Poll: Webster jumps to a 7-point lead

"In one of the most closely watched U.S. House races in the nation, Republican Daniel Webster now holds a 7-point lead over Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson in Central Florida's 8th Congressional District, according to a new Sunshine State News Poll."

Sunshine State News, an acknowledged conservative outlet, had the poll conducted by Voter Survey Service, a division of Pennsylvania-based Susquehanna Polling and Research to conduct the poll. "Live calls were made from the VSS telephone call center in Harrisburg, Pa., and the survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.14 percent."

Webster, a former state senator, leads the freshman congressman 43-36 in the survey of 559 likely voters conducted Sept. 25-27. TEA ("Taxed Enough Already") Party candidate Peg Dunmire drew 6 percent and NPA hopeful George Metcalfe garnered 3 percent, while 9 percent remained undecided (2 percent cited "other" and 1 percent refused to state).

Digging deeper, the numbers look even worse for Grayson as 51 percent of respondents said they had an unfavorable view of the Orlando-area congressman. ...

Webster’s image with Republicans is healthy (58/4 favorable to unfavorable) but 30 percent still don’t have an opinion of him and 7 percent still don’t know him.

Female voters are anything but ambivalent about Grayson -- "They really loathe him," Lee reported. With Grayson's 33/53 favorable/unfavorable rating among women, Webster’s lead among females is much stronger (45/33 over Grayson) compared to a statistical tie (41/40 Webster) among males.

"Poll: Obama, Dems Poised to Lose Grayson House Seat".

Susquehanna Polling and Research has had some success in recent Florida polling. According to Mark Blumenthal at Pollster.com, Sunshine State News/VSS/Susquehanna Polling was particularly accurate in predicting Rick Scott's recent victory in the Republican primary for Governor; he noted that only

two pollsters -- Public Policy Polling (PPP) and Sunshine State News/VSS/Susquehanna Polling and Research -- land in the center ring of the bullseye. Their final surveys yielded the smallest undecided percentages and were also the only two to show Scott ahead.

"Why Were Polls Off in Florida?"




McCollum stands by Sink

"Alex Sink's attempt to rebut campaign allegations by Republican gubernatorial opponent Rick Scott that she fiddled while Florida's investment portfolio burned was bolstered by an unlikely ally Tuesday: Florida Attorney General and former Scott foe Bill McCollum." "Bill McCollum comes to Alex Sink's defense". Related: "Sink fires back at Scott over ads about state's pension fund".




Unemployment Reform

"Floridians rallied at the old Capitol Tuesday to demand that Gov. Charlie Crist expand the state’s unemployment compensation program by executive order. Leaders of the rally, organized by a number of liberal organizations including Florida New Majority and South Florida Jobs with Justice, said that the Legislature was standing in the way of the state obtaining more than $440 million in federal funds. " "Capitol Ralliers Demand Crist Reform Unemployment System".




MSM goes after Grayson

"Rep. Alan Grayson's new TV ad called "Taliban Dan Webster" makes a series of biting accusations, alleging among other things that Webster, a former Florida House speaker, wants to make divorce illegal, even for abused women, and that Webster said women should submit to their husbands. Is it true?" "Grayson invokes Taliban against rival".




"Nearly $1 million in six days"

"Scott 527 group nets nearly $1 million in six days".




"Scott's cynical smears"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Rick Scott is a fine one to preach about accountability. The Republican candidate for governor ran a hospital company that paid record fines for Medicare fraud. Yet Scott and his allies falsely suggest that Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is entirely responsible for shortcomings in the management and performance of the state’s investment funds. It’s a cynical attempt to silence questions about Scott’s role in illegal activities in his hospitals by smearing Sink, and voters should see through it." "Rick Scott's cynical smears".




"Poverty up, wealth down"

"Census snapshot of S. Florida: Poverty up, wealth down".




Putnam goes to FSU

"Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam crossed the most taboo of Florida’s partisan lines Tuesday as he campaigned for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services: The University of Florida graduate took his message to the campus of his school’s hated rival, Florida State University." "Adam Putnam Pushes Message on Opponent’s Turf".




No can do

"A city commissioner who won re-election last month by a wide margin is at the center of a criminal investigation after nearly 80 absentee ballots were requested from a computer belonging to him, Volusia County's elections supervisor said Friday. " "Daytona leader faces absentee ballot probe".




Scott Endorses Voucher Madness

"Rick Scott education plan: more school choice". See also "Rick Scott Unveils Education Plan", "Looking to Revive Ties Between Economy and Education, Rick Scott Pushes for School Choice" and "Rick Scott releases choice-based education plan".




Water Regs

"As the Florida Department of Environmental Protection prepares to discuss proposed water pollution standards that are opposed by businesses and farmers, Florida ’s two United States senators – who don’t often agree – both think federal officials should back off." "U.S. Senators Agree: Water Regs Should Wait".




teabaggers run wild

"A Central Florida group aligning itself with the tea party movement is pushing for the ouster of two Florida Supreme Court judges because the two men voted to strike from the ballot a proposed constitutional question on the federal healthcare law. Citizen2Citizen, partnering with the Central Florida Tea Party Council, launched its campaign to boot Justices Jorge Labarga and James Perry from the state's high court." "Central Florida group seeks ouster of 2 high-court judges".




Something's gotta give

"The bear had a collapsed lung and broken ribs. The bear also had a hole in its side leading to some speculation that it may have been shot. The bear showed no signs of improvement and was euthanized Tuesday." "Fla. black bear possibly hit by car was euthanized".