Politics

Former Rep. Alan Grayson to run for Congress again

Steven Nelson Associate Editor
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Former Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson is planning to run for Congress again in 2012. The bombastic politician was first elected to represent his Orlando, Florida district in 2008, but Republican Rep. Dan Webster ousted him two years later.

Grayson told Orlando television station WFTV of his plans Monday afternoon. He said, however, that he hasn’t yet decided if he will challenge Webster or run in a heavily Democratic district which may be created during re-districting.

“What went wrong with my campaign [in 2010], and Democratic campaigns all over the country, is that Democrats didn’t vote,” Grayson said of his unsuccessful 2010 bid for re-election.

The former congressman made a name for himself with incendiary rhetoric. On the House floor in 2009, for example, he said the health care plan offered by Republicans amounted to: “Don’t get sick. And if you do get sick, die quickly.”

Grayson aired a television ad in 2010 that dubbed his rival “Taliban Dan” for his support of socially conservative policies. He also said that Glenn Beck fans “are people who were wearing sheets over their heads 25 years ago.”

The rhetorical abuse Grayson heaps on opponents isn’t reserved for Republicans alone. In 2009, he called an advisor to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke a “K Street whore” after teaming up with Republican Texas Rep. Ron Paul to push for an audit of the Federal Reserve. In 2010, Grayson said that former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs “should be fired” and that “he belongs on Fox.”

If Grayson decides on a rematch with Webster, he may have a fundraising edge. Webster raised only $30,000 in the first quarter of 2011, which was less than what Grayson had in his inactive campaign account.

WFTV reports that Grayson raised $100,000 before filing his paperwork Monday.