Cash for opponent pours in as FL congresswoman struggles

FILE - In this April 6, 2016 file photo, Tim Canova smiles as he speaks during an interview at his campaign headquarters in Hollywood, Fla. The Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week is fertile fundraising ground for one Florida congressional candidate, Canova, but not in the traditional sense of high-priced donor dinners or lobbyist happy hours. In fact, Canova isn't even here. Instead, the political novice who wants to unseat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is reaping big financial rewards from days of nonstop publicity about her resignation from the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee after a hack of embarrassing party emails. Call it viral fundraising. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

By Associated Press July 26, 2016 4 min read

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week is fertile fundraising ground for one Florida congressional candidate, but not in the traditional sense of high-priced donor dinners or lobbyist happy hours.

In fact, Tim Canova isn’t even here.

Instead, the political novice who wants to unseat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is reaping big financial rewards from days of nonstop publicity about her resignation from the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee after a hack of embarrassing party emails.

Call it viral fundraising.

It’s a down-ballot twist on how Bernie Sanders, who has endorsed Canova, was able to raise more than $235 million during his primary race against the far more politically connected – and initially better-funded – Hillary Clinton.