Congressman Ron Klein (D) and retired Lt. Colonel Allen West (R) are in a pitched battle for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District. The heavily contested seat between the incumbent Klein and Tea Party favorite West is a microcosm of this year’s national election cycle and the fight for control over the United States House of Representatives.
Money pouring into each campaign’s coffers underscores the national concerns of both the Democratic and Republican parties. According to the Federal Election Commission, the combined campaigns have spent over $8,000,000 in a repeat of the 2008 contest, won by Klein. Additional funds have come from both Democratic and Republican Political Action Committees, including Karl Rove’s American Crossroads.
Both campaigns have engaged heavily in negative television, radio and internet ads, with Klein raising the issue of West’s past financial troubles, including credit card debt and tax liens, and recordings of West making inflammatory anti government speeches using revolutionary rhetoric. At a Tea Party rally in Broward, West was quoted as saying: "You must be well-informed and well-armed because this government that we have right now is a tyrannical government." West campaign has sought to tie Klein tightly to President Obama and his administration’s policies.
In a district that stretches primarily along the coastal regions of Broward and Palm Beach Counties with a large senior population, health care and Medicare issues are of primary concern to the electorate. Congressman Klein supported President Obama’s health care plan, while West seeks to have it repealed. Klein supported the national bailouts of the banking and auto industries and Obama’s financial stimulus plan while West has stated he would have opposed all government bailouts and rejects the federal stimulus program.
The hotly contested seat will be determined by a district that is almost even split between registered voters in each party, with 173,386 Democrats and 172,758 Republicans. According to a Sunshine State poll released October 21 poll, West leads Klein 47% to 44% with a 3.46% margin of error, a statistical dead heat. The 2008 race was won by Klein with 54.9% to West’s 45.1% of the vote.
Comments
this guy served two terms and no one can remember his given name. you are right, one more week and he would have gotten his pal wasserman shultz to call for a good old fashioned lynching.
LTC West was my Battallion Commander in Iraq in 2003. Never in my military career have I ever served under a greater leader. His actions in Iraq may very well have saved my life and and the lives of some of my buddies. I will never be able to thank him enough for the leadership and compassion he showed for us. He really cared about us, and his actions proved it. He was willing to lay everything on the line to ensure that we came home safe, and not a day goes by that I don't remember what he did for me and my buddies. He promised our families he would do everything he could to bring us home...and he did.
LTC West said if it meant saving the lives of his soldiers, he'd "go to hell with a gasoline can in his hand"....
He was a man of his word and he truly cared about those of us, even lowly privates like me (at the time), who were under him.
When LTC West was in command, attacks on us while on patrol remained relatively low. Shortly after his departure from our unit, attacks significantly increased eventually culminating in the loss of two close friends January 17, 2004.
I still live in Texas, but would follow this man to h*ll and back. ANYONE who ever served under him would tell you the same thing. He is a true American hero and the epitomy of a true leader.
Our country needs more men like Allen West.
SGT Ryan Smith
US Army 2002-2007
B 2/20 FA, 4th ID
Taji, Iraq 2003-04
Baghdad/Q-West, Iraq 2005-06
West is a vet who dedicated his life to serving our country in the military to the point where he reached Lt Colonel and had as many as 800 soldiers under his command. Has two master's degrees. Besides being a student of history, the words honor and integrity mean something to him
Ron Klein is a double talking lawyer. He will say whatever he thinks the audience in front of him wants to hear.
West was called upon by the people to run for office. People love Allen West and his message. Many, all across the country, hear him speak and instantly wish he would run for President. He is a natural leader who inspires people.
Has anyone, ever in Ron Klein's 17 years as a career politician ever hoped Ron Klein would be President? Anyone, seriously anyone ever? Maybe his kids...
I mean c'mon I haven't seen a single Klein bumper sticker. You folks must be really proud of your guy!
