Coming off a stellar performance at the East Side Regional Hob Nob & Straw Poll, business executive Peter Vivaldi beat out all GOP primary opponents, both Democrats including Alan Grayson, and a write-in candidate in Central Florida News 13 viewer poll.
By Jacob Engels
In a repeat of his victory several weeks ago where his name appeared on the ballot along with his primary opponents, Democrats Alan Grayson & Nick Ruiz, and write-in Marko Milakovich – GOP primary contender Peter Vivaldi is proving once again that he is the best candidate to take on Alan Grayson.
In the poll conducted by CF News 13 on their website, viewers were allowed to vote for their favored candidate in Florida’s 9th congressional district. With each candidate, Republican & Democrat going up against one another – this was a prime opportunity for candidates to flex their muscles and see who had the online presence to “get out the vote.” While it is by no means scientific, it can and has been an indicator in the past of where candidates stand witht the electorate.
As it currently stands, Vivaldi leads with 48%. Democrat Nick Ruiz who is challenging Alan Grayson in the Democratic primary is currently in 2nd place with 22%. While no one expects Grayson to be upset by Ruiz’s upstart campaign, the tallies of Vivaldi’s primary opponents spell trouble.
Current tally of where candidates stand in the viewer poll.
Carol Platt & Jorge Bonilla who are challenging Vivaldi in the three way GOP primary have failed to muster double digits, with Platt scoring a meager 3% and Bonilla topping out at 7%. Both Platt & Bonilla have raised over $200,000 to date in their campaigns compared to the $40,000 Vivaldi has collected from donors.
Vivaldi has become well known within GOP circles as a relentless retail politician who works rooms with ease and connects well with voters, while working on a “shoestring budget.” Platt has the reputation as the soft-spoken matronly figure who was poorly advised to jump into this race considering the heavy Hispanic leaning demographics of the district. Meanwhile, Bonilla has gained a reputation as a candidate who funds his travel expenses and his addiction to fast-food binge eating on the campaigns dime. Both Vivaldi & Bonilla are Hispanic.
CF News 13 tells us they normally let these types of polls for only 24 hours, so it’s likely Vivaldi will walk away with the win. We will update when the poll closes, as voting is still open. The GOP candidates will have another opportunity to bag a straw poll win tomorrow night at the OCYR Hob Nob & Straw Poll hosted by the Orange County Young Republicans at the historic Dubsdread Ballroom, where Vivaldi is the only one confirmed. Sources tell us tables are sold out. Frank Torres has more on that event here.
Poll is closed and Vivaldi has won with close to 50% of the vote.
Jacob Engels, is the Founder of East Orlando Post & Seminole County Post. He is a seasoned political operative who has led numerous statewide political groups and has worked on several high-profile local, statewide, and national races. Jacob has been interviewed on national television & radio programs, with his work having been featured in the Orlando Sentinel, New York Times, Washington Post, Miami Herald and other publications nationwide. He can be reached at info@eastorlandopost.com
