An Associated Press statistical analysis shows Obama benefited from the gloomy economic conditions at Republican John McCain's expense.

The analysis compared a county's economic data with its presidential election results. It showed a correlation that for every 1 percent of Florida households in foreclosure in September, McCain lost 16 percentage points to Obama

Loose ends

"Arguing that early voting's impact on overall turnout can't justify the costs involved — roughly $250,000 for a countywide election — [Pinellas Supervisor of Elections Deborah] Clark's office has largely abandoned it and strongly advocates for mail-in ballots. Mail-in voting tends to favor Republicans, while early voting tends to draw more Democrats." "Vote is telling, Clark says".

"With his lead over Democratic opponent Phyllis Busansky evaporating, Buddy Johnson appeared briefly before a crowd of reporters early Thursday night and conceded the Hillsborough supervisor of elections race."

Johnson, who oversaw an election with so many problems they were still counting Hillsborough County votes two days after the polls closed, congratulated Busansky on her win and praised his staff and family members, but dodged questions about his handling of the election.

"She 'got crazy with FOX News'"

"Employees at a Palm Beach County restaurant say their boss posted racist notes in the kitchen and on their time sheets on election night." Her excuse?: "she 'got crazy with FOX News.'" "Boss posted racist notes at Fla. restaurant".

"A backlash against the mean streak many Republican lawmakers revealed"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "There may be a slew of factors behind this dismal election for Republicans in Florida and across the nation. But GOP leaders wouldn't be looking back on as many losses if Hispanics had voted for the party at the levels they did in prior elections. And while the economy's decline under a Republican president was no doubt a big motivator for more Hispanics to vote Democratic, the results in some key races also point to a backlash against the mean streak many Republican lawmakers revealed in denouncing immigration reform." "Republicans who blasted immigration reform hurt GOP among Hispanics".

Unions are mean and nasty

The geniuses on The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Unions Seek New Clout With Strong-Arm Tactics".

Where were these idiots when, just down the road at the Orlando Airport, the delightful Alamo Rent-A-Car Company responded to its employees efforts to unionize by (from the NLRB's findings):

- interrogating employees concerning their support for, activities on behalf of, or membership in the Union, or any other labor organization.

- threatened employees that their support for, activities on behalf of, or membership in the Union constitute disloyalty.

- solicited employees to monitor the union activities of other employees.

- threatened or impliedly threatened employees with the loss of benefits, wages, and working conditions if they should choose the Union as their exclusive collective-bargaining representative.

- implied to employees that it is futile for them to select the Union as their exclusive collective-bargaining representative.

- informed employees that should they select the Union as their exclusive collective-bargaining representative, the Union would have to bargain for the terms and conditions of employment that the employees already have.

- denied early leave privileges to employees because of, or in retaliation for, their union activities, sympathies, or affiliation.

- disciplined and suspended employees because of, or in retaliation for, their union activities, sympathies, or affiliation.

- discharged employees because of, or in retaliation for, their union activities, sympathies, or affiliation.

Smooth

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "In one respect, newly elected Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher has it tough. The record of the office she will inherit from Arthur Anderson is abysmal." "Smooth vote in Palm Beach; next can be even smoother".

Florida: always, always "on the cheap"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "The Florida Supreme Court has set aside the Legislature’s latest and hopefully final attempt to provide death row inmates with representation on the cheap." "Fla. can't cut corners in death cases".

Amendment 2

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board: "In an election where other barriers were shattered, one societal bulwark was reinforced. By a significant supermajority, voters in Florida, California and Arizona approved measures restricting marriage to heterosexual couples." "Marriage aside, no legal rights?".

Hillsborough shocker

"Turns out the world can make sense now and then, even in politics and even here. A forthright guy who by the way happens to be gay can win the day." "Voters find gay isn't a pro or a con".

HD 9

"UPDATED: Rehwinkel Vasilinda House 9 winner".

HD 27

"As Dwayne Taylor prepares to replace Joyce Cusack as the state representative in District 27, he recognizes he has big shoes to fill." "New rep. plans to follow Cusack's path".

Sen. Barack Obama won a majority of Florida's Hispanic vote statewide and nearly tied Sen. John McCain in Miami-Dade, where Republicans had long dominated the Hispanic vote.

No Democratic presidential candidate had ever achieved either milestone since the exit polling of Hispanics first began in the 1980s, pollsters say.

