Don't underestimate momentum of Florida Democrats' 'blue wave'

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/commentary/fl-op-viewpoint-florida-democrats-blue-wave-20180527-story.html#nt=oft01a-10li2

Don't underestimate momentum of Florida Democrats' 'blue wave' l Opinion
By Terrie Rizzo

There’s a lot of talk of the viability of the so-called “Blue Wave,” with experts on both sides saying there is little proof of it, and underestimating the momentum Florida Democrats are seeing in 2018. To them I say, analyze on, because we are organizing, collaborating, mobilizing, and communicating to voters in all 67 counties, working to see not just a blue wave, but a blue tsunami.

The criticism of Florida Democrats is fair; we haven’t elected a Democratic governor in 24 years, we haven’t held the majority in the state House or state Senate in nearly 20, and we haven’t elected a Democrat statewide since 2012. But our hard work and commitment to grassroots organizing has put us on the path to victory....

While the Republican party continues to focus on the past, using a message of fear and enlisting Trump campaign officials to stump for its candidates, Democrats are focused on bringing their message of moving Florida forward to every corner of the state. We are talking to voters in places we haven’t in decades, in rural areas that have seen jobs leave and never come back under Republican leadership....

In our Democratic clubs across the state we are seeing more engagement than ever before, in places like Seminole County, The Villages, Escambia and in rural counties like Hendry, where they didn’t have Democratic club until we recently started one. Floridians are passionate, energized, and action-oriented this year, eager to stand up against Republican policies in Tallahassee and Washington, and they’re already doing the critical work needed to win in November.