP LEADERS OF THE STATE RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER ON
THEIR RECORDS.
THAT'S THE GOOD.
BECAUSE THEY'RE KNOWN.
TO THE BAD, FOR EXAMPLE, RICK SCOTT LAST PROBLEMS WITH THE RED
TIDE, THAT'S EATING AWAY, SOUTHWEST OF FLORIDA, WHICH
HAPPENS TO BE SCOTT TERRITORY.
THAT'S KIND OF A TOSSUP.
YOU'VE GOT TWO CANDIDATES WHO HAVE GOOD CHANCE HE AND GOOD
REASONS TO WIN.
I SUSPECT, ACTUALLY, THAT WHAT'S GOING TO DECIDE WHO WINS THE
SENATE RACE IS GOING TO BE WHO SHOWS UP FOR GOVERNOR'S RACE.
IF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, THEY'RE BANKING ON BRINGING IN VOTERS
FROM THEIR SIDE IN LARGE NUMBERS RATHER THAN GOING TO THE MIDDLE.
WELL, IF ONE OF THEM MANAGES TO GET UNEXPECTED VOTERS IN TO VOTE
THEIR WAY, I DOUBT THESE VOTERS ARE GOING TO SPLIT THEIR TICKET
WHEN IT COMES TO THE SENATE RACE.
TO IN THE SENATE RACE, IT PLAY BE THAT RICK SCOTT WINS OR
NELSON WINS FOR NO REASON THAN IS PART OF THEIR RACE.
WHAT WE DON'T OFTEN TALK ABOUT IS THE ENVIRONMENT, THE
ECONOMY.
THE ENVIRONMENT WILL BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE BETWEEN IMPACT OF
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, THE RED TIDE SITUATION, THE ALGAE
BLOOMS, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THE EVERGLADES AND THE FACT THAT
IT'S POTENTIALLY DYING.
ALL THOSE ISSUES PLAY LARGE ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH,
SOUTHERN HALF OF FLORIDA.
DEMOCRAT VOTES BUT AGAIN A LARGE SWATH OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS ALONG
THE SOUTHWEST COAST FOR ARE WHICH THESE ARE IMPORTANT
ISSUES.
AND THE PANHANDLE VOTERS, ABOUT BIG ARE AND STRONGER STORMS,
PLUS IN THERE ARE PARTS IN THAT AREA WHERE AGAIN RISING TIDES
COULD BE A PROBLEM.
LET'S MOVE ON THEN SEAN.
THERE ARE TWO BIG CONGRESSIONAL SEATS UP FOR GRABS
IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ALONE.
LET'S START WITH DISTRICT 26.
THIS IS INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN CARLOS CURBELO VERSUS NEWCOMER
DEMOCRAT AND F.I.U.
DEAN DEBBIE MUCARSEL-POWELL.
ISSUES HERE?
YES SO CROALT OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS AT -- CONTROL
OF THE HOWSSMENTS IS AT STAKE HERE.
IF THEY COULD GET 23 OR FLIP 23 THEY HAVE MAJORITIES.
CURBELO WON LAST TIME.
CURBELO HAS BEEN A TARGET OF NATIONAL DEMOCRATS, THEY FEEL
THAT'S A SEAT THEY COULD PICK UP.
BUT CARLOS CURBELO HAS BEEN A MODERATE REPUBLICAN ON SEA LEVEL
RISE AND CLIMATE.
SO HE'S MODERATED HIS VIEWS TO FIT THE DISTRICT A LITTLE BIT
BETTER.
WHAT'S WORKING AGAINST HIM IS HIS VOTE FOR THE TAX CUT WHICH
DOESN'T PLAY AS STRONGLY IN THAT DISTRICT AS IT MAY IN ELSEWHERE.
AND GUN CONTROL IS A BIG ISSUE THERE, WHERE DEBBIE MU CARR
CELL-POWELL ALWAYS FATHER WAS KILLED, WHEN SHE WAS A TONE AGE
ARE, SHE'S MADE A STRONG STAND ON GUN CONTROL.
THE RACE FOR DISTRICT 27 IS SURPRISING A LOT OF FOLKS.
THIS WAS ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN'S SEAT FOR YEARS -- A REPUBLICAN
IN A DISTRICT THAT IS NOW BLUE AND VOTED FOR HILLARY.
BUT IT'S CLOSER THAN MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT.
WE HAVE FORMER U.M.
PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT DONNA SHALALA RUNNING
AGAINST SPANISH LANGUAGE JOURNALIST, REPUBLICAN MARIA
ELVIRA SALAZAR.
NONE OF THESE WOMEN HAVE HELD ELECTED OFFICE OF BEFORE.
TALK ABOUT THIS RACE.
NEITHER INTENDED TO BE CANDIDATES EARLY ON.
SOMEWHAT CLEARED THE FEEL, DEMOCRATS REALLY FELT THEY WERE
GOING TO WIN THIS ONE FOR SURE BUT THE POLLING HAS BEEN CLOSER
THAN EXPECTED.
SOME DON'T FEEL DONNA SHAHLALA, ARE SINCE SHE DOESN'T SPEAK
SPANISH, DEMOCRATS TRYING TO GET SHALALA THE WIN.
SALAZAR ON THE OTHER HAND HAS BEAN TRUMP SUPPORTER.
TRYING TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, BEING CLOSE TO TRUMP INCLUDING
ON IMMIGRATION BUT SEPARATE FROM HIM ON ISSUES DEALING WITH
WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
AND SOME ON IMMIGRATION TOO BECAUSE SHE'S A CUBAN AMERICAN
HERSELF GREW UP IN SOUTH FLORIDA RIGHT?
SHE'S HAD DIFFERENT POSITIONS.
THIS WEEK SHE SUPPORTED WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID ABOUT ENDING
BIRTH RATE CITIZENSHIP.
THAT CONFUSES VOTERS WHERE SHE STANDS.
BRIAN-- DISTRICT 18 IN NORTHERN PALM BEACH COUNTY IS ONE TO
WATCH, TOO.
WE SEE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT BRIAN MAST FACE CHALLENGER
LAUREN BAER, A FORMER OBAMA ADMINISTRATION SENIOR ADVISOR TO
FORMER SECRETARIES OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON AND JOHN KERRY.
TALK ABOUT THAT RACE.
THAT'S A DISTRICT FOR MOST OF THE LAST 20 YEARS FLIPS BACK AND
FORTH BETWEEN DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN.
IT IS VERY MUCH A SWING DISTRICT AND THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING
TO BE A VERY, VERY CLOSE RACE.
AN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS RACE IS
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF VERY, VERY LOCAL ISSUES THAT HAVE JUST
CARRIED THROUGH IN THIS RACE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TREASURE COAST
DEEPLY OPPOSES THE BRIGHT LINE TRAIN.
THEY DON'T WANT THE BRIGHT LINE TRAIN COMING THROUGH THERE.
THEY HAVE VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED IT FOR SOME TIME NOW.
AND BOTH BRIAN MAST AND LAUREN BAER HAVE OPPOSED IT, BRIAN
MAST, FEELS ACCOMPLISHMENTS HE'D HE'S MADE IN IMPROVING LAKE
OKEECHOBEE.
A THIRD ONE THAT HAS COME UP IS PREEXISTING CONDITIONS HAS COME
UP AS AN ISSUE IN THAT CAMPAIGN.
A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT PRE EXISTING CONDITIONS.