Why is this man smiling?

"Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton wave to a crowd estimated at 60,000 as they leave Orlando on Monday"



Reputedly the largest campaign event in Florida history


In the meantime, "Republicans are scrambling to limit Americans' right to vote in Florida"

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board this morning: "Under the rubric of voter fraud, which they cannot demonstrate, and in the face of a massive and successful Democratic voter registration campaign,"

Republicans are scrambling to limit Americans' right to vote in Florida and other key Electoral College states. These anti-democratic efforts put more pressure on voters to make sure that they are registered properly and know where to vote.

"On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court correctly stopped Ohio Republicans from misinterpreting registration laws and trying to disenfranchise 200,000 voters. "

The ruling won't stop the hyperbole from the Republican National Committee [and their RPOFer adjuncts], which is making the liberal group ACORN its latest nonissue against Barack Obama. Without adequate federal monitoring, The New York Times showed, states are purging voters from registration lists over minor discrepancies. The errors are due to a system burdened by overly narrow readings of requirements ostensibly designed to keep people from voting under another name.

"In Florida,"

overwhelmed election officials also are struggling to clear up no-match, no-vote discrepancies. It can take days or even weeks to rectify a single error in the law that Secretary of State Kurt Browning decided in September to enforce. Gov. Crist and Mr. Browning, however, have not overreacted. They ignored Republican talking points, refusing to accuse ACORN of voter fraud.

So far.

Much more here: "In swing states like Florida, voters need to know rights". See also "ACORN controversy: Voter fraud or mudslinging?" This from the Zell Corporation: "ACORN's voter registration sloppiness could create problems come Election Day".




And so it begins

"As Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton barnstormed Florida on Monday to remind people that voting is under way and continues for two weeks, it was clear voters are already turning out in record numbers." "Obama blankets Florida".

See also "Early voting opens in Broward County sees three-hour waits", "Early voters crowd polls as registration swells", "Early voting off to a booming beginning", "Palm Beach County sees only a few voting glitches", "Early voting in Broward, Palm Counties" and "Early voting in Florida".

Background: "Past voting gaffes put Palm Beach County in spotlight" and "If Election Day is boring, that's good".




Yee Haw!

Over the week end, "the state's top Republican leaders sketched out a strategy here this weekend that they say could allow John McCain to carve out a narrow victory in the Sunshine State: full-throated attacks on Barack Obama and a strong voter-turnout effort." "Florida GOP hopes to swing state to McCain in final days".

The most recent polls should give them some comfort: "Republican presidential nominee John McCain may be behind in the money race and have a smaller organization in Florida, but the latest polls put him slightly ahead in the must-win state. A Fox News/Rasmussen Reports survey, released on the first day of early voting, puts McCain up 49 percent to 48 percent over Democratic rival Barack Obama." "McCain ahead of Obama in Florida in latest poll" (a survey of "1,000 likely voters on Oct. 19 and the margin of error is 3 percentage points.")




An irrelevant man

Rumor has it that this idiot has a paying job somewhere: "Crist spent the first day of early voting Monday flying around the state and telling small crowds to vote for Republican candidates like Nancy Detert, Carl Domino, Laura Benson and Thad Altman. Oh yeah, and John McCain, too." "Fla. Gov. Crist promotes early voting, GOP picks".




Game over ... man

"Barack Obama has political stars fanning across Florida on his behalf this week, but none with the glow of those hugging him Monday in Tampa: members of the World Series-bound Tampa Bay Rays."

"What an exciting day for Tampa Bay," outfielder Fernando Perez told thousands of Obama supporters at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the morning after winning the pennant.

"We can change the nation, but people like you need to help us do it. Barack Obama will take this country in a new direction, but we're going to have to make sure that every voice is heard," said Perez, joined on stage by teammates Carl Crawford, Cliff Floyd, Jonny Gomes, Edwin Jackson and David Price, who introduced the Democratic nominee.

"The surprise partisan appearance by several Rays players prompted some complaint calls to the team, "

but it's unlikely management will be bent out of shape.

Principal owner Stu Sternberg wrote a $2,000 check to Obama in April, and Rays president Matthew Silverman donated $1,000 to Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor, co-chair of the Obama campaign in Florida.

"Obama visit a hit with Rays players".




McCain couldn't cover the spread

The Zell corporation insists on tagging the attendance at the Obama rally in Orlando as a mere 40,000. "40,000 cheer Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton in Orlando". It was actually 50, or 60,000.

