Clinton Event to Boost Deutch in Fla.
Former President Bill Clinton will be in Boca Raton, Fla., later this afternoon for a fundraiser for state Sen. Ted Deutch (D), the frontrunner to replace former Rep. Robert Wexler (D) in the upcoming special election in Florida’s 19th district.Deutch’s camp estimated Tuesday that the money raised from the Clinton event will push the state Senator over $1 million in total fundraising for his Congressional bid. Ticket prices for Tuesday’s fundraiser started at $500 per person and a spokeswoman for Deutch’s campaign said 200 to 300 people are expected to attend.Clinton’s visit comes two weeks before the Feb. 2 special primary in the race to replace Wexler, who resigned his seat Dec. 16 to become president of the Center for Middle East Peace.Deutch, who was endorsed by Wexler in October just days after the Congressman announced his plan to step down, is the overwhelming frontrunner in both the primary and the April special general election. He also has endorsements from Florida Democratic Reps. Alcee Hastings, Ron Klein and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, as well as the Florida AFL-CIO. Deutch faces Ben Graber, a former Broward County commissioner and ex-state legislator, in the Democratic primary.