What Democrats Should Learn from their Loss in Florida -Charles P. Pierce

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20. Many problems with Alex Sink's candidacy.....

To begin with, Sink was not a strong candidate. Like noted above, she could not beat a guy in the governor's race who ran a company that was guilty of Medicare fraud of the highest degree.

Just like when she ran for governor, she ran a race that is so typical of many failed Democratic candidates in that she was always trying to run a safe race, one in which a candidate is afraid of just stating his or her opinion, leading to what clearly looks like an overly calculated strategy designed not to offend. Why couldn't she just let the fur fly and tell the people what she actually believed, and thus not appear to be apologetic in a passive way about the programs and positions she supported? Because of that, she looked a bit phony in her approach to the voters. Her position on the ACA is a prime example.

She is a terrible debater. She is not quick on her feet, and again, she looks overly calculating and phony when debating.

Plus, when a candidate suddenly moves into a district in which that candidate has never lived, and does so to win an open seat, it is only natural that there will be some resentment in the minds of the residents of that district. The resentment will exist regardless of the party of the candidate. Yes, that type of candidate can win, but that circumstance is a negative that must be overcome in a race that was already slated to be a difficult, close race. The inevitable "carpetbagger" label was one that probably cost her a few thousand votes that could have been the difference in spite of her weak candidacy.