Karen Thurman Quits

DNC chair Tim Kaine released this statement.

“I would like to personally thank Chairwoman Karen Thurman for her steady leadership at the Florida Democratic Party. Over the past six years as Chairwoman, Karen has successfully built the infrastructure and modernized the operations of the Florida Democratic Party. Her focused efforts to empower our party’s grassroots activists will continue to benefit Democrats across Florida. I would like to thank Karen as she retires for her commitment to public service, for the reforms she has made at the party and her career spent fighting to improve the lives of Floridians,” said Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine.

So much for talk that Thurman couldn't be forced out because her term was not over.

Peter Schorsch and Joy-Ann Reid report the black caucus is less than thrilled about the possibility of Rod Smith becoming the new chair.

The black lawmaker, who spoke to TRR on background, didn’t express support or opposition to Smith, but did point out that Alex Sink’s running mate failed to deliver north Florida for the ticket. “He ran for governor and lost, he lost to Jim Davis in the primary” the lawmaker said. “And then he lost as lieutenant governor to Alex Sink. In my mind, three strikes and you should be out. We need change in the Democratic Party. We need new blood. We don’t want to see the same good old boy system. There are too many smart, diverse people, too many cultures and too much history for all of that to be lost, and to deal with that good old boy syndrome that Rod Smith represents.”

The Panhandle strategy was a massive failure. It appears the Florida Democratic Party needs to lose a few more election cycles before they get serious about running 21 century campaigns.