According to a new report from NBC News, West has been a fan and defender of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, a national group targeted by the FBI for involvement in racketeering, "violent crimes" and "attempted murder."

As NBC reported tonight, West has had personal dealings with the Florida chapter of the Outlaws ...

Sink continues to surge

"Swapping positions, Democrat Alex Sink has taken a lead over Republican Rick Scott in Florida's tightly contested gubernatorial race, according to a new Sunshine State News Poll."

The fall campaign's first nightly tracking poll of 2,000 likely voters shows Sink moving ahead of Scott, 48-45. That's a 9-point swing since Oct. 6, when Scott led Sink, 50-44.

Jim Lee, president of Voter Survey Service, which conducted the polls, cautioned that the results are "not conclusive that Sink is ahead. We will see ebb and flow in nightly polling."

Still, Lee called the swing toward Sink in the latest Oct. 12-13 sampling "fairly significant." ...

Why Scott might be stumbling amid a Republican surge is an open question.

Sink spokeswoman Kyra Jennings said, "Every day Floridians are learning the truth about Rick Scott and these latest polls show that character counts in this race."

Kenneth Quinnell, director of the Florida Progressive Coalition, offered, "Sink is pulling ahead because she's running a series of well-made ads that include Republicans criticizing Scott for his past."

Webster denies he's an extremist

"Webster's views on social issues such as abortion — he opposes it even for victims of rape or incest and when the mother's health is at risk — do place him on the most conservative end of his Republican Party. "

He has promoted his faith and 100 percent rating from the Christian Coalition of Florida in campaign fliers mailed to some voters. But he dismisses the notion that he would push his religious views if elected.

"I would say I have a social-conservative mind, but the way I have been portrayed is inaccurate. I know I'm not that person," Webster said. "I am a conservative. I'm pro-life; I'm pro-family. But if you take a look at my 28 years, show me anywhere in there that I'm the kind of person he's trying to portray me as."

Though abortion rights are protected under federal law, Webster has pushed to limit the practice.

In 1989, he sponsored a law requiring girls younger than 18 to obtain a parent's consent before obtaining an abortion. When it was struck down by the Florida Supreme Court as unconstitutional, he passed a similar law that required parental notification. It, too, was struck down.

In 1997, Webster pushed a law that would impose jail time for doctors who perform so-called partial-birth abortions.

His last year in the Senate, he sponsored a bill to require women seeking abortions to undergo an ultrasound and, unless they signed a waiver, view the results. Exemptions were included for victims of rape, incest or human trafficking, but only if they could produce evidence of the crime. The measure failed on a tie vote, but similar legislation passed this year after Webster's exit. ...

Though Americans are split on abortion, the percentage of people who share Webster's view that it should be illegal even in cases of rape or incest is much smaller. A 2009 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll put those supporting that position at 15 percent. ...

In 1990, Webster sponsored a bill that would have made covenant marriage an option under Florida law. Couples who elected to enter a covenant marriage after getting their parents' permission and attending premarital counseling could have divorced only in cases of adultery. Divorce would be prohibited if both parties had cheated.

About Jim

"His current predicament is widely known. Much less discussed — in fact never before told — is how Greer ascended to such prominence in the first place. He is a man with limited education and a past that includes resume fibs and racy run-ins with the police — also, though, an undeniable ability to shake the right hands, meet the right people and charm the ones who had what he wanted." "What we didn't know before Jim Greer's ascent".

Puffing Mr. Scott

"Six months ago, all most people knew about Scott was that he once ran Columbia/HCA, which paid a record $1.7 billion federal fine for Medicare fraud. Scott left with a golden parachute of $310 million. He moved from Connecticut to Naples in 2003, meeting Florida's seven-year residency requirement for candidates with just weeks to spare. He had never run for office. Now he's doing what no Florida candidate has ever done: spent $55 million — so far — of his own fortune in pursuit of political power." "Rick Scott the TV image well known, Rick Scott the man is not".

Early voting begins

"Early Voting Starts Monday". See also "Early voting starts Monday in Dade, Broward".

Scott backsliding on choice?

"A Florida legislator says in an e-mail that gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott has vowed to support a bill outlawing almost any abortion. That would have been a change from previous statements, but Scott's campaign said today he hasn't re-evaluated his position." "Scott denies e-mail promising abortion ban". See also "Florida GOP governor candidate Scott denies e-mail promising abortion ban".

Editorial board embarrasses itself

The Orlando Sentinel's campaign against Alan Grayson culminated with the editorial board fully inserting their collective noses into Webster's derriere with this expected endorsement yesterday: "Dan Webster over Alan Grayson for Congress".

Senate candidates hammer each other in debate

"A third debate in the three-way Senate race had Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist hammering each other, while Kendrick Meek poked both candidates." "Jabs grow sharper in 3-way Senate debate".

"Republican U.S. Senate frontrunner Marco Rubio may be leading Charlie Crist by double digits but he didn't pull his punches when he ripped the governor as a phoney opportunist in a combative televised debate Friday."

