"Strange bedfellows": Bernie Sanders, Florida Dems and a benchmark $250k donation

MIAMI — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is sending the Florida Democratic Party $250,000. It's a relative pittance in the Sunshine State — but the check signals a big political shift.Why it matters: The state party's moderate leaders have resisted the rising tide of democratic socialists elevated by Sanders for years. But political changes and financial need have brought the two together like never before:The Florida Democratic Party is essentially broke after decades of being out of power, and national establishment Democratic organizations have so far refused to help.Angie Nixon, who joined the Democratic Socialists of America this summer, is the state party's U.S. Senate nominee. Sanders endorsed her and has long wanted to help, an aide said.Zoom in: Despite being vastly outraised and outspent in Florida, Nixon and Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly are stubbornly close in polling to their respective Republican opponents, Sen. Ashley Moody and Rep. Byron Donalds.Until now, national Democrats have been hesitant to spend in Florida due to years of soul-crushing defeats —especially at the hands of President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis — that made the state and its 10 expensive media markets look like a bad investment.This year, with Republican fortunes sagging nationwide, Texas, Ohio, Iowa and Alaska look more promising for Democrats.That could change soon. Nixon told a liberal podcaster Thursday that the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, held a fundraiser for her. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), whom Nixon called out last week for not helping, also might make money available. "Folks are a little gun-shy because, unfortunately, Vice President [Kamala] Harris lost as a Black woman. And so people are being very hesitant in terms of funding Black women, especially in the South," Nixon told MS NOW's "Clock It with Symone & Eugene."Behind the scenes: Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried has been constantly working national donors for money, allies say, but she never asked Sanders for help because of their ideological differences and resistance within the state party.Socialists — and Sanders' associated views — have long been regarded as political liabilities in a state where so many Hispanic voters hailed from countries associated with leftist violence.But when Sanders signaled he was ready to give to a "victory fund" that joins the state party and Nixon's campaign, Fried didn't stand in the way."Angie's going to turn out our base," Fried privately told skeptical allies in the party. "Every dollar that helps Angie, helps Jolly and helps the candidates down ballot." Friction point: Establishment Democrats are divided between those who don't want to be associated with Sanders and those who wanted him to give more of his $23 million campaign fund than just $250,000."That's it? He should send more," said Florida Rep. Lois Frankel, who has been critical of Sanders and doesn