05.17.2004

No-shows lead to Deutsch show at fund-raiser

By VIRGINIA SMITH

DAYTONA BEACH - Woody Allen once said that 80 percent of success is showing up, and the adage proved true Sunday for one candidate.

Democratic U.S. Senate hopefuls Peter Deutsch, Betty Castor, and Alex Penelas were all expected to speak at a fundraising luncheon sponsored by the Democratic Executive Committee of Volusia, but only Deutsch came.

Former state Education Commissioner Betty Castor and Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas sent representatives in their stead to hand out materials and answer questions.

But they were not permitted to speak, and by dessert, the floor at the Sunset Harbor Yacht Club belonged to the South Florida congressman, a Bronx native and self-described Floridian by choice.

Deutsch proceeded to bash President Bush's policies on prescription drugs and proclaim himself a "radical" on health care issues, promising to seek coverage for every "man, woman and child." That line drew strong applause, as did Deutsch's harsh remarks about the federal No Child Left Behind education law.

Undecided Democrats said they were impressed with Deutsch -- not least because he was there.

"The others not showing up makes me more open to him," said Jim Hopkins of Port Orange.

Deutsch had little to say about his fellow hopefuls for the seat left open by retiring Democrat Bob Graham. Instead, he used the extra speaking time to elaborate on his foreign policy ideas -- among them, replacing the U.S. administrator in Iraq and removing Saudi Arabia from our list of allies.

Castor was represented by her husband, Tallahassee lobbyist Sam Bell, a former Volusia County legislator and attorney, who said he admired Deutsch but thought his wife had better crossover appeal to Republicans, especially pro-choice Republican women.

"Betty is more moderate," Bell said. "(Deutsch's) 'radical on health care' comment got big applause in this room, but what he's advocating is socialized medicine, and that position does not have as much appeal outside South Florida."

Rodrigo Gonzales, who works for the Penelas campaign, said the Miami mayor shared many of the same goals as Deutsch, just not the "radical rhetoric." Penelas, he said, has made "leaps and bounds" in expanding subsidized health care for children, and refuses contributions from pharmaceutical companies.

Realtor Ron Cahen, president of the Halifax Democratic Club, sported a Deutsch sticker on his shirt. It wasn't, he said, just because Deutsch was there.

Universal health care, Cahen said, is an "absolute must" in Florida.

"Betty Castor is a fine person but a one-issue person," Cahen continued, referring to Castor's focus on education. "And Mayor Penelas is just not ready for prime time."

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