Rubio: All teabagger, all the time

"[T]housands of activists in Florida — and many thousands more across the country — ... are transforming the angst behind the tea party movement into a grass roots machine operating outside the traditional campaign and party structure."

The effort could be key for Rubio, who is in a three-way race with Gov. Charlie Crist, running as an independent, and Democrat Kendrick Meek. Every vote will matter.

Behind the voter drive is FreedomWorks, a Washington group that's providing organizational support to tea party groups since they began to emerge nearly two years ago amid anger over the bank bailouts and the election of President Barack Obama.

Just another GOP front group:

FreedomWorks is headed by Dick Armey, a former GOP congressman from Texas, and critics say it is proof the tea party has been stirred, if not invented, by Republicans under the cloak of an organic movement.

The group does not deny that it aligns with Republican concerns but said it encourages the independence of each tea party group, adding that it has taken on GOP candidates who have lost sight of conservative ideals.

"Tea party provides muscle for Rubio".




Florida Teabagger-RPOFers soft pedal Quran burning

"Some Republican congressional candidates in Florida are condemning the Quran burning planned by a church in Gainesville this Saturday, but not as harshly as GOP figures outside the Sunshine State."

In a statement, Florida’s 22nd District candidate, Iraq war veteran Allen West, compared the Quran to the history of Islamic aggression against western countries. ...

A spokesman for Steve Southerland, who is running against Democratic Rep. Allen Boyd in Florida’s 2nd District, said the candidate doesn’t support the burning. But campaign manager Jonathan Hayes quickly pivoted the conversation to condemning a planned Islamic center to be built a few blocks from ground zero in New York is an equally pressing issue. ...

Dan Webster, a former state House speaker and state Senate majority leader who is looking to unseat firebrand Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson, simply called the event "inappropriate."

"Some in Fla. GOP softer in condemnations".




"Among the biggest battlegrounds"

"The struggle to snatch control of the House on Nov. 2 is likely to come down to some competitive races in Florida, and among the biggest battlegrounds will be the tumultuous South Florida match between Republican David Rivera and Democrat Joe Garcia." "Florida will play a starring role as parties wrestle for control of Congress".




"Sharpening their political attacks"

"Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink are sharpening their political attacks while laying the ground work for a blitz of spending for their respective gubernatorial campaigns. New campaign finance documents show Sink has opened her own electioneering committee, which allows her to avoid Florida's restrictive $500 limit on contributions to state candidates." "Alex Sink, Rick Scott file paperwork for spending blitz in Florida's governor race". Related: "Sink evades questions on political committee".




Desperate men in empty suits

"Republican strategists are making the statewide races for governor, attorney general and others a referendum on the Obama administration." "GOP strategy: Link state races to Obama".




LEO endorsements

"The state’s top two law enforcement groups - the Fraternal Order of Police and the Police Benevolent Association - have thrown their support behind Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the Democrat in the governor’s race. According to Sink’s campaign, it’s the first time the FOP has endorsed a Democrat for governor in 16 years." "Sink nails down police endorsements".




"The truth, of course, isn't so simplistic"

Kingsley Guy: "Quite a number of Floridians view life in the Sunshine State as a simplistic morality play: On the one side are evil developers whose only desire is to make fortunes while despoiling the environment. They are opposed by environmentalists and anti-growth activists, angelic beings who always operate on the side of God (or Gaia) in the struggle to save Florida from ruin." "Amendment 4 will make Florida ungovernable".




Never mind those fraud ads

"The official goal of tonight's event is to rally around Naples health care executive Rick Scott, the insurgent nominee for governor. Scott defeated Attorney General Bill McCollum with a $50 million onslaught of negative TV ads that also targeted the party. The party fought back, attacking Scott's history as the former CEO of Columbia/HCA, the for-profit hospital chain that paid $1.7 billion in fines in a Medicare fraud scandal." "Florida Republicans gather in show of unity".




Sunshine State News Poll

"Coming off a bruising primary fight, Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott trails Democrat Alex Sink 44-42, a new Sunshine State News Poll shows. 'This race is a statistical tie,' said Jim Lee, president of Voter Survey Service, which conducted the poll. 'The key is what Scott can do to grow his support with Republicans and independents.'" "Alex Sink and Rick Scott in a Statistical Tie". But see yesterday's CNN/Time poll: "Sink by 7 in CNN poll".




Entrepreneurs in action

"2 South Florida Insurance Executives Charged With Fraud".




Thank you, Mr. Obama

"Feds give Central Florida $48 million to battle foreclosure blight".




"A hollow exercise"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The Miami-Dade County Commission will vote Friday to officially implement its Wage Theft Program, which helps low-paid workers recover earnings when they've been stiffed by unscrupulous employers. The first of its kind in the state, the innovative program is being watched all over the country. Too bad today's action is a hollow exercise: No funds have been designated to keep it going." "Protecting the poorest".




Whatever

"Pastor rethinking canceling Quran burn".




Fl-oil-duh

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Keep gulf oil spill on the radar".