Rod Smith Potential FDP Chair Candidate

Finding Jimmy Hoffa would be easier than knowing Karen Thurman's whereabouts right now. The media has not been able to get a hold of Thurman. Peter Schorsch just might take down a Florida Democratic Party chair. My advise to Ms. Thurman is life goes on and take a long vacation. This isn't the end of the world.

Thurman is on her way out. If Thurman wasn't she would have dug in her heels and told the media she isn't going anywhere. The Miami Herald reports Rod Smith is in the running to replace Thurman. Don't get to excited. Smith was a team member of Alex Sink's disastrous Panhandle strategy. Sink's goal was to get votes from the ultra-conservative Panhandle. The strategy was a massive failure.

Smith, seemingly a no-show on the campaign trail this year in high-profile events, was the spearhead of the failed strategy to appeal to white, rural voters and conservative Democrats, who appeared to vote in droves for Republican Rick Scott's ticket. Meantime, South Florida Democrats -- and especially black Democrats -- felt a little left out. So many stayed home.

Meet the potential new boss - same as the old boss.

I wrote that the problems extend beyond Thurman. Smith has lost two statewide races. I like Smith politically, but he doesn't seem to know what it takes to win in Florida. If the Florida Democratic establishment are going to use to same strategy of no message poor campaign organization then it really doesn't matter who is in charge.

Florida Democrats need to go after young voters and recruit candidate that will appeal to the base. Alex Sink tried the Panhandle and Kendrick Meek did his Florida nursing home tour. The result was older and rural voters going for Republican candidates in the general election. People will say that young voters sit out midterm elections. I say there was no effort from the state party to get young voters active. If the FDP wants to keep ignoring young voters then they do so at their own peril.