The Republican primary race in Florida’s 9th congressional district between Navy veteran Jorge Bonilla, Carol Platt, and Peter Vivaldi, has proven to be nothing more than a disappointment for Americans hoping to see a spirited primary race, which would produce a nominee that could oust Congressman Alan Grayson from office.
The disappointment is the lack of substance and leadership both Vivaldi and Platt have shown since jumping into the race in 2013. While Bonilla, who is the clear frontrunner in this non-existent primary race, is out pummeling Alan Grayson every time he sneezes, Vivaldi continues to offer nothing, and Platt continues to run stealthy campaign.Platt has now refused to attend two forums between the three candidates, while both Vivaldi and Bonilla have taken the time out of their schedules to attend.
Give credit to Vivaldi, who has been embarrassed by Bonilla’s unmatched wit and grasp of the issues, but unlike Platt, has showed up and saved face.
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Vivaldi will have to contend with  his past felony arrest record, and his recent falsification of an official state government document. It is fair to say the Vivaldi congressional campaign is dead in the water.
Carol Platt’s fledgling campaign is in the gutter, as well. Platt has recently fired both her chief consultant and campaign manager, and has sunk herself in a deep whole of personal debt, as a result of funding her campaign.
Platt’s website is finally up, but not after she presumably paid the $10,000+ she owed to her web developer, who was “holding the website hostage.”Oh by the way, I am not sure what her campaign slogan,” I want to serve and bring real progress to Central Florida” really means. (See Platt’s campaign website picture above)
Rumors are also swirling that she also owes her past campaign staffers money, and lawsuits could be on the horizon for the Osceola County realtor.
A couple members of the U.S. Congress, who we will not name, have said that Platt does not have the “fire in the belly” to run against someone like Alan Grayson. Other members, who are also watching this race, but have not met Platt, have heard of her candidacy, but asked if she and her campaign were viable or even existent.
Big Ouch!
Aside from these campaign struggles, Platt has also struggled to raise campaign dollars. As of the last FEC filings, Platt has put in at least $16K of her own dollars to cover expenses, while Bonilla has not had to loan his campaign any money.Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has given Platt a very tepid endorsement, that came and went without any fanfare.
Vivaldi is touting his endorsement for the former liberal Democrat Governor of Puerto Rico, while Bonilla has been endorsed by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), as well as being placed  by Allen West on his Guardian Fund’s “One’s to Watch” list of candidates.
But Platt’s biggest challenge could be her stubbornness to read the writing on the wall, as some of her friends and acquaintances continue to question her, as to why she is running in a seat they feel she has no chance of winning.
Platt once told a GOP official that the reason why she was running for Congress was because she was told by some people that “she should run,” and nothing more.But now it seems as if Platt is digging her heals in, and may have opened a campaign office. We have not been able to confirm this with Platt’s campaign because there is no one to contact.
As Bonilla continues campaign against Alan Grayson, it will be interesting to see if Platt continues to fund her campaign, and whether she will be forced to go after Bonilla, just to save face, and to try to halt his momentum.
The Solavita Republican Club is holding a debate on May 21 between these three candidates, chances are that Platt doesn’t show up.