HBO “Real Time” host Bill Maher likes to tell people he’s not a crazy leftist but a classic liberal in the 1960s mode.
That said, he still manages, from time to time, to spew typical Democrat talking points when he characterizes Republican voters—like accusing them all of being “racists.”
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Florida Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds, who is black, pushed back on Maher’s suggestion that race played a role in Donalds’ performance in parts of the state during the recent primary.
Appearing on Friday’s show, Donalds rejected Maher’s assertion that he lost counties in Florida’s Panhandle in part because the region has a predominantly White electorate.
Donalds disputed that characterization of the results and challenged the suggestion that racism was responsible for his weaker showing in those areas.
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“You did lose the ‘Redneck Riviera’ badly,” Maher said, referring to Donalds’ losses in Calhoun, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hardee, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Union and Washington counties, rural counties where roughly 94% of Republican voters are White.
“I can’t get with you on a lot of this policy stuff,” Maher continued. “But I think it would be great if the country did have [its] first Black, Republican governor.”
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Maher went on to heap praise on Donalds for his willingness to run in “this post-racial world” where constituents don’t care about the “color of their skin.”
But then Maher claimed, “we’re not quite there yet though.”
“The Redneck Riviera, which is the Panhandle,” Maher began.
“I think there are people there who still would not — you’re a Republican, you’re a Trumper — they should love you and they don’t. I think there is still racism,” he added.
“Let’s talk a little bit about the Panhandle,” Donalds replied, beginning his rebuttal.
“There are counties we did incredibly well in that we won. There were some counties that we fell a little short in, that’s OK,” he said.
Donalds went on to note that his victory came within a crowded field of 11 GOP candidates “who had various lines of support.”
“The No. 1 thing overall, we closed out 48% of the vote in Florida,” Donalds said. “Eight hundred thousand votes [is] a long way to becoming the nominee.”
Donalds countered Maher’s claim that racial bias affected the primary results, emphasizing that Florida is a state where anyone can seek opportunities in elected office.
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“Florida really has become the microcosm of what we all want,” Donalds said. “It’s a meritocracy.
“And it’s about the best person with the best views, the best skills, the best talent moving forward to represent your state or to represent a district in your state, and Florida exemplifies that,” he said.
Former Florida state Sen. Dave Aronberg, however, was less willing to attribute Donalds’ performance solely to the dynamics of a crowded Republican primary field.
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Aronberg suggested that other factors may also have contributed to Donalds’ weaker showing in some parts of the state.
“When you look at the primary numbers, Byron Donalds falling short of 50% does raise some legitimate questions,” Aronberg told Fox News Digital.
“Yes, there were 11 names on the ballot, but few of his opponents were viable contenders, and Donalds had a massive fundraising and name recognition advantage compared to the rest of the field,” he added.
“It wasn’t exactly a neck-and-neck dogfight,” Aronberg added.
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“When you see him underperforming in certain rural pockets, it’s hard to completely dismiss race having played at least some quiet role,” he surmised.
“Going into November, Republicans have a massive advantage in party registration and financial resources,” the former state senator continued.
“But this will be no cakewalk based on what we saw in the primary, along with President Trump’s lagging poll numbers and the quality of his Democratic opponent,” he said.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
