As seen on TheBradentonTimes.com

Dick Morris Well-Received at Local Lincoln Day Dinner

Published Tuesday, February 22, 2011 2:00 am

by Dennis Maley

BRADENTON – Sunday's 2011 Lincoln Day Dinner, was a showcase of GOP heavyweights rallying in a Florida stronghold going into a pivotal election season. Republican stars like Congressman Vern Buchanan, FL Senators Mike Bennett and Mike Haridopolos warmed up an excited crowd with a consistent theme of less spending, lower taxes and less regulation of industry.

Haridopolos, who is running for the GOP nomination in the 2012 U.S. Senate race to dethrone incumbent Bill Nelson was warmly received after a glowing introduction form his colleague Bennett and would seem to have a good jump on early support from the local area. In what was expected to be a a very crowded primary, Haridopolos is quickly emerging as the front-runner, raising a million dollars in a single day recently, when he launched his campaign.

The main event was Fox News correspondent and political consultant Dick Morris, who whipped the crowd into a frenzy with broad condemnations of President Obama's fiscal policies from health care reform to misspent stimulus and flawed tax policy. Morris, who is best known for managing President Clinton's reelection in 1996, as well as his return victory after losing the Arkansas governorship, has most often worked with Republican candidates and is roundly viewed as one of the most influential conservatives in Washington.

The sold out event was held by the Republican Party of Manatee County at the Municipal Auditorium, with a VIP reception at the South Florida Museum preceding.