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Guy in duck suit stalks Sink

Posted Oct 27, 2009 by William March and Catherine Dolinski

Updated Oct 27, 2009 at 01:16 PM

A costumed character followed likely Democratic gubernatorial nominee Alex Sink around the capital today.

“It’s Halloween” was the closest Bill McCollum’s campaign spokeswoman Shannon Gravitte could come to explaining the guy in the duck suit following Alex Sink around this morning.

“I don’t know. It’s probably the party”—meaning the state Republican Party, Gravitte said.

Mr. Quack—we’ll call him that—showed up behind Sink with two or three other protesters after a news conference today in Tallahassee, but wouldn’t say who he was and said he wasn’t affiliated with any party or group.

McCollum, frontrunner for the Republican primary for governor, has been criticizing Sink, the likely Democratic nominee, for “ducking” questions on federal issues including a public option health insurance reform plan and a bill in Congress making it easier for workers to organize unions. He also says she should reveal how many donations she has received through the pro-choice group Emily’s List.

Reporters asked Sink whether Florida should opt out of a federal health insurance reform plan if the reform bill allows it.

“It would be irresponsible to have an opinion without knowing what the details are,” she said. “I think we’ll have to wait and see what the proposal actually is, before beginning to make a decision about opt-in, opt-out.”

She agreed the bill could have dramatic effect on Medicaid, one of the state’s biggest expenses.

“Soon as we know what the details are—and we have to prepare for whether or not we’re going to be at an advantage, or disadvantage—there has to be a thorough analysis, and the people of Florida would have to understand what we would be giving up, whether we opt in or opt out,” she said.

No one from the state party was available to respond to questions about Mr. Quack. We’ll update with their response as soon as we get it.