Ideologies aside I really can't understand how any honest minded person could vote for Klein just based on the campaign he has run. Is that the sort of people you want representing you? People who will lie to any length, distort and smear. People who's success requires lying to seniors to scare votes out of them. A person whose campaign has tried every ridiculous smear by association trick it could think of. Lie after lie. Distortion after distortion. In the course of this disgraceful behavior his campaign just comes out looking feculent and inept. Let's face it, Ron doesn't want to talk about his record.
And last but not least a guy and supporters so low they released the man's social security # and his wife's EIN in a mailer to 60,000 homes in an effort to personally harm him.
Klein is a person you support? You would actually cast your vote for him? Have some dignity. Just don't vote either then.
But then again you have none since you are exactly the type of guy perpetuating the negative campaign stuff with your "Too good to pay..." nonsense.
f West repeated the same words of Lincoln, Lincoln would be a brilliant man but West would be an “extremist” That is all you people have…..nothing
Keep voting double talkng lawyers folks and you will continue to get the government you deserve
West has my vote...and everyone I know...
My apologies for the error in the original post. Thanks for the eagle eyes.
If West wins, I hope you all get what you are hoping for - not sure what that is - you just seem really really angry, lost and sad. Ron Klein is a good man. He is hardly a millionaire. I am sure that West is a good man. That stuff about his social security info - guess where that came from - the public records - anyone can get it. I have to wonder about the sanity of anyone who wants to run for public office these days, don't you?
You are absolutely wrong, I work with the public Boca Mom and I will try to look up yours. And then print it in the paper. Everyone has a bunch of nonsense when commenting on other people's lives. Believe me, you would be livid. Also, Klein's family owns Carl's furniture. They are millionaires ---- get real you liar.
can i have your ssn, while you are at it your date of birth and address. i promise not to share it with anyone except of course visa, mastercard and discover. :)
BocaMom - I bet that was your argument against McCain - well you got what you voted for, and now we're all screwed. You're a mom of how many kids, that I SUPPORT? Get involved, and understand facts before you spout. I am a Jewish veteran from NY, now retired in Fla. Klein has all teh Jewish Liberals duped - such imbeciles!!! GO WEST!!!!!!!
LTC West was my Battallion Commander in Iraq in 2003. Never in my military career have I ever served under a greater leader. His actions in Iraq may very well have saved my life and and the lives of some of my buddies. I will never be able to thank him enough for the leadership and compassion he showed for us. He really cared about us, and his actions proved it. He was willing to lay everything on the line to ensure that we came home safe, and not a day goes by that I don't remember what he did for me and my buddies. He promised our families he would do everything he could to bring us home...and he did.
LTC West said if it meant saving the lives of his soldiers, he'd "go to hell with a gasoline can in his hand"....
He was a man of his word and he truly cared about those of us, even lowly privates like me (at the time), who were under him.
When LTC West was in command, attacks on us while on patrol remained relatively low. Shortly after his departure from our unit, attacks significantly increased eventually culminating in the loss of two close friends January 17, 2004.
I still live in Texas, but would follow this man to h*ll and back. ANYONE who ever served under him would tell you the same thing. He is a true American hero and the epitomy of a true leader.
Our country needs more men like Allen West.
SGT Ryan Smith
US Army 2002-2007
B 2/20 FA, 4th ID
Taji, Iraq 2003-04
Baghdad/Q-West, Iraq 2005-06
I am truly ashamed of the examiner.com for publishing this one sided article. LTC. West DID NOT RUN A NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN. His campaign was factual while Ron Klein's was negative and totally avoided the issues. The press, as witnessed by this and many other articles, has been trying to push the ineffective Ron Klein back into office. This cannot happen if we truly want America to heal. Mr. Klein CLAIMS he has accomplished a lot in the last 4 years however the facts do not reveal that he has done much at all. I know both men and LTC. Allen West is an informed, intelligent, honest leader with a great deal of integrity. Mr Klein is trying to win on lies and with inuendo. The people are not that stupid and we have woken up. We will no longer send men and women to Washington purely based on the party they belong to. If we keep doing that, we are doomed. It's a new day and God will bless all of us by making LTC. Allen West our Congressman today.
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