Crist in turn cast former House Speaker Rubio as a political insider who can't be trusted. ...

The dynamic in a three-way debate with Crist, Rubio and Democrat Kendrick Meek is much different from a traditional two-person faceoff, and on Friday each candidate over and over again claimed to be "the only candidate,'' who will do this or that: Rubio, the only one to stand up against the Obama administration agenda; Crist, the only one who will pursue common sense policies rather than blind party allegiance; and Meek, the only "true blue" Democrat to stand up for the middle class.

"I'm not here on behalf of the CEO's of the world. I'm for the everyday people," declared Meek, noting that he is the only candidate who opposes extending the Bush tax cuts for families earning more than $250,000.

They never did like that class size thing

Like Jebbie, the Tampa Tribune editors never did like that class size thing: "Reasonable changes for class-size amendment".

Teabaggers' delight

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board continue their hard right tilt: "Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate".

RPOFer "clowns, cowboys and crooks"

"Former Republican state Sen. Nancy Argenziano announced last week she was resigning three months early from the state Public Service Commission in order to back Democrat Alex Sink in the governor's race."

Argenziano is an Inverness Republican who was one of the Legislature's most outspoken members; she once sent a bale of manure to a lobbyist who'd fought one of her bills. She said she was bucking her party because Republican nominee Rick Scott's energy plan would allow "energy companies to regulate themselves" and railed against "pipsqueaks who think they own the Florida Legislature."

The "pipsqueaks" are the utilities and business groups who have pushed for big utility rate increases in order to finance power plant construction.

"I do not know that I can effectively portray the immensity of the danger of a marriage between the clowns, cowboys and crooks of the current Republican-led state legislature and Rick 'The Fifth Amendment' Scott," she said.

"Culture of corruption"

"In 1997, as the FBI unleashed a massive criminal investigation of Scott's hospital chain, Florida's State Board of Administration filed a civil lawsuit accusing Scott and his fellow hospital directors of profiting from a culture of corruption and selling stock 23 days before federal agents raided the company's offices in Texas." "Florida once sued would-be Gov. Rick Scott, accusing him of insider trading".

Scott cuts himself another check

"Democrat Alex Sink's campaign raised $382,000 from Oct. 2-10, bringing her total raised to $10.1 million. She has collected more than 63,000 checks of $500 or less. Republican Rick Scott wrote himself another check, this one for $1.7 million." "Sink camp breaks $10 million mark; Scott hits $56.5 million".

Cocky RPOFers

"How confident is the Republican Party that Marco Rubio will be the next senator from Florida?" "GOP getting more reasons to be confident".

Rove bankrolling West

"With less than three weeks to Election Day, national groups are stepping up their interest in South Florida's congressional races."

A powerful action committee with ties to Republican strategist Karl Rove and former Republican Party chair Ed Gillespie is targeting Rep. Ron Klein, the Boca Raton Democrat who wrested the Broward-Palm Beach district from the GOP in 2006. Klein, facing a challenge from Republican Allen West, is being bashed for supporting healthcare reform in TV ads that began airing Friday.

America's Families First Action Fund, a group with ties to Democrats, is spending more than $400,000 to take on state Rep. David Rivera, who is challenging Democrat Joe Garcia for a GOP-controlled seat. The group is also active in House districts in Colorado, Arizona, Illinois, New Mexico, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, but as of Friday, it was spending the most money on the Garcia-Rivera race.

Obstruction of justice, perjury and contempt?

Talbot 'Sandy' D'Alemberte, past president of the American Bar Association, writes that "to invoke the Fifth Amendment, an individual must swear under oath that the reason for doing so is a fear of self-incrimination. There are no other circumstances that permit a person to avoid answering questions during a legal proceeding. "

But recent public statements by Rick Scott, the Republican candidate for governor, reveal that the reason he pleaded the Fifth Amendment was not to avoid self-incrimination. Instead it was to obstruct or stop what he now says was a lawyer's "fishing expedition."

Invoking the Fifth Amendment just to avoid a "fishing expedition" can be obstruction of justice, perjury and lead to contempt of court. At issue is a deposition during which Scott was questioned about his role as the CEO of what was then the country's largest health care company. A federal investigation of Scott's company, Columbia/HCA, led to a record $1.7 billion in fines for defrauding Medicare, the health care program for seniors.

During this one deposition, Scott pleaded the Fifth Amendment 75 times.

As a lawyer, officer of the court and candidate for governor, Scott knew he had an obligation to uphold the rule of law and to act in conformance with the legal system's requirements. So when Scott invoked the Fifth Amendment while under oath, he could have only done so for one legitimate reason: to avoid incriminating himself.

Wingnut voter suppression schemes

"Election law seminars that a Republican lawyers group held in Illinois -- which happened to coincide with GOP senate candidate Mark Kirk being secretly recorded saying his campaign would be running voter integrity squads in predominately black neighborhoods of Chicago -- are actually part of a series of seminars the group is holding for Republican lawyers in several states around the country"

According to the Republican National Lawyers Association's Facebook page, they have held events in Illinois, Nevada, Wisconsin, California, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida.

