Not Ready For Primetime: Florida Dem Gov Candidate Gwen Graham Falls Flat On The Campaign Trail

Florida Democrat Gwen Graham continues to prove that she is not ready for primetime as her gubernatorial candidacy struggles to make an impact. At the annual Associated Press pre-session planning day in Tallahassee, Graham had an “off day” when she tried her hand at comedy and failed miserably, leaving on-looking members of the media scratching their heads as she made awkward jokes about high heels and wasps. Graham’s performance was so poor that she even earned comparisons to Charlie Crist in some reports. As Graham’s candidacy continues to fall flat, with her campaign raising only a fraction of the money her Republican opponents have brought in, her lackluster performance on the trail points to a growing enthusiasm gap and further proves that she is not ready to lead Florida.

The Tampa Bay Times reports:

“So Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham faced a tough room when she showed up on the 22nd floor of the Capitol Building. But she sure did not help herself with two weird jokes that fell utterly flat before the quizzical reporters looking on.

Right off the bat: ‘The burning question of the day – I know, right? I’m wearing black heels, high heels. And I can go backwards in the high heels. For those of you who have the shoe question, that’s the answer to my shoes.’

Confused silence ensued. No one had a question about her shoes, nor any idea what she was talking about. Thankfully, the Times Union’s intrepid Tia Mitchell later asked what the heck she was talking about. Graham said it had something to do with Philip Levine announcing his gubernatorial candidacy in white tennis shoes.

A few minutes later, Graham noted the ominous End Times-like swarm of wasps gathering outside the windows.

‘Do you think the wasps are symbolic of something in this building? Because it’s a concern. We need to get rid of all the wasps, human and otherwise.’

What the?

Presumably the joke was about WASPS, as in White Anglo Saxon Protestants (like herself and unlike three of her current or prospective Democratic rivals, African-American Andrew Gillum, Jewish Philip Levine, and Catholic John Morgan). No one laughed…

Suffice it to say, this was not Graham’s best day on the stump. She also showed off her Charlie Crist-like fondness for constantly mentioning the names of everybody she knows in the room.”