Tim Canova quitting Democratic Party, still plans Wasserman Schultz challenge

[Jose Garcia]

Source: Sun-Sentinel

A defiant Tim Canova said Monday he’s changing tactics in his quest to defeat U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

He’s leaving the Democratic Party and abandoning his primary challenge of Wasserman Schultz. He hopes to appear on the November ballot as a no party affiliation candidate against her.

Canova made his announcement during a lengthy and wide-ranging speech outside the Broward County Governmental Center during which he railed against Wasserman Schultz, describing her as a “corporate, robot politician;” blasted Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes, claiming she did a poor job running the 2016 primary he lost to Wasserman Schultz; complained that the Democratic Party is out of touch with the true interests of voters; and declared he’d soon start campaigning around the state.

Several times during his remarks, Canova used the term “bull----,” explaining that he wouldn’t hesitate to forcefully condemn something that he and his supporters didn’t like. Among his targets: “The leadership of the Broward Democratic Party has its head up its ass.”

Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-sb-tim-canova-leaves-democrats-wasserman-schultz-20180402-story,amp.html

---

Good riddance. Now that he isn't running for the Democratic nomination, he will have more time to go on Fox News pushing the Seth Rich conspiracy theory.

[SFnomad]

1. Could this split the general election and allow a Republican to win? n/t

[Jose Garcia]

4. Highly unlikely

1. The district is overwhelmingly Democratic.

2. 2018 is looking like a wave election favoring Democratic candidates.

3. Republicans have, election after election, nominated ineffectual and often clownish candidates in this district.

4. Canova hasn't been able to raise money since being abandoned by Bernie Sanders.

5. Wasserman Schultz remains popular among voters in her district.

[Jim Lane]

15. Yes, that's possible.

In the 2016 Democratic primary, there were approximately 4 votes for Wasserman Shultz for every 3 for Canova. In the general election, the Republican got 41%, and miscellaneous minor candidates got 2%.

Trigger warning, a pessimistic but plausible hypothetical is coming up: If this year's Republican again gets 41% and the various others again total 2%, and if Wasserman Schultz again beats Canova by a 4:3 ratio, then the numbers could be something like: Republican 41%, Wasserman Schultz 33%, Canova 24%, others 2%.

The obvious qualification here is the "spoiler" factor. Many voters who would support Canova in the Democratic primary won't do so in a general election in which he's perceived as having no chance of winning. (As an aside, this is why it's a bonehead move on Canova's part.) He's likely to trail Wasserman Schultz by a worse ratio than the 4:3 of last cycle. The break-even point is if a third of the people who actually prefer Canova decide to hold their noses and vote Democratic. That brings her to the Republican's level. If the defections from Canova are more than a third, she wins.

I'd rate Wasserman Schultz the favorite to retain her seat, but she's somewhat less of a favorite than she'd be without Canova running in the general.

[SFnomad]

37. This is what I was worrying about. I too looked at the percentages of the 2016 Primary and General

And if the Democrats took the same percentage in the General, but those General votes were split along the lines of the Primary, than Wasserman would be in the 30s and the Republican over 40%.

I hope you're right about "Many voters who would support Canova in the Democratic primary won't do so in a general election in which he's perceived as having no chance of winning".

Earlier, I wondered if the election required the winner to get 50% and if a runoff would happen. I finally found an election for a House of Reps seat from about 10 years ago in Florida where someone didn't get 50% because of 3 people in the race, but won without a runoff ... so yeah, it is a concern.

[Jim Lane]

43. Thanks for the information about the runoff. I should've considered that.

Unless Florida law has changed since the race you researched, the Republican could win the seat with 40% of the vote against a divided opposition.

I'd like to see the seat filled by a Democrat who's to the left of Wasserman Schultz. Another effect of Canova's decision is to make that outcome much harder. His independent campaign, by draining off money and volunteer time, will effectively preclude anyone else from challenging her in the primary.

[SFnomad]

47. Here is the race that I found, it's from 2006, it was Mark Foley's old seat

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Florida,_2006#District_16

[obamanut2012]

23. No, it is a safe Dem district, esp as long as DWS runs

They love her in her district -- I have semi-wingnut colleagues who vote for her even though they don't agree with her on about anything, because she is effective, and listens to her constituents.

[Gothmog]

2. Who is surprised by this?

This idiot was not committed to the Democratic Party and does not care if he hurts the party

[George II]

9. I was going to say similar, he probably never was a Democrat dedicated to the Party anyway.

[Ninsianna]

38. He's a very angry, very bitter man.

His Twitter page is full of so much hate and Russia Today offerings.

Not much of a Democrat, and a truly awful person. Even Bernie, who had endorsed him initially steered clear.

[George II]

40. When I saw your subject line I forgot who we were talking about. Yes, Canova is very bitter.

He's now in this only to try to destroy Wasserman-Schultz, but it isn't going to work.

[JNelson6563]

3. Sad that there's no credible challenger

to DWS.

[NurseJackie]

5. The voters appear to like her.

[JNelson6563]

6. Valid point.

I guess if enough of them do she will win. Better than anyone from GOP, of course!

[Cha]

12. ..

[George II]

41. That's the American way - voters in a district elect THEIR choice.

[disillusioned73]

39. Indeed..

although it matters not though, since the ballots may be destroyed illegally once more..

