From Yellow Dog Democrats to Red State Republicans: Florida and Its Politics since 1940

4. An Era of Political Transition

107 4 An Era of Political Transition Askew’s legacy to the Democratic Party had been vital, but he hedged when it came to establishing a much-needed party structure to ensure its future. As with his predecessors, Askew recognized that the party needed a stronger organizational base, but he hesitated to be the one to establish it because the process would result in intense political infighting among those who feared that tighter party control over the nomination process would limit their political ambitions. Don Pride, Askew’s press secretary, observed that it was very difficult, if not impossible , to impose order on a primary process that had historically been based on a candidate “running his own campaign” and constructing “his own [political organization] outside the party structure.” Such divisive campaigns also opened up the door for the Republican Party, because, as Pride recognized, they often turned some segment of the party’s constituency against the eventual nominee. Further hampering 108 · From Yellow Dog Democrats to Red State Republicans such efforts were the divisions between Askew supporters and friends of Dempsey Barron. Askew could no doubt have won that battle, but it would have been incredibly divisive for the party, and perhaps for Askew.1 While Democrats refrained from erecting a party structure, Republicans continued to build a unified and more disciplined party, with leaders acknowledging that it was the only way to compete effectively for political office against such a dominant Democratic Party. Similarly, the Republican ideology of low taxes, limited government, economic development, social stability, patriotism, and traditional cultural and religious values became the mantra for party loyalists. By contrast, the Democratic Party often divided ideologically with progressive forces, like many who supported Askew, endorsing an activist government to protect the environment, improve the quality of life for Floridians, address critical areas of need, and foster economic development. By contrast, most conservative Democrats opposed busing and advocated limited government, low taxes, and traditional cultural and religious values. The ideological differences were magnified in party primaries when strong candidates from separate regions of the state contested for the governorship. These divisive primaries repeatedly undermined party unity, heightened internal ideological differences , divided constituents, and created opportunities for the Republican Party. Campaign of 1978 In 1978, the Democratic primary once again became a free-for-all contest with seven candidates, including three major figures in the party, seeking the gubernatorial nomination. They included Lt. Governor Jim Williams, Attorney General Robert Shevin, and State Senator Bob Graham from Dade County. As long as prominent figures like Williams, Shevin, and Graham felt that victory in the Democratic primary ensured victory in the general election, multiple candidates would continue to enter the primary, undercutting party unity and a strong party structure. By contrast, Republicans fielded only two candidates for their party’s gubernatorial nomination—Jack Eckerd, a wealthy drug- An Era of Political Transition · 109 store magnate, and Lou Frey Jr., Republican congressman from central Florida. Most experts predicted that Williams and Shevin would finish onetwo in the first Democratic primary and face one another in the runoff. But Williams, who was from Ocala, was not well known in the state despite having served as Askew’s lieutenant governor for the previous four years. With the party’s strength concentrated in the populated southeastern section of the state, Williams was not guaranteed a place in the runoff. When he ran an uninspiring, low-key campaign that some said reflected his personality, he had minimal success in mobilizing Askew’s supporters. Bob Graham, the young state senator from Miami, took a page from Askew’s campaign book in 1970, with a goal of mobilizing enough support to finish second in the primary and then building on the first primary to capture the runoff. Graham hired a relatively unknown national political consultant, Bob Squier, as his media adviser. (Squier subsequently became a leading consultant for the national Democratic Party.) It was Squier who helped Graham develop the most effective media campaign Florida had seen up to that time. Prior to the gubernatorial campaign, Graham had gained a reputation in the legislature for being progressive and thoughtful on a host of educational, environmental, and social issues. Certainly by comparison with most Democrats and Republicans in Florida, Graham was to the left of center. The fact that he was a Harvard graduate and half brother to Phil Graham, the publisher of the Washington Post who had...