COULD WE SEE A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR THE 12TH DISTRICT THIS YEAR???

A few days ago, I mentioned that incumbant 12th District Congressman Adam Putnam (R - Bartow) may actually see some opposition this November.

The news came in an e-mail, as I had forgotten to attend the I-4 Corridor progressive group's meeting last Thursday where James B. Davis was introduced. There will be another meeting this evening where he will be present at First Baptist Institutional Church in Lakeland, located at the corner of Memorial Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue just off downtown.

Well, in this morning's Lakeland Ledger, there is an announcement for the Lakeland Democratic Club meeting to be held Thursday evening at 7:00 in the McArthur Center on Lakeside Avenue. The featured speaker will be Lakeland attorney Jack Wolf, who is saying he will enter the 12th District congressional fray.

It's not rocket science to figure out that both men, if they are truly serious about challenging Putnam, have a lot of work to do and a lot of money to raise in a short amount of time. Many will wonder what is the use of even running, virtual unknowns to the vast majority of area residents, against one of the rising stars in the national GOP shown by Putnam's being named earlier this year as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee.

I'm not trying to be negative here, simply realistic. It's going to be an uphill battle. Both these men, if they are truly serious, are going to have to make their campaigns a full time endeavor. Not only will they have to introduce themselves to the people of the 12th District, but they will have to focus their message not on the usual Republican bashing --- we all know how the current administration and congressional majority have screwed the working class time and again --- but on how they will work to improve and change things for everyone. What will they support? What are their ideas and philosophies?

They needed to begin weeks ago...but that was then, this is now. It just makes the work a little harder.

UPDATE: I had the chance to meet rehab therapy business owner James B. Davis of Bartow last evening, and came away rather impressed. I still don't know a great deal about the man, but he seemed to be quite focused on this endeavour (this was not a campaign event)

I will attend the Lakeland Democratic Club meeting Thursday evening where Davis will be attending, along with Jack Wolf, who is also seeking the party's nomination to face GOP incumbant Adam Putnam. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the two together and hearing more about their ideas.