Searching for votes

Democrat Nan Rich, long shot for Florida governor, says she’s undeterred by quiet reception

In her dark-horse campaign to become Florida’s next governor, former state Sen. Nan Rich likes to recall the stories of Democratic political legends Reubin Askew, Lawton Chiles and Bob Graham.

Each was a littleknown state senator when he launched his statewide candidacy, and all won by pounding Florida’s highways and byways until they were noticed. She doesn’t point out that this was more than three decades ago, when Florida politics were less complicated and when gimmicks — Chiles’ “Walkin’ Lawton” trek through Florida in 1970 or Graham’s “Workdays” in 1978— could grab attention.

Rich — the only Democrat to announce her candidacy for the 2014 gubernatorial election — has been campaigning for a year without grabbingmuchmedia attention. But she says she is energized by the people who turn out to hear her talk.

Democrats think they have their best shot at the Governor’s Office since 1994 — when Chiles won re-election over Jeb Bush, who four years later became the first of three consecutiveGOPgovernors— thanks toGov. Rick Scott’s tea-party roots and languishing poll ratings.

Yet few prominent Democrats talk much about Rich. Instead, they’re looking to better-known politicians who so far haven’t declared or have denied interest in the race: Republican-turned-Democrat former Gov. Charlie Crist, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and former state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. Rich claims to notworry about that. “I’m in this race, and I’m in it to stay,” she told a gathering lastweek of about 60Democrats in Solivita, the 55-and-older community in northeastPolk County. Itwas one of the four or five appearances she says she makes eachweek across the state.

“Stranger thingshavehappenedin Florida politics,” said University of Central Florida political scientist Aubrey Jewett, noting that Rich has little money or name recognition. “But going into the race, she would be considered an underdog.”

Rich, 71, grew up in Miami Beach and spent decades as acommunityactivistworkingonissuessuchas children’shealth, public education and Jewish concerns. She served four years in the Florida House from Broward County and then eight in the Senate until term-limited in 2012. She spent her last two years as the Senate’s Democratic leader.

Political allies and foes both say therewas never anydoubtwhere Richwasonissues or about her abilities towork in the Legislature.

“She knows how to get things done,” said state Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, who served as Rich’s deputy leader.

Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, expressed respectandadmiration forRich— while terming her a “pure liberal.”

“There is no squishiness about her. There is no ambiguity about her,” Gaetz said. “She is a Democrat’s Democrat.”

Rich