Nationwide, Obama won the Hispanic vote by a wider margin, garnering 66 percent to McCain's 32 percent, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

In Florida, Obama won 57 percent of the Hispanics on Tuesday, compared to 42 percent for McCain, according to exit polling by Bendixen & Associates, a Democratic pollster.

By comparison, President Bush won 55 percent of the state's Hispanic vote to John Kerry's 44 percent in 2004, according to exit polls.

Polls indicate the state's Hispanic vote may now be divided. On one side are conservative older Cuban Americans, who vote reliably Republican. On the other are younger Cuban Americans coupled with an expanding number of non-Cuban Hispanics, who tend to lean Democratic.

"We have been saying this was going to happen for years, but now we can actually see it with quantifiable data,'' Amandi said. "As much as any other group, President-elect Obama owes his election to the Latino voters."

Non-Cuban Hispanic voters helped Obama overwhelmingly win Interstate 4 counties like Orange and Osceola.

And Amandi said his exit polling showed Obama actually won 35 percent of the Cuban-American vote in Miami-Dade, which would be dramatic shift.

It ain't over yet

"Election totals aren't all final; provisional ballots yet to be counted".

Tell that to folks in Tampa and the college kids who are probably still voting ...

"Browning: Election rids Florida of the ghost of the 2000 recount". See also "Palm Beach County election shows how we have changed" and "Smooth election might signal an end to Broward County's troubling track record". The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Florida's smooth elections help bury ghosts of the past".

Another citizen initiative

"The Florida Supreme Court is reviewing a citizen initiative that would offer property owners more tax relief." "Fla. Supreme Court considering tax cap amendment".

Turnout

"South Florida voter turnout is 68%".

"Hillsborough Vote-Count Meltdown"

"Shortly after the polls closed Tuesday night, Hillsborough County elections officials began uploading tens of thousands of ballots from early voting stations."

At the same time, they started uploading ballots cast Tuesday at hundreds of voting precincts.

The decision proved to be disastrous, as the sudden flow of ballots overloaded the optical scan voting system and brought Hillsborough's election night to a grinding halt.

On Wednesday night, more than 24 hours after the polls closed, the elections office had not finished counting the votes, leaving several key races up in the air. Workers are expected to resume counting this morning and hope to be finished sometime Friday.

Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson declined comment, but through his office put out a statement calling the problems "minor" and blaming them on the company that provided the optical scan voting machines.

When the going gets tuff ...

... the "howdy doody looking nimrod" gets pusillanimous. "Putnam Poised To Leave GOP Leadership Role".

Postmortems

"Tallahasseeans thrilled they lived to see this 'historic and hopeful day'", "Election Day-plus 1 in Orlando: for some, glee, others gloom", "It was hurry up and wait at some busy Orlando-area polls", "Young voters turned out in big numbers for Barack Obama", "Youth vote made the difference for Obama", "Kosmas says energy issue her priority in Congress" and "South Floridians await Obama's changes".

Boulware a "Sore Loserman"

"Former NFL player Peter Boulware was trailing by 440 votes in his first political race Wednesday, but he may get a recount."

The Florida State University alum is in one of two very close state House races primed for recounts after Tuesday's general election.

Boulware, a Republican businessman, is trailing Democrat Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, a lawyer, for an open seat. Both are from Tallahassee.

Incumbent Democrat Debbie Boyd of Newberry is clinging to a 42-vote lead over Republican Elizabeth Porter for a seat covering six north Florida counties.

State law requires an automatic machine recount if the margin is one-half of a percent or less. Boulware is just short of meeting that requirement, but he still can ask for a recount.

Recount

"Recounts possible in property-tax break amendment, two House races".

I need me some wealth redistribution

Daniel Ruth: "Throughout the evening at the Marriott Waterside Hotel, the Obama faithful had been steadily gathering to drink in this moment in history. Perhaps in an homage to the Obama campaign, the Marriott had decided to do its part to help redistribute the wealth by charging $11 for a martini." "Night Of Cheers (Obama!) And Booze ($11 Martinis?!)".

When you "vote Republican" ...

The right-wing brats on The Tampa Tribune editorial board are confused: "Sometimes we get the government we deserve."

Case in point: Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson, who couldn't count all the votes Tuesday night, even with his own re-election bid hanging in the balance.

You have to wonder if the 198,249 citizens who voted for Johnson to manage their most sacred right - the right to vote - might want a do-over after witnessing his office's breakdown during this historic election.

