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Senate race gets pricey

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI

cdolinski@tampatrib.com

Published: October 21, 2009

TALLAHASSEE - Despite falling behind his competitor early in the District 12 race for state Senate, state Rep. Kevin Ambler raised almost as much during the last fundraising quarter as Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman.

But because of Ambler's late - and slow - start last year, he has not overcome Norman's early fundraising lead.
Campaign finance reports showed that for the quarter ending Sept. 30, Ambler raised $76,943 compared with Norman's $79,895, despite the support that the county commissioner received this summer from two future Senate presidents.

"I think we're gaining on him," Ambler said. "If you look at what he's raised in 2009, compared to what I've done, we're showing a gain in momentum, and a substantial gain in local support."

Norman and Ambler, both Republicans, are competing for the Senate seat that Victor Crist of Tampa will vacate next year because of term limits. The legislative race is already one of the priciest in the state, with Norman raising $345,900 so far and Ambler bringing in $227,925.

Norman, known to be a relentless campaigner, is riding comfortably ahead of Ambler thanks mostly to early gains made in 2008. Norman ended his first quarter of fundraising that year with $201,375. Ambler dropped his House re-election bid at the start of the same quarter in April to run for the Senate, but could not legally start raising money until the Legislature adjourned in May.

At that quarter's end, Ambler reported raising only $750 and did not raise any money for the rest of 2008. When the most recent quarter ended on Sept. 30, Ambler had about $119,000 cash on hand; Norman had about $300,000.

"If you look at what should be happening, this should be reversed," Norman said. "He's basically an incumbent. Our people are shocked that we are where we are."

The commissioner likes to talk about the local endorsements and contributions he has received from sheriff's deputies and firefighters, but the big news last quarter was the endorsements he received from two of the Senate's biggest rainmakers: Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, who is expected to take over as Senate president in 2011, and Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, who is likely to succeed Haridopolos.

The two influential lawmakers squired Norman around Tallahassee over the summer, netting him thousands of dollars in campaign contributions.

"It gives the impression - and I think rightfully so, in his particular case - that Jim Norman is favored by Senate leadership, has been chosen by them, if you will, as the heir to that seat," said Bob Buckhorn, a former Tampa City Council member who is now a public affairs consultant. "That matters to donors looking to curry favor with leadership ... From Tampa's parochial perspective, it means you'll likely get a good committee seat that will benefit the people you represent."

Buckhorn, a Democrat, is not involved with either campaign but did contribute $100 to Norman in June 2008.

Ambler counted other senior GOP senators such as Paula Dockery of Lakeland, Dennis Jones of Seminole and Alex Villalobos of Miami among his supporters, disputing the notion that GOP leadership in the Senate is unilaterally backing his opponent.

Ambler, who has overseen the House's budget committee on health care for two years, has received substantial donations from the health care sector. He recently took over the Public Safety and Domestic Policy Committee - which, Ambler said, creates new campaign fundraising dynamics.

"I have a whole new group of individuals that will have an interest in what we do as a committee, how fair we are and inclusive we are; hopefully they'll be supportive as well," Ambler said. "Honestly, I don't know it would ever have any impact on my decision-making. It doesn't; I don't keep lists or anything. But that doesn't mean that the people involved in politics out there don't have that perception of politics in general. They may not want to risk aggravating or upsetting someone they're going to have business in front of" by making donations to that lawmaker's political opponent.

Norman said he expects that Gaetz's and Haridopolos' support will be more influential in future quarters - as will the state Chamber of Commerce, which has also endorsed him.

Despite their obvious statewide connections, both candidates insist that their campaign is the more locally focused. April Schiff, a GOP political consultant in Tampa, said she expects a lot more of that rhetoric as the race continues.

"I really think it gets down to who best appeals to the individual voters," said Schiff, who has not worked with or contributed to either campaign, although her husband's law firm gave Norman $500 in 2008. "I'm a strong believer in grass-roots ... Of course, if you have a whole bunch of money, it's a lot easier to get your message out to those voters."

Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382.

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