Column: ‘Women, doctors, local political leaders’: How Dr. Oz handed Democrats a path to victory in Florida and Ohio
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(CNN) — In an effort to make himself more accessible and accessible to the American voters, TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz, who calls himself ‘The Magician of Oz,’ returned to South Florida to spend two days of campaigning for Democratic candidate Alan Grayson.
The day was part campaigning and part campaigning.
The Democrat who would represent Florida’s 18th congressional district is one of the most highly watched congressional candidates in America’s history. He is running against the all-Republican, all-male congressional delegation led by U.S. Rep. Allen West, who’s seen as the most likely choice for President Donald Trump’s 2020 cabinet.
Dr. Oz’s wife gave a speech at the Broward County Democrats’ convention in South Beach, Florida, Monday night. The couple welcomed President Obama to their native New York City, and they also celebrated the release of a new TV series, a book and a musical that is getting ready to open in New York City.
“The reason why I have returned to South Florida is to help elect someone to Congress who can unify this country and to get a Congress that will focus on the big issues that truly matter and that really affects each and every one of us,” he said. “I am not a Republican, I am not a Democrat, I am an independent. I am a Magician of Oz. And the key to understanding the American elections is understanding who is doing the work.”
Oz is not in the Democratic primary race against Grayson, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. But he is a part of the Democratic leadership in Tallahassee, Florida, which is helping Grayson’s campaign.
But that was not the only thing in Oz’s day, according to state Sen. Arthenia Joyner, who represents Florida’s 20th district.
“We have a real opportunity to make history,” state
