A Moldy Campaign?

For years, big business has linked arms with Republicans to tar Democrats as beholden to trial lawyers and enemies of personal responsibility for their opposition to tort reform. But what happens in a race where the trial lawyer candidate is a Republican?

That's the scenario facing Florida Republicans right now. Business groups that spent eight years winning a host of restrictions on lawsuits under Jeb Bush are in a bit of a tizzy after state Republicans nominated Rep. Jeff Kottkamp as their candidate for lieutenant governor. Not only was Kottkamp the only Republican house member to vote against tort reform last year, but he's also a plaintiff in the kind of lawsuit that makes tort reformers apoplectic.

A few years ago, Kottkamp nearly died after bypass surgery when a mold infection developed in his chest.  Florida now caps damages in suits against public hospitals at $250,000, so Kottkamp instead sued the hospital construction company he alleges created the moldy conditions that led to his infection. Perhaps the most disturbing thing to business groups is that it looks like Kottkamp and running mate Charlie Crist are likely to be elected...