FDP promotes Kosmas with push poll in FL-24
Wed, 13 Aug 2008
Yesterday evening, I received an odd phone call. The caller ID information showed that it was from the Florida Democratic Party. When I answered, a gentleman asked for David Harper.
I replied, "Speaking."
He told me that he was calling on behalf of the Democratic Party. He continued, "Who are you supporting in the congressional race?"
He possessed a rich, mellifluous voice and his diction was precise. He spoke a standard mid-western dialect, the idiom to which television anchors aspire.
Belligerently, I quizzed him: "Are you actually from the Democratic Party, or is this a poll?" I knew what the caller ID said, but I hoped to tease a bit of explanation from him.
Off-put by my tone, he replied tersely: "I’m calling for the Democratic Party."
"I will be voting against Tom Feeney in the general election." I said, knowing that wasn’t the answer to the question he was asking. I felt cagey and I wasn’t about to make this easy for him.
He clarified: "Who are you supporting in the primary election?"
When my reply was not immediately forthcoming, he added: "Kosmas?" Then he allowed a pregnant pause to follow what I had gauged to be a hopeful suggestion, rather than an actual question. He failed to prompt me with an opponent’s name.
Assertively, I dashed his hopes: "I will be voting for Clint Curtis in the primary."
"Oh... Thank you." He replied, with no inflection.
I had obviously disappointed him. We ended the call.
Could this be a subtle way for the FDP to prompt Democratic voters into supporting the establishment’s chosen candidate? It might as well have been. There was no mistaking the intent behind this call. I wasn’t being asked whom I supported; Instead, I was being led to accept the FDP’s suggestion.
I have a suggestion for the FDP establishment, but it’s unprintable. I remind my party’s leaders that I am an intelligent and informed voter. The purpose of elections is to determine the will of voters. I believe in a secret ballot and have no patience for a poll that can be of little use, since early voting in this primary has already begun. It is distasteful and inappropriate that they should conduct such a biased push poll, mentioning only their preferred candidate.
I expect better from Florida’s Democratic Party.
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