Florida GOP Primary and Gainesville Commission Election

Today was the moved-up date for the Florida Republican Presidential Primary. Simultaneously, Gainesville held elections in two city commissioner races, open to both Republicans and non-Republicans to vote in. Since the GOP primary occurred on the same day, there was a higher percentage of Republican voters in this election, and consequently the possibility of conservatives being elected to the commission. This was not to be: a liberal won one race outright while a liberal and conservative will participate in a run-off election in a few weeks. Generally, unless there is some special issue involved, these types of at-large elections in Gainesville end with the liberal candidate winning with about 55-60 % of the vote. We'll see what happens.

Mitt "Not Obama" Romney, formerly Mitt "Not Newt" Romney, formerly Mitt "Not Herman Cain" Romney, formerly Mitt "Not Rick Perry" Romney, may have finally found a name that will "stick" after his lopsided victory in Florida today. But as Romney's overwhelmingly negative ads against Gingrich have affirmed, this man's identity and appeal to Republican voters seems to be that he isn't somebody else they dislike even more. The Republican establishment, however, seems to have come to the conclusion that Mitt Romney is a potential president that they can handle, much like the way George W. Bush was. God help us.