By Sascha Cordner
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-978843.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Why did Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos drop out of the U-S Senate race? That was the question on several people's minds when he made the announcement earlier this week. As Sascha Cordner reports, there are many answers depending on who you talk to.
About six and half months ago, when Haridopolos announced his bid, he came out strong against Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson, even out-raising the U-S Senator in the first quarter. Haridopolos, a Republican from Melbourne, was also getting good name recognition from his job as Florida Senate President. Things were still looking up with the announcement of a major endorsement from Republican Congressman Connie Mack.
But, it all came crashing down, when Haridopolos abruptly left the race. Instead of the standard statement politicians use about spending more time with family, he put out a video in which he said he needed to spend more time in Tallahassee, rather than Washington:
"It became increasingly clear to me and those around me that the responsibilities I was managing on both fronts were in conflict. I truly believed that I could handle both jobs, but I was wrong. And, now I am determined to make it right. [Today,] I am announcing that I will no longer be a candidate for the United States Senate "
What happened? University of South Florida Political Science Professor put it this way:
"The more exposure he had and the more events that came to light courtesy of the media, the less viable he looked and so, in that sense, he understood the writing was on the wall and it was better to get out than to really have an ugly campaign where he would have to defend against many problems with his record."
McKee says some of those problems included a considerable drop in campaign funds in the second quarter: 900-thousand dollars, down from the 2 and a half million in the first quarter. He says another problem, the controversial 152-thousand dollar book deal Haridopolos made with Brevard Community College.
Haridopolos had earlier defended that deal:
"As you know, I've been teaching in the college classroom for almost 20 years, and what you do as a college teacher, and what you do as a College teacher is you do three things, you teach, you write, and you publish, and that's exactly what we've done."
The campaign turned even more sour with the announcements of two of his chief campaign staffers were leaving, Tim Baker, his campaign manager and Pat Bainter, Haridopolos' advisor. Haridopolos said Baker left to pursue new opportunities, while Bainter left to focus on the upcoming legislative races.
But, Bainter may have had other reasons. Both Bainter and Haridopolos are expected to take part in a deposition, where they will be answering questions under oath. It regards the case of former Republican Party chair Jim Greer. Bainter and Haridopolos are alleged to have been involved in a deal to pay thousands of dollars in "hush money to Greer. Haridopolos denies signing any agreement regarding that severance contract for Greer, but Greer's attorney Damon Chase says he has proof of the document with the Florida Senate President's signature.
"We're going to go up to him and say Senator Haridopolos, you said before that you didn't do this, Jim Stelling said that you did, Pat Bainter said that you did, did you or did you not? And, he's going to have the opportunity to either perjure himself or tell the truth about what's been going on."
Chase believes the whole situation cast Haridopolos in a bad light. That may have been a big reason he decided to drop the U-S Senate campaign.
But, some like, former Seminole County Republican Party Chairman Jim Stelling, say both Haridopolos and Bainter had their own reasons for leaving, that had nothing to do with the Greer case.
Stelling played a role in the negotiations of Greer's severance contracts, acting as the liaison for Greer, while Bainter was the go-between for Haridopolos.
"When I saw that in the media, I laughed. Of course I don't think that has anything to do with the Greer situation at all.
Reporter: And, why not?
Stelling: I mean, WHY so? Pat didn't do anything wrong. Senator Haridopolos didn't do anything wrong. There's just no reason for me to believe that it would have anything to do with that. It's all speculation. It's just trying to make something out of nothing."
Well-known lawyer and Lobbyist Ron Book feels the same. He gave almost 22-thousand dollars to Haridopolos' campaign. He says he believes Haridopolos would have won the Republican bid, hands down, regardless of the negative speculation as to his departure.
"The Greer issue has been played out in the press for months and months and it will play out in a court of law. And, this so-called book issue, which by the way is not some new issue, it's been debated, been discussed before now, and I don't think that those would have been fairly discussed and debated issues during the course of the campaign."
For his part, Haridopolos says he does not see himself seeking any office this year or next year and he will rededicate himself to finishing the job Floridians elected him to do in the Florida Senate.
Still, left in the GOP race against Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson are former state Representative Adam Hasner, former interim Senator George LeMieux, Winter Park businessman Craig Miller and retired Army Colonel Mike McCalister.