By Billy House
National Journal
Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., is pulling out a really big political weapon now in his reelection bid — his challenger’s own sister.
Buchanan’s reelection campaign on Wednesday announced that he gained the endorsement of Linda Huber, a Louisville, Ky. resident.
Why is that particularly noteworthy?
Huber is actually Linda (Fitzgerald) Huber, sister to Buchanan’s Democratic opponent, Keith Fitzgerald, a political scientist and former Florida state representative, who was raised in Louisville.
Endorsing Buchanan over her own brother certainly may not play well during any upcoming family holiday get-togethers for the Fitzgeralds. Fitzgerald has a number of other siblings, but which way they are leaning could not immediately be determined.
Huber herself also could not be immediately reached. Her brother was, well, taken by surprise.
“Though I’ve never loved her politics, I love my sister,” was all that Keith Fitzgerald offered, in a statement.
“Vern’s background as a businessman is exactly what we need in Congress,” Huber is quoted as declaring in a release from Buchanan’s campaign. The campaign also said she donated $25.
“We’re honored to have her support,” Buchanan campaign spokeswoman Sally Tibbetts stated.
Huber first reached out to the Buchanan campaign before the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., wanting to meet with them in the Sunshine State that week. They did. And she apparently liked what she heard–at least as compared to her brother.