They're already at it

The Zell Corporation is already at it. Check out this lazy, predictable "reporting":

Obama's victory was a triumph of meticulous planning, spectacular execution and a seemingly unlimited budget.

"Florida is still a conservative state in how it sees government and how it sees families," said state House Speaker-designate Ray Sansom, R-Destin, on Wednesday.

Obama has proven an inspirational messenger, speaking to and for a public eager to embrace the kind of politics that has been demonized and trivialized for the past eight years by mainstream media desperate to deflect the right's accusations of "liberal bias."

- roughly 70 percent of respondents believe that the government has a responsibility "to take care of people who can't take care of themselves."

- Two-thirds (66 percent)--including most of those who say they would prefer a smaller government (57 percent)--support government-funded health insurance for all citizens.

- Most also regard the nation's corporations as too powerful, while nearly two-thirds (65 percent) say corporate profits are too high--about the same number who say "labor unions are necessary to protect the working person" (68 percent).

- When it comes to the environment, a large majority (83 percent) back stricter laws and regulations, while 69 percent agree "we should put more emphasis on fuel conservation than on developing new oil supplies" and 60 percent say they would "be willing to pay higher prices in order to protect the environment."

the MSM -- with precious few exceptions -- remain wedded to right-wing assumptions long since discredited by reality.

Enjoy it ...

... while you can: "In Tatters, Republicans Look To Regroup".

Not my Church

"By nullifying anything that is the "substantial equivalent" of marriage, it could outlaw domestic partnerships. Those are legal arrangements that allow two unmarried people to share health care and other benefits."

Not all clergy supported Amendment 2, however. Rabbi Merrill Shapiro criticized it from his post at Temple Beth Shalom in Palm Coast. Most Jewish voters opposed Amendment 2, according to the CNN poll, but Shapiro said they were outnumbered by the evangelicals.

Yippee!

"With help from Democrats in Congress, President-elect Barack Obama will have the clout next year to deliver campaign promises to Florida voters who helped send him to the White House." "Obama can quickly deliver on some Florida promises".

A fine bit 'o schlepping

"Jewish voters appeared to discount rumors about Barack Obama's heritage and acquaintances, delivering an overwhelming vote in favor of the president-elect. Exit polls show about 78 percent of Jews nationwide voted for Obama, a little more than the 74 percent John Kerry garnered in 2004. Numbers for Florida were unavailable on Wednesday." "Jewish voters stuck by Barack Obama despite rumors".

Was that trip really necessary?

"When three of Central Florida's top tourism executives flew to Dubai last month to attend an industry conference,"

International Drive hotelier Harris Rosen and University of Central Florida administrator Abe Pizam paid for their tickets with private money and opted to squeeze into coach.

But Gary Sain, president of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, which gets both public and private money, bought his ticket with agency funds -- and spent more than $9,000 to fly in business class.

Sain's $9,271.47 airfare was nearly seven times as expensive as the $1,400 that Pizam's coach-class ticket cost.

flew to Dubai to attend the annual conference of the European Council on Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Education, which supports education and training for the tourism industry. Sain was invited to give a keynote address on "destination branding." Pizam, the dean of UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and Rosen (after whom the college is named) went to discuss a possible partnership between the school and the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, where the Oct. 11-14 conference took place.

Never mind

"Voters skip tricky ballot questions or obscure races".

Yesterday's news

"Obama takes Florida from red to blue", "Tom Feeney, Ric Keller lost touch with voters, then lost their seats" and "Possible recount ahead for Amendment 3".

McCain brings hate-talk express to final Fla. rally in Tampa

"Republican presidential candidate John McCain will hold his last rally in Florida in Tampa." "McCain to hold final Fla. rally in Tampa".

Tampa ... how appropriate. McHate's "AFTER ALL, HE IS BLACK campaign message will no doubt resonate strongly among RPOFers in Hillsborough. That message, and the delightful assertion that "If Obama is elected we will have people swinging from trees and scratching their armpits forever" are locks to bring the Tampa crowd to its feet.

If the wingnuts are lucky, they might even hear, from the RPOF bigwigs standing alongside McBush on the dais, "a joke that refers to the assassination of Barack Obama", followed by a thunderous refrain of "kill him" from the Buschco-McSame choir in the crowd.

Today: "Both polls showed McCain with a significant lead among white voters".

