Buying Into Bayh

Tampa Bay political watchers in 2006 have open congressional races and a host of competitive legislative and county races to follow. On top of those races are locals running for governor (Republican Charlie Crist and Democrat Jim Davis), chief financial officer (Republican Tom Lee and Democrat Alex Sink) and attorney general (Republican Everett Rice).

Despite all that 2006 campaign activity, some folks are looking ahead to the 2008 presidential campaign. St. Petersburg businessman Jeff Parker joined the finance committee for Democratic Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh's presidential exploratory committee.

"His reputation as a fiscal conservative who opposed higher taxes as governor, his moderate positions on foreign policy, defense policy and social policy make him very attractive to moderates of both major political parties," said Parker, an Indiana native who has known the Bayhs for years. "It will be difficult, if not impossible, to label him as a classic liberal."

Another avid Bayh booster is Tampa consultant and former mayoral and Hillsborough County Commission candidate Bob Buckhorn, who recently joined Bayh for an event in New Hampshire. "Democrats need a candidate that can win south of the Mason-Dixon and west of the Mississippi," said Buckhorn, a longtime member of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.

Parker hopes to get Bayh to Tampa Bay for a fundraiser early next year. The Indiana senator won't make it to the state Democratic conference next month at Disney, where prospective Democratic rivals will be Govs. Mark Warner of Virginia and Tom Vilsack of Iowa and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.