Why should one care about a difference of 10 or 20,000? Well, jus' 'cause it is kinda funny to realize that, if McBush held a rally (as opposed to a silly "town meeting" staffed with Bushbots) attendance probably wouldn't cover the spread.




Gun safety

"Moose minding its own business Hunter killed when gun goes off".




Arrest somebody

The RPOFers - who are big into absentee balloting - are apparently worried about early voters, even their own: "RPOF mailers have wrong early voting addresses" ("The Republican Party of Florida sent out mailers to voters, including some Democrats ... but included the wrong locales of early voting sites in several counties").




More to come

"In a state ravaged by plunging home values and foreclosures, where early voting started Monday, Barack Obama hit both subjects hard at a rally in Tampa. There was good reason for Obama to talk about both as he began blanketing Florida with three days of campaign appearances." "Obama Begins 3-Day Florida Push".

See also "Hillary to 2,000 in West Palm Beach: 'Close the deal' for Obama", "Both parties' campaigns plan a heavy presence in Florida this week" and "Hillary Clinton was in Broward and Barack Obama is expected in Miami Tuesday as the Democrats draw big crowds".

More: "Presidential campaigns hone in on battleground state Florida".




The numbers are in!

"The final numbers are in: 11.2 million Floridians registered to vote in time for the historical presidential election on Nov. 4 -- up almost a million from four years ago. Thanks to a robust voter-registration effort, Democrats racked up a 650,000-voter advantage statewide, with 4.72 million registered voters compared to 4.06 million Republicans. In 2004, when President Bush carried Florida handily, the Democrats had an edge of 369,000 voters." "11.2 million register to vote in Florida". See also "Democrats outregister Republicans in Florida".




Plus there's the part where he's real smart and stuff

"In Palm Beach County today, Barack Obama will assemble a group of financial experts and swing state governors to focus on the economic issues that Democrats hope will deliver him the White House in two weeks." "Obama, ex-Fed chief to discuss economy at PBCC forum today". See also "Obama to hold jobs summit in Fla. with governors".

More: "Obama to speak Tuesday at PBCC in Lake Worth", "Obama Discusses Mortgages As Florida Trip Begins" and "Obama To Hold Jobs Summit In Florida With Governors".




Eyes will roll

"Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin says she supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, a break with John McCain who has said he believes states should be left to define what marriage is." "Palin breaks with McCain on gay marriage amendment".




Not a typo

"Mahoney fallout affecting Mahoney".




"A challenge"

Michael Mayo: "Voting in Florida can be a challenge. It's not just figuring out who to vote for or how to vote on amendments, but how to vote, period." "Many choices during Election Fortnight". See also "Tips for casting your ballot efficiently".




"Free trade"?

"Environmentalists are warning that China's new hunger for Florida freshwater turtles could doom the species and that new harvest limits that take effect on Thursday don't go nearly far enough." "Environmentalists call for heightened regulation of Florida turtle harvesting".




To retain, or not to retain

"For 30 years, Floridians have had the chance to give a thumbs down to sitting appeals and supreme court judges. This year's general election ballot includes a retention vote on one Florida Supreme Court justice and 23 appeals judges from around the state." "Florida judges up for retention".




Signature dispute

"Supporters of a constitutional amendment that would let communities vote on big growth issues claimed on Monday to have enough petition signatures for a spot on Florida's 2010 ballot." "Signature dispute arises over proposed amendment".




The River

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Once a dream, dredging of the Miami River finished at last." "On time, on budget".




One vote he can't count on

"Mahoney wife files divorce petition".




You kinda get what you vote for

"Already, class sizes are growing and plans are under way to put the constitutional class-size mandates on hold. School districts are cutting back on reading and math coaches, those specialists who teach the teachers how to teach. Summer reading camps and tutoring sessions are being cut or are on the chopping block. So are field trips. That's not a big deal for my kids because we take them to science centers, museums, zoos, art camps and so on. But it is a big deal for kids in impoverished neighborhoods who see little more than their own block."

All true, courtesy of the Maitland housewife's beloved RPOF; but he can't resist foisting this fiction upon us: The "crusade [of 'conservative school reformers'] is paying off, with state and national test scores rising." "School-funding cuts jeopardize student gains".

A reality check: ""State Board In Tampa To Discuss Poor Performing Schools".




Homeowners associations

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "It shouldn't matter whether you own a condo or a house. You should be able to rest assured that the association representing you and your neighbors is being run efficiently and ethically. That's why it makes no sense that members of condominium associations in Florida operate under a set of regulations, and those belonging to homeowners associations don't." "Homeowners associations should be regulated".