Update: To be fair to Hillsborough folks, it ain't just them; some of their neighbors to the West seem to share similar sentiments:

All along First Avenue North, campaign signs are plunged into front yards. McCain-Palin signs are here and there, facing the westbound traffic and so are Obama-Biden signs.

There are signs urging voters to vote no on Amendment 2 and even some opposing a new baseball stadium.

Passers-by are slapped with political overload when they hit a front yard just west of 63rd Street North.

"Vote Right" shouts one homemade sign in big red letters on a white background. "Vote White" is another, tacked high onto the trunk of a towering oak tree.

A plywood cutout of a Black Sambo figure sits next to another tree, under a large sign that says, "Hasta La Vista Obama" and "What About Galveston." The underlying message of that sign was unclear.

Into the heart of darkness

"Obama to have final Fla. rally in Jacksonville"*.

- - - - - - - - - -
*While we're on the subject of Jax, you may be interested in that community's most recent "hotly debated issue": "Will it still be Forrest High in Duval County?" ("The Duval County School Board is taking up the issue of whether a high school should continue to bear the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest, who was a Confederate general, slave trader and early Ku Klux Klan leader").

"Record-shattering"

"A record-shattering 4.2 million Floridians already have voted by casting absentee ballots or going to polls early, including thousands who stood in lines for hours across South Florida on Sunday." "South Floridians line up for hours, stay late to cast early ballots". See also "Early voting crushes records". See also "Long lines wrap up early voting".

Welcome to Florida

"Hip-hop stars stump for Obama in South Florida". More: "McCain appeals to Florida with 1 day left", "Rudy Giuliani urges Winter Park crowd to 'go out and get another vote'", "Biden, Giuliani rally Fla. supporters", "Biden throws punches, makes pitch for crucial votes" and "Biden stumps in Tallahassee as campaign comes to a close".

"'A little schizophrenic'"

"The secretary of state is at the center of the storm this week, with Floridians voting in record numbers. While he admits to getting 'a little schizophrenic' in the fall of even-numbered years, Browning is confident that everything has been done to prepare for the onslaught." "Browning: Florida is ready for Election Day".

Secret, secret ...

"Opponents of a Florida constitutional amendment that would define marriage are headed to court demanding to know who is paying for the supporters' campaign." "Marriage amendment heads to court over donations".

"Unease has struck Republican candidates for local office"

"Unease has struck Republican candidates for local office in Pinellas County who fear that support for Sen. Barack Obama will diminish their chances for victory Tuesday."

Feeding the disquiet is an ambitious county Democratic Party "Vote Local" effort. Using traditional mail and door-to-door campaign tactics, plus targeted Internet ads, the party is banking on Obama fervor to propel its candidates to triumph.

McCain throws a tantrum

"Hundreds of thousands of pages of what appear to be voter survey documents were found strewn along a section of Interstate 4 early this morning." "Papers With Hillsborough Voter Info Found On I-4".

Maitland housewife comes home to mommy

Mike Thomas wants to share his wisdom with you on the eve of the election. "Despite flaws, McCain's plan is a better starting point to health-care reform".

<Not a good visual

Not sumthin' I wanna see: "Impromptu conga lines have broken out on the floor. U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, urged the crowd to disprove polls that show Democrat Barack Obama ahead in Florida." "Republican leaders rouse crowd waiting for McCain in Coral Gables".

Foreclosures

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Home prices were way overinflated by the end of 2005 and had to come down. In South Florida, the market is starting to send signals - in the form of increased home sales - that they've come down enough. To reinforce that perception, the Bush administration should move quickly to add and broaden programs to help individual homeowners who are facing foreclosure." "Next for economic rescue: Homes facing foreclosure".

... "short"

"Kevin Griffin and Mike Selkey have followed the campaigns every step of the way. In the midst of a historic election, it's hard to tune out the coverage. Both young men are not going to make it to the polls this Tuesday through no fault of their own. They'll both turn 18 on Nov. 5. That's right, the day after Election Day." "Florida pair is a day late and a vote short".

"To carry something with difficulty"

"So much for the Great Schlep. That's what Jewish comedian Sarah Silverman is calling her effort to get Jewish grandchildren to urge their Florida grandparents to vote for Barack Obama. 'Schlep' is a Yiddish term that means to carry something with difficulty. It can also mean an arduous journey." "The Great Schlep is not so great".