Florida Dem Primary Gets Nasty As Andrew Gillum Attacks Gwen Graham

Florida’s Democrat gubernatorial primary is quickly getting ugly. Embattled candidate Andrew Gillum took aim at his rival Gwen Graham this week for her past support of the Keystone XL pipeline in Congress, a sign of what the Tampa Bay Times says could be “the beginning of a contentious primary.”

The Times reported that Gillum’s campaign went “somewhat out of its way” to take aim at Graham while noting that he has “struggled recently to raise money.” Both candidates have lagged behind the race’s declared Republican candidates in recent months in their fundraising efforts.

As Florida Democrats struggle to gain positive momentum, instead attracting more headlines for disturbing scandals and vicious attacks on one another, their chances of unifying for victory in 2018 continue to plunge with each passing day.

The Tampa Bay Times reports:

“Andrew Gillum’s campaign released a statement Tuesday hitting Democratic front-runner Gwen Graham for a policy release in which the former congresswoman criticized certain state utility taxes.  

‘We welcome Congresswoman Graham to Mayor Gillum’s position… it feels a lot like an election year conversion — especially since she voted for the Keystone XL Pipeline in Congress.’

Gillum, who has struggled recently to raise money, in March criticized Graham for her 2015 vote in favor of the controversial pipeline. (Former President Barack Obama vetoed the legislation that would have allowed for the pipeline’s construction.)

Gillum’s camp seemed to go somewhat out of its way to criticize Graham for the vote, as Graham’s policy statement did not mention the Keystone pipeline — or anything having to do with crude oil, for that matter.”