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In Florida, Sink May Be Biggest Loser From Reports The Clinton Pressured Meek to Drop Out

Amid reports that Bill Clinton tried to get Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.) to drop his bid for the Senate, the real loser may be the Democrats’ other statewide

Jul 31, 202082.5K Shares2.1M Views
Amid reportsthat Bill Clinton tried to get Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.) to drop his bid for the Senate, the real loser may be the Democrats’ other statewide candidate: gubernatorial hopeful Alex Sink.
Sink, who is in a very tight race with Republican Rick Scott — polls show her either three points up or three points down— may lose votes from African-Americans energized by Meek’s candidacy.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said in a statement that Clinton’s actions were “chilling” African-American voters. He added, “One can only imagine the response if Republican leadership tried to force out of the race – in the 11th hour – a qualified black candidate like Kendrick Meek.”
Meek is the only African-American Senate candidate this cycle; that Clinton (with awareness from the White House) almost persuaded Meek to drop out may well depress Democratic turnout that Sink needs to overcome Republican voters who are expected to turn out enthusiastically to vote for Senate candidate Marco Rubio.
At the same time, 1.7 million voters have already voted, so the effect of the report might be dampened.
The Meek campaign strenuously denies that he considered dropping out after talks with Clinton, a staunch Meek ally. “Kendrick Meek was not ever dropping out of this race and will not ever drop out of this race,” Meek campaign manager Abe Dyk said in a [statement](http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/meek-campaign-denies-he-planned-drop-out?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+tampabaycom/blogs/buzz+(The+Buzz+|+tampabay.com)).
Luke Johnson writes for The American Independent.
Paula M. Graham

Paula M. Graham

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