The Jeff Greene and Rick Scott Equation

Florida political beat reporters Mary Ellen Klas and Gary Fineout say Jeff Greene is drawing supporting away from Kendrick Meek in the Democratic Senate primary. Both agree Rick Scott is causing similar problems for Bill McCollum in the Republican gubernatorial primary. I don't think Greene or Scott is going to win. What their late candidacies show is how weak support is for Meek and McCollum.

When a candidate is certain of the nomination, he or she will refuse to debate or define themselves on issues. Political parties do themselves a diservice by clearing the field. We saw how Florida Republicans turned on Jim Greer and Charlie Crist. Candidates also are less likely to survive a tough general election after an easy primary. Barack Obama became a better candidate by being battle tested by Hillary Clinton. Meek and McCollum have not had a tough primary ooponent and that has kept them out of the media cycle. Lack of news coverage is not an asset to a candidate.