Fla. Candidates Smith, Davis a Contrast of Styles, Not Substance

If you read what Rod Smith and Jim Davis have to say about issues in the governor’s race, there won’t be much difference between the Democrats.

Neither likes how Gov. Jeb Bush has used standardized testing to reward and punish schools, both criticize Republicans for not doing enough to stabilize the homeowners insurance market, they agree Republicans have passed too many tax cuts that benefit too few people while schools and health care are underfunded and they tout their efforts to keep government out of the Terri Schiavo case.

But their styles and backgrounds are clearly different as they try to take back the governor’s mansion from Republicans. Saturday, when about 1,000 Democrats gather in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. for a state party fundraiser, Smith and Davis will likely be trying hard to show those differences as they fight to win over a large number of undecided voters.

“We are blessed that we have two very highly qualified candidates,” said Putnam County Democratic Chairwoman Rosemary Anderson. “Philosophically, they’re in the same boat. It will come down to who people are comfortable with.”

Davis has served in Congress since leaving the state House as majority leader in 1996. He sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is has taken up issues like prescription drug costs, environmental protection and education funding.

Davis is also a former co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition, a group of centrist House members who support a balanced budget and efficient government.

Smith is a former labor lawyer and state attorney, known for his prosecution of Danny Rolling, who murdered five Gainesville college students in 1990. He was elected to the Senate in 2000 and was named chairman of the Agriculture Committee, a leadership role that’s hard for Democrats to come by in the Republican-dominated Legislature.

He has a reputation of being able to work with Republicans and he takes credit for forming a coalition that stopped the Legislature’s and Bush’s efforts to intervene in the case of Schiavo, a severely brain-damaged Tampa-area woman who was the center of a right-to-die case.

In more than a year of campaigning and in dozens of appearances together, Smith has shown he’s stronger at addressing crowds.

Smith has a folksy charm, highlights his background growing up on a farm and mixes humor with a fiery discussion of issues. He is at ease discussing just about any issue and can be very candid.

Davis comes across as too rehearsed and a stiff in front of a crowd. He sticks closely to his stump speech and usually repeats those speaking points when people ask him about issues. He is, however, more relaxed when sitting down casually with small groups, when he can ask questions and share ideas.

Even Davis’ supporters acknowledge that addressing groups is a weak spot.

“That is not one of his star qualities. He’s not a charismatic speaker,” said Rhea Chiles, widow of Gov. Lawton Chiles. “I think of Bill Gates in this regard. Bill is not a very captivating speaker, but he knows what he’s doing.”

She says she’s supporting Davis because she believes his experience in Congress will better prepare him, saying that international and national issues are increasingly important in Florida. She said her husband, who served in the U.S. Senate before his two terms as governor, benefited from going to Washington first.

“It makes me feel better to know that my governor has had experience in Washington at this particular time, knowing what can’t be done and knowing what can be done in the case of an emergency,” Chiles said. “I would feel better knowing that he knew that part of the job.”

Smith supporters also tout his leadership ability, pointing at the Schiavo case and success in blocking Bush’s attempts to repeal the class-size amendment and to protect and expand school vouchers.

“He’s the guy that Republicans respect and Democrats love,” said Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres. “People think that if you’re a Democrat in the Legislature it means you can’t pass anything and you have no power, but Rod Smith proves the opposite.”

He said Smith uses his persuasiveness and willingness to compromise to shape and pass legislation.

Others cite Smith’s ability to connect and deliver a message as another reason to support him.

“Rod isn’t making this up. He’s a passionate man. He really believes in what he’s saying and what he’s doing and it will carry through,” said Richard Blank, a Polk County public defender. “Jim is smooth. He’s polished. When the chips are down and it calls for speaking with some strength and character and conviction, I don’t think he’ll measure up.”

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was a state senator alongside Smith, said compromise isn’t always the right thing to do.

“Rod Smith has made compromise and conciliation more of a priority than standing up on principle,” she said. “Too many times he tried to make bad bills better instead of trying to defeat them. Jim Davis knows how to choose which battle you should stand on principle and which battle it’s important to compromise.”

Bush can’t seek re-election because of term limits. The major Republicans in the race are state Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher and Attorney General Charlie Crist.

Davis was considered the favorite early on. He is from a much larger area, Tampa, than Smith, who lives in Alachua, a town of about 6,000 just north of Gainesville. Besides rising to a higher political position, he quickly gained the support of former Sen. Bob Graham, Rhea Chiles and other prominent Democrats.

Smith, who was growing frustrated with his party’s habit of losing statewide races despite having more registered voters than Republicans, felt Democrats were trying too hard to reach its core activists rather than bring a message that could appeal to conservative north Florida Democrats, independents and Republicans whose politics run toward the middle.

The small-town senator who people snickered at when he said he wanted to be governor is now being taken seriously as a candidate.
Smith has run almost even with him in fundraising despite having to take four months off while the Senate was in session the past two years. By the end of June, Davis had raised about $2.9 million compared to Smith’s $2.5 million.

And in what may be the biggest sign that Smith is a contender, the Davis campaign is increasingly attacking Smith as the Sept. 5 primary nears.

After a prison contractor came under investigation in a kickback scandal, the Davis campaign pointed out that the contractor contributed $30,000 to a political committee that supports Smith. The campaign said it was tainted money. Smith said the money wasn’t his to control.

And when Smith went on a three-day bus tour, the Davis campaign sent out e-mails each day accusing him of flip-flopping on issues. One said Smith opposed the class-size amendment in 2002 and now takes credit for preserving it.

Smith responded that he is generally opposed to constitutional amendments, but he wants to carry out voters’ wishes. He also is defended by U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, who led the effort to place it on the ballot.

Smith has fired back at Davis, most effectively by pointing out that Davis has missed more votes since he got into the race for governor than all but one of the 435 U.S. House members.

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