Florida Politics: Fried campaign “a train wreck waiting to happen”

May 17, 2021

Photo credit: Steve Cannon, AP

“Fried’s eventual gubernatorial bid has all the makings of a train wreck waiting to happen.” That’s what Florida Politics’ publisher Peter Schorsch wrote in a scathing oped Friday afternoon laying out some of the many attacks Nikki Fried will face in what’s turning out to be a messy Democratic gubernatorial primary.

And Schorsch didn’t even get to the recent accusations she’s not doing her job and the obvious use of official taxpayer-funded resources to run her shadow campaign.

Read some of what’s sure to come out in the messy Democratic primary below and the full column here:
“It’s not that I think Fried has a deeply held secret like Gillum. But what is at issue might be worse.

“Her issues are hiding in plain sight…

“Fried started out with a bang. But she got wrapped up in claims that she was in an abusive relationship, and responded with what amounts to victim-blaming other victims. She’s potentially accepted gifts from her fiancee in excess, by far, of allowable limits (a $700,000 home and, allegedly, a $125,000 engagement ring). She’s hobnobbing with a lobbyist adjacent to a federal investigation and, when asked, did not disavow the highest profile player in that investigation.

“Ouch, ouch and triple ouch.

“It’s not like I have too terribly much at stake in this fight. I like Fried. And it’s no secret my affinity for Crist. I also have deep admiration for U.S. Rep. Val Demings, who may also join the Governor’s race. And if you can find someone who voted for Biden and still thinks as highly of DeSantis as me, please let me know.

“But Fried’s eventual gubernatorial bid has all the makings of a train wreck waiting to happen.”