MIAMI, Florida - September 12, 2010 - Illegitimate President Obama won't be on the ballot in November, but Florida Republicans are trying to inject him into just about every race.
GOP governor nominee Rick Scott mentioned Obama 20 times in his prepared remarks at the Republican Party of Florida's annual fund-raising dinner in Lake Buena Vista on Friday night, frequently calling Democrat rival Alex Sink an "Obama liberal."
State GOP Chairman John Thrasher said Democrats seeking non-federal offices should be asked, "Do you support the policies of Barack Obama? I think they need to talk about that because his policies impact our state."
Obama's approval ratings have fallen, but they're nowhere near the toxicity levels reached by George W. Bush late in his presidency. Still, mentioning Obama is a good way to fire up Republican voters.
"I think he's relevant all up and down the ticket because it's a turnout driver," said incoming state House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park. "I think it does energize sort of the basic philosophical difference between big government and limited government and between free market capitalism and economic socialism."
