Middle of the road?

The Miami Herald has an article on the positions of the two major democratic candidates for Governor in Florida.

Both Democratic contenders for governor favor abortion rights, adoption by gay couples and the death penalty. They don't like laws to grade schools on test scores or to cut taxes on investments.

None of this surprises me. I never favored the repeal of the intangibles tax. Florida doesn't have a state income tax, a major source of revenue. The intangibles tax was closest thing and it didn't apply to anyone but the rich. This was a surplus year in Florida, the repeal could come back to bite those in Tallahassee in a few years. Will another cent of the sales tax be worth it?

U.S. Rep. Jim Davis of Tampa gets an ''F'' from the National Rifle Association but kudos from environmental groups. In contrast, state Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua received low marks from one conservation group -- and an ''A'' from the NRA. Last year, Smith co-sponsored a ''shoot-first'' law that says citizens can use deadly force against attackers in public places.

The gun issue has never been a sticking point for TFM. Like my position on the enviorment it falls somewhere in between the extremes.

Overall, both candidates are middle-of-the-road Democrats who have taken votes on both sides of the political spectrum. Davis has been active in the moderate Democratic Leadership Council. He took a more liberal position than his House colleagues 69 percent of the time in 2005, according to the political magazine National Journal.

Smith helped start a Tallahassee group called Florida Mainstream Democrats. He's one of only two members of his party that Republican leaders felt comfortable appointing as committee chairmen. He leads the agriculture committee, often at odds with environmentalists.

I don't know if I'd call someone middle of the road with Davis' National Journal rating. It is stretching the definition. I've checked old ALmanacs of American Politics, Davis foreign policy rating is almost right down the middle(54% liberal) but he is more liberal on domestic and social issues. The foreign policy rating may be taking down just how liberal he really is. Governor's other than promoting trade and tourism have little to do with foreign policy.

TFM hasn't made a decision as to who he will vote for Governor. Tom Gallagher is the only one I won't vote for. Davis is looking less and less likely. I still think Charlie Crist will win in November.

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