Ozzie DeFaria, candidate for US House of Representatives CD 20, is set to address the Broward Women’s Republican Club Federated. A group of nearly 40 Republican activists has gathered at Primavera Italian Restaurant in Oakland Park, Florida.
According to a very unscientific RED BROWARD poll, Joe Kaufman is the clear favorite in the GOP race to face Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Out Of Touch). Mr. Kaufman garnered 48% (336 votes) of those who participated in the week-long poll. Newcomer Ozzie DeFaria had a strong showing with 24% of the votes. Wasserman Schultz’s 2010 opponent, Karen Harrington barely avoided a fourth place finish with just 16%; local activist Joe Goldner finished last with 13%.
Mr. Kaufman told RED BROWARD:
“I am proud to have won this poll, the second straight Red Broward poll I have been featured in and won. I congratulate newcomer Ozzie Defaria for his second place showing.
The people have spoken, and I am very thankful to each and every one of them for casting their vote for me. They recognize, as many others do, that in order to beat a Wasserman it takes a Kaufman.
Over the course of the past 3 ½ months since I have been in this race, the campaign has grown significantly. More and more people are jumping on board every day. Our team has worked very hard to get to this point, and we will keep this momentum going until Election Day in November 2012, when we give Debbie her Pink Slip and send her packing!”
Ms. Harrington’s campaign has to be disappointed with her showing. As a former candidate she has higher name recognition than either Mr. DeFaria or Mr. Goldner. This poll caps off a bad month for Team Harrington; Political insiders say election officials recently rejected thousands of her petitions. The Harrington campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
After little more than a month in the race, Mr. DeFaria must be pleased with the results of the poll. A virtual unknown in local Republican circles, DeFaria used a pro-business message to leap into real contender status. More proof of DeFaria’s effectiveness: A anonymous smear campaign was recently launched against him.
The DeFaria campaign tells RED BROWARD:
“We are pleased to see that Ozzie is being warmly received by the voters in the district, and he is enjoying every opportunity to meet them and share his vision for bringing vast experience in the private sector to Washington.”
Mr. Goldner’s campaign utilized social media and Craigslist advertising to compile 13% (88 votes). Team Goldner must be running a virtual campaign, since actual appearances at local events have been non-existent. Mr. Goldner did not respond to a request for comment.
