Ray Netherwood, the U.S. House candidate for Florida’s 19th congressional district, is polling ahead of the Democrat candidate for the June 24 special election, according to Vote USA.
Netherwood is polling at 13 percent, Republican challenger Curt Clawson is at 26 percent, the Democrat April Freeman is at 12 percent, and 41 percent are undecided.
The special election is being held to fill the seat vacated by former Rep. Trey Radel (R).
Netherwood is also on the ballot for the same race in the November general election.
“In mid-terms, many people stay home,” Netherwood said. “Libertarians need to motivate those voters who are apathetic about their parties with the lure of ‘principles’ and NOT voting the party line over and over if they want something different!”
Florida has the most expensive filing fee in the country — 6 percent of the annual salary of the office, or the collection of a significant amount of signatures. Netherwood paid the filing fee for both the special and general elections, amounting to almost $14,000 in fees for the two races.
“Libertarians can deliver a message that can include all voters,” Netherwood said. “Downsizing D.C., getting the federal government out of our personal lives, and a focus on liberty.”
I think he meant it at the time.
Also, he had limited time to speak and probably just wanted to get to a few key points, so I don’t necessarily judge him too harshly for anything he did not say.
It’s too bad Lucas didn’t actually make the distinction between so called ‘libertarians’ and Libertarian Party Candidates. He had a great opportunity to set Kennedy straight first off with that.
Just a few months ago the LPF was crying about how Wes Benedict omitted his name in a radio interview, but he failed to mention how there’s a candidate running in VA-07 against David Brat.
Ironic that he had memes out in his special election that said “If I don’t get elected, I’ll just go back to diving”. That right there is a lie.
Also in FL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhhbCVZuEn4&feature=youtu.be
Bursting the bubble. Wine and cheese!!
First, it is mid June.
Second, the undecided percentile is greater than the Libertarian plus either opponent by themselves.
If he still scores this way in October, then it is victory.
I am not trying to denounce anyone here, but I think the grabbing for any sign of hope is a bit weak. If we had data to show how democrats ranked in previous races at this time of the campaign the statistics would have merit as well. To isolate one player (democrat) without prior statistical analysis is moot.
Undecided equals NOTA, even if it is situational.
As a former candidate for the MO LP, I know how hard the campaign can get. I celebrate everyone who has the courage to put their name on the ballot; especially when the filing fee is so large.
It is too early to take poll numbers seriously.
Cheers!!
There is no reason to perpetuate the idea that we’re “closer” to Republicans than to Democrats. It’s exactly that sort of myth that leads Republicans to continually seek our cross-endorsement or try to kick us out of elections. There isn’t a single thing that libertarians and conservatives agree on – the whole “economic conservative, social liberal” thing is a dangerous lie, as is the mistaken view portrayed on the WSPQ and Nolan chart. Economic conservatism is just a name for corporatism, not free markets.
Very well said, Jed.
I maintain that we’re just as similar, or different, to both Republicans and Democrats, but I consider the traditional Republican .party to be more dangerous because of their warmongering. We definitely need to point out that we’re different from both.
Mark Hilgenberg said: “As long as we keep perpetuating the myth that the GOP are superior to the Dems, we will never gain as you hope.”
I’ll go one step further; that conservatism is superior to progressivism. Perhaps it’s just my personal life experience, but I don’t cringe when I hear economic policies I disagree with, I merely see an opportunity for honest debate. However, when I hear the backwards social policies, xenophobic immigration rhetoric, and flagrant warmongering of the neocon right, now THAT’S scary to me.
Now I separate that from Democrat vs. Republican. The “Tea Party” has definitely moved the GOP rightward, and more toward a paleocon right, from where it was under the Bush administration. Whether they stay that way if and when they regain power remains to be seen. I’m doubtful, and paleoconservatism is just as backwards as neoconservatism, just without all the unconstitutional warfare.
The Democratic Party, under Obama, is far from progressive. Obama’s the same warmonger that Bush was, his policies are eerily similar. Since 2001 our country has been moving in the same direction; more spending, more wars, more debt, more erosion of basic civil liberties.
Don’t expect it to change under Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, or any of the other clowns likely to seek the presidency in 2016. Some will point to Rand Paul as the potential “savior” of the GOP. After all, he’s Ron Paul’s son! He calls himself a “libertarian Republican”! He’s not. Not by a long shot. The man supported sanctions against Iran, supports entangling alliances with Israel, and flip-flops on gay marriage (while he says in some interviews he supports states’ rights, and I would counter that states don’t have rights, to other crowds he has stated his support of the “Marriage Amendment”). One need only look at his bedfellows to judge Rand Paul’s character, he has endorsed the likes of Ken “Sodomy Law” Cuccinelli and Mitt “Corporations Are People” Romney.
The Libertarian Party needs to continue to clearly differentiate itself from the left and the right, the Democrats and the Republicans. We have a chance at an upset with the Lucas Overby campaign. The party is growing, the movement is growing. Now is our time.
I’ve donated to Mr. Netherwood and having met him twice at two state conventions I’ve found him to be an extremely outgoing and personable candidate who cares about the party and the message. I don’t agree with him 100% on some of his policy positions, but donated to his campaign personally. I highly suggest you do the same.
NSGOP is not superior to Democrats. I think the statement about Democrats is correct, and replacing left wing economic failure with right wing social repression and warmongering makes it an equaly true statement about Republicans.
“The LP will replace the Democrats, the leading party of statism and left-wing economic failure, as one of the two major parties in the US.”
As long as we keep perpetuating the myth that the GOP are superior to the Dems, we will never gain as you hope.
That would be a great step if it happens.
It would be nice to see Netherwood win the seat, but I think him beating the Democrat sends a much better message: The LP will replace the Democrats, the leading party of statism and left-wing economic failure, as one of the two major parties in the US.