It's going to be hard to recover from mistakes like this and still win the nomination.  And if he does win, you know the republicans will talk about nothing but his mismanagement of the party.

After Bungling Party's Books, Maddox Deserves The Boot

Published: Jun 24, 2005

Given the Democratic Party's downward spiral in Florida politics, you might wonder what qualifies former state party chairman Scott Maddox to run for governor.
Now we learn that he can't manage a budget, either. Under his leadership, the state Democratic Party failed to pay employees' payroll and Social Security taxes, resulting in an IRS lien on party assets.

Maddox says he accepts responsibility, although he is quick to blame a bookkeeper. Still, if Maddox had the makings of a strong chief executive, he would have been asking probative questions, holding people accountable and managing the party to financial stability.

Instead, party activists are being asked to write checks to help dispose of the $200,000 tax lien. Another $900,000 may be missing from the state party treasury, although Maddox says that may be the result of a simple bookkeeping error.

Regardless, the former Tallahassee mayor's track record creates no confidence that he could manage a $63 billion state budget.

New Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman, who must clean up this mess, says, ``I can tell you that according to the audit that was done, the internal controls in this office were absolutely, unequivocally the worst.''

The personable Maddox is a gifted speaker, and his fellow Democrats had hoped he would energize the party when they selected him chair more than two years ago. Even then, some worried that Maddox would use the office to advance his personal ambitions rather than rebuild a party that has lost the Governor's Mansion and holds minority status in the state House and Senate.

Their fears were realized. Maddox attracted publicity for himself but failed to put together an organization that could win a statewide race.

Perhaps there is no scandal here - just honest mistakes and inattention. It doesn't matter. Because of Maddox's leadership, the state party is embarrassed, discredited and broke.

Maddox should get out of the governor's race. Now.