Is Obama baiting McCain to pick Crist?

"So far, Mr. McCain has spent slightly more on advertising in those states than has Mr. Obama, and has not generally strayed from advertising in the roughly dozen or so traditional battlegrounds."

A curious exception: the study, based on data from the Campaign Media Analysis Group, a political advertising monitoring firm, shows Mr. McCain has yet to advertise in Florida, where Mr. Obama has spent $5 million on advertisements.

"Taking to the Airwaves".

Back at the ranch, "Gov. Crist looking like candidate Crist" ("Crist, who is still being asked whether he wants to be vice president, was looking a lot like a candidate on Wednesday. A candidate for governor, that is.")




"Two of Florida's public universities took No. 1 spots"

"Two of Florida's public universities took No. 1 spots on the coveted Princeton Review list of the 386 top colleges in the nation, toiling for the past year to earn the titles of best 'Party School' and most likely to be a 'Dodgeball Target.'" "UF climbs to top in party poll".




Trade in your Lincoln

"A new analysis of congressional races puts U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart — the last Republican with any territory in Broward — in possible jeopardy in November's election. The widely watched ranking of key congressional races assembled by the Rothenberg Political Report puts the Miami Republican on the list of incumbents who might have problems." "Rep. Diaz-Balart isn't a shoo-in, report says".




"State should require more attention to seniors in care centers"

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board asks "How many more facilities are falling below state standards, putting frail and elderly residents at risk for abuse and neglect?" "Watching over the weak".




Hispanic vote

"Barack Obama's campaign and the Democratic National Committee announced Tuesday they will spend an unprecedented $20 million to draw Hispanics to the polls, especially in battleground states like Florida." "Democrats budget $20 million to woo Hispanics".




Don't ... you ... forget about me

Did you know that Billy boy has statewide aspirations?: "McCollum will urge Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet today to scrap Crist's policy of streamlined restoration of civil rights." "Too easy for Florida felons to regain civil rights".




'Ya reckon?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "McCain and Obama need plans to keep the nation from drowning in debt".




And your point is?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Providing basic services is essential as the needy population rises in Central Florida".




Have another ...

"The Hollywood nightclub is dark and the music so loud that conversation means leaning into an ear and shouting. But the drinks are free until midnight, and anyway most in the upstairs room of Passion nightclub are dancing, not talking. " "Party vote: Bar scene used to get younger voters involved".




Wexler

Update: "Under pressure, Wexler changes address".

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach, deserves most of the political criticism he's taken for living in Maryland while representing his Palm Beach County-Broward County district. But legally, there never was a case against him." "Wexler: There, but here". More from the "The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "It's all noise. Voters will get better governance by focusing less on where politicians live and more on how they behave." "Loose rules make sense".

The The Tampa Tribune editorial board thinks the story is worth some RPOFer ink: "Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Maryland".




See 'ya

"Butterworth to leave DCF helm on Aug. 15". See also "Butterworth's DCF Legacy: Integrity". The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Bob Butterworth's resignation from Florida Department of Children & Families a huge loss". The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "'Keep it going'". The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board: "Butterworth leaves DCF in better shape".




'Glades

"Members of Florida's congressional delegation told state officials Wednesday they were concerned how the proposed $1.75 billion state purchase of U.S. Sugar property south of Lake Okeechobee would impact local communities and federal support for Everglades restoration." "Congressional delegation has questions about Everglades deal". See also "Judge: Feds, state failed Everglades cleanup".




"80 percent of the money is unaccounted for"

"The state - unable to figure out what happened to more than $8 million that Florida Power & Light collected from customers in its green energy program - on Tuesday ordered FPL to end the program immediately."

"This program has been mismanaged from the inception," said Florida Public Service Commissioner Nathan Skop, the biggest critic of FPL's Sunshine Energy Program. "The bottom line is 80 percent of the money is unaccounted for."

"State ends FPL's green program, questions where $8 million went".




I'm more orthodox than you

Joel Engelhardt: "The battle of the Orthodox Jewish congressmen played out last week in South Florida." "Here's mud in Lieberman's eye".




HD 8

"A half-dozen Democrats seeking to succeed state Rep. Curtis Richardson expressed solid opposition Tuesday to the 'tax-swap' constitutional amendment." "District 8 Dems bash 'tax swap'".




HD 10

"Mike Williams, a Republican businessman from Madison who is running for House District 10, is fighting back." "District 10 Republicans feud".




HD 78

"Three Democrats — a chiropractor, an insurance agent and a former newspaper writer — are battling for a state House seat in which none of the candidates has deep roots within the district's boundaries. House District 78 encompasses southwestern Palm Beach County and stretches to parts of Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties, with much of the district dominated by farms, suburban homes and a heavily Jewish population." "District 78 race pits three Dems against each other".




Is this ...

... newsworthy?

A Treasure Coast surgeon and Republican activist who oversaw the care of wounded U.S. troops in Germany says presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama showed "bad judgment" in canceling a visit to a military hospital there during his recent world travels.

"Stuart physician slams Obama for nixing troop visit".




Toga

"A federal appeals court has ordered University of Florida officials to recognize a Christian fraternity" "Court: Christian fraternity must be recognized".




Feds to the rescue

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Whether legislation before Congress can rescue the nation's — and South Florida's — housing market isn't clear. But it's certainly worth a try." "South Florida housing market needs shoring up; hopefully congressional legislation can provide it".




Close

"A scheme to defraud state taxpayers out of millions of dollars was thwarted by some alert Regions Bank employees and one of the state's biggest road contractors — but not before some of the money was transferred to Beirut, Lebanon." "Scheme thwarted after nearly taking Florida for millions".




... But with a golden parachute, mind you

St. Petersburg Times editorial board thinks Ayn Rand is kewl:

If Don Saxon worked in private business instead of for the state, he already would be gone.

"Financial regulator has to go". More: "Florida banking regulator holds onto his job".




Huh?

"Judge modifies guns-at-work law". "Take guns to work - but don't stop on way?" and "Employees can bring gun, customers can't". More: "Judge's ruling on guns-at-work challenge".




Public-private partnership

"The $5.8 million was to be paid to Anderson Columbia, a road construction company, according to the arrest warrant. The money was supposed to be transferred into the construction company's account at Wachovia bank, but ended up in a Regions Bank opened by Hammoud, investigators said." "Man Accused Of Bilking Florida In Wire Fraud".




Noose

"FBI looking into noose sent to Daisy Lynum".




Poor Vern

"At least nine individuals, including former executives of U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan's car dealerships, are claiming they either witnessed fraudulent practices at the automotive centers or were pressured to contribute to the congressman's 2006 campaign." "Buchanan backs growers' compensation bid".




Off topic: runnin' government like a business

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The most damning part of the report on political hiring within the Justice Department is the evidence of a systematic, deliberate effort to break down the walls between law enforcement and politics that was fully encouraged by President Bush's White House." "Tipping the scales of Justice".