[George II]

42. Huh?

[disillusioned73]

46. Here ya go..

[link:https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2017/12/15/experts-browards-elections-chief-broke-law-in-destroying-ballots-150258|

Florida seems to have these "problems".. I remember the debacle that was the 2000 election..

[George II]

48. Aren't those court cases/lawsuits still open?

[disillusioned73]

50. I believe so..

I haven't been following it though - not in my neck of the woods.. maybe Canova saw the writing on the wall..

[dbackjon]

7. Has he had any recent payments in Rubles?

[SunSeeker]

8. OMG, I thought you were kidding about the Seth Rich conspiracy, but Canova was actually pushing it!

The transcript in this June 2017 Sun Sentinal article, where he talks about Seth Rich and the Russia investigation, shows how unhinged Canova is: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-reg-transcript-tim-canova-seth-rich-20170629-story.html

He kept calling the Russia investigation "Russia Russia Russia" "hysteria." That dude was never a Democrat. Glad he made it official.

[George II]

10. With an attitude like that, the Democratic Party doesn't need (or want) him.

[Laffy Kat]

11. This. nt

[tonyt53]

13. Don't let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out of the Party, Timmy-boy.

[Wwcd]

14. Another sore loser who just can't move on. Well at least without a big bag of rubles in his hands

They keep revealing who they work for.

[Scurrilous]

16. What an idiot.

Broward County is solid blue. Attack the Democratic Party there and you lose...again.

[JI7]

18. DWS is a breast cancer survivor. Canova is a scumbag troll spreading right wing

conspiracy theories.

[aeromanKC]

20. You're right

My heart goes out to DWS as a person, but she has done more harm to the Democratic Party than a GOP mole could have ever done in her capacity as DNC chairperson. That will never be forgiven. And unfortunately because of that shared hatred of DWS across the Democratic Party nation wide the scumbag Canova got more support than he deserved. Thankfully his 15 minutes is just about over.

[JI7]

21. she wasn't hated other than by fucked up types that would support a scumbag right wing conspiracy

theorist like Canova.

[obamanut2012]

25. lolz

[obamanut2012]

24. Wrong, but you know that

Nice slagging of a caner survivor, too -- you should be ashamed.

[JI7]

19. this guy has always been a troll

[obamanut2012]

22. Sorry, he goes on extreme wingnut radio shows down here

And has zero public service experience.

He sucks.

DWS is far from perfect, but she was a scapegoat for quite a few things, and her constituents love her -- she is very effective for them.

I live right out side of her district, and have friends and colleagues who live in it, and ALL of them, regardless of D, R, or I, vote for her.

Canova can go back on the wingnut radio show and spout more anti-democratic CT garbage.

NO ONE on DU should be supporting him -- he is terrible.

[Wwcd]

28. Thanks for that view from the locals who elect DWS

She was just another strong Democrat, like Hillary, who was targeted early on.
I recall how wikileaks had certain bombs ready to drop if a non-democrat needed scandalous coverage of themselves quickly removed from the headlines.

The fact that someone else then wanted to replace DWS with Tulsi Gabbard, gave away the reason behind the scapegoating of Schulz.

We knew what & who was behind it then & still today.

Another non-dem decides to run as an Indy now, because they failed the last time.
Maybe they can get Trump elected again!

The Nadar/Stein Party

[Tommy_Carcetti]

33. He had the full ringing endorsement of...

...Joyce “If ballots don’t work, bullets will” Kauffman.

Glad I was never fooled by this guy’s garbage from Day One.

[RandiFan1290]

26. Sounds like the 'centrist' hero Lieberman. nt

[PDittie]

29. No, he's to her left

[Wwcd]

31. ? Who's left..DWS?

[HopeAgain]

27. People didn't know who Canova really was the first time...

Plus the leaked emails was fresh in everyone's mind and Canova got some Bernie supporters' votes. I expect things to go back towards normal for her this year here in FLA 23rd. Canova is a brief was.

[Wwcd]

30. That's their shtick. Run an unkown and re-invent him/her as a Dem for a brief time.

They show themselves eventually.

Hard to believe some actually supported Canova without doing their own research as to who he really was.

The Party was divided and that was their goal.

Thus, Trump.
Yippee

[Wwcd]

32. Sounds like how Trump talks.

Several times during his remarks, Canova used the term “bull----,” explaining that he wouldn’t hesitate to forcefully condemn something that he and his supporters didn’t like. Among his targets: “The leadership of the Broward Democratic Party has its head up its ass.”


Talk about "out of touch"..what a chuump.

Wowee!

[marble falls]

34. Note to Tim: we vote for the Democratic candidate. Attempting to spoil an election will get you ...

nowhere except as a footnote.

[MineralMan]

35. Wait for it: Our Revolution Endorses Canova...

Video at 10 PM.

[MrsCoffee]

51. Kiss of death.

They don’t have a great track record.

[brooklynite]

36. Remember the good old days when everyone here hated Debbie and loved Tim?

[LanternWaste]

44. I remember fewer statements of absolutism.

I remember fewer statements of absolutism.

But that was before your time...

[brooklynite]

45. I go back to 2002, so it must be a while ago.....

[riversedge]

49. Anyone pushing the Seth Rich conspiracy should not be a Democrat!!...

Glad he is gone. and thinks for reminder.


...Good riddance. Now that he isn't running for the Democratic nomination, he will have more time to go on Fox News pushing the Seth Rich conspiracy theory.