Florida Democrats are getting a glimmer of hope for the first time since last month’s presidential election disaster.
An Orlando Political Observer poll shows Congresswoman Gwen Graham ahead of Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, 37-34 percent, in a hypothetical matchup for governor in 2018.
Democratic political strategist Steve Schale, says it will be a good year for an “anti-Trump” like Graham, but considers Putnam the frontrunner.
“I’m actually very hopeful that it’s a Putnam-Graham race. I say that not because I think it’s a good race for Graham. I think Putnam would be a very tough opponent. But I think it would be a very good conversation for the state and I would be very comfortable with either one of them as governor.”
Neither politician has formally announced. If Graham runs, Schale expects her to face Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and trial attorney Joe Morgan, and possibly others, in a Democratic primary.