"Over the last several years they've been a very dominant player in this," Tova Wang, Senior Democracy Fellow at Demos, told TPMMuckraker on Friday. Demos, a public policy research and advocacy organization, put out a report on voter suppression this year and has called for poll watchers to be educated about voter laws. "I would not accuse them of doing anything untoward, but they certainly have been an organizing vehicle for poll watchers on the Republican side. I'd have to know what they are telling people to know whether it is a problem."

The RNLA is a well-connected group that has featured major conservative speakers at their events -- including RNC Chairman Michael Steele and Ed Gillespie. According to a press release on their 2010 Election efforts, they have trained over 1,000 lawyers across the country.

Rivera in a pickle

"A Democratic donor has filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics accusing Republican state representative and congressional candidate David Rivera of hiding his income in disclosure forms filed annually. ... Rivera first told The Miami Herald that he won the USAID contracts through competitive bidding. After learning that USAID had no record of working with him, the Miami lawmaker then told the newspaper that he worked as a subcontractor to other USAID contractors -- but he will not name the companies that hired him." "Congressional candidate David Rivera faces ethics complaint".

Sore losers

"A new report says lawmakers should enact a 'sore loser' law and prevent party-switching before elections." "Legislature may change laws in wake of Crist GOP defection".

Scott: never mind that Arizona stuff

"Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott ran ads during the GOP primary, attacking his opponent, Attorney General Bill McCollum, for not supporting Arizona’s S.B. 1070 immigration law. But since winning the primary, he has rarely mentioned the issue. His Democratic opponent, Florida CFO Alex Sink, opposes the Arizona immigration law." "Rick Scott not mentioning immigration in general election".

Haridopolos late to the game

"State Sen. Mike Haridopolos on Thursday demanded the head of the state's property-management agency resign because of "runaway spending" on the politically charged 1st District Court of Appeal." "Sen. Haridopolos calls for head of DMS to resign".

Teabaggers get a win in fight against health care

"A federal judge will allow portions of Florida's lawsuit challenging controversial national health-care law to proceed." "US judge allows part of health-care suit to proceed". See also "McCollum, Meek, White House sound off on decision allowing health care suit to proceed".

Boyd on the ropes in South Georgia

"Veteran Democrat faces a conservative tsunami on Panhandle". "CD 2: Is Allen Boyd on the Outs? Steve Southerland Sitting Pretty?". This should help: "NRA endorses Allen Boyd for Nov. 2 election".

Yuck

"Gary Bauer Goes to Bat for Marco Rubio".

"A life spent crossing divides"

"For Sink, the quest to become Florida's first female governor seems less of a distinction than a natural progression in a life spent crossing divides." "Alex Sink mastered banking, but political ease is a stretch for the bookish candidate".

RPOFer booted off ballot

"A Tallahassee judge ruled Friday that Jim Norman violated state financial disclosure laws and should be removed from the Nov. 2 ballot as a Republican state Senate candidate."

Leon County Judge Jackie Fulford, ruling in a lawsuit brought by state Rep. Kevin Ambler, said Norman had a duty to disclose a gift of $500,000 from his political benefactor, the late Ralph Hughes. The money was a "gift," Fulford said, that paid the bulk of the purchase price for a lakefront home in Arkansas titled to Norman's wife, Mearline.

"Defendant Jim Norman has failed to provide full and public disclosure as required by the Florida Constitution," Fulford wrote in her opinion. "It is clear to this court that Ralph Hughes gave Mearline Norman $500,000, for the benefit of Jim Norman, who at this time was a public official before whom Mr. Hughes regularly appeared."

The ruling sent state elections officials and Republican Party leaders scrambling to figure out what comes next. Florida law says party leaders have five days to choose a new nominee after the state Division of Elections declares a vacancy of nomination in state Senate District 12.

Disgrace

"Charlie Crist, sagging in polls, gains support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.".

Bogdanoff has fight on her hands

"State Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff is a Fort Lauderdale Republican who has long been part of the inner circle of GOP leadership in Tallahassee. State Rep. Kelly Skidmore is a Boca Raton Democrat who has grabbed headlines fighting to regulate pain management clinics and prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians." "Fla. House veterans Bogdanoff, Skidmore fighting for Atwater's Senate seat".

'Glades

"The hazards of lead in paint, pottery, gasoline and toys have been known for decades, but water managers were told last week that lead shot left behind by hunters on more than 687,000 acres of hunting grounds and wetlands owned by the South Florida Water Management District does not harm wildlife or the environment." "Potential hazard of wetlands contamination by lead ammo fires up Florida debate over hunting".

Sink endorsements rolling out

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Sink for governor". The Tampa Tribune editors: "Governor: Sink, for ideas, integrity".

Meanwhile, Mr. Scott is gettin' desperate: "New Scott ad attacks Sink for giving licenses to some charged with crimes" and "Gubernatorial Race Turns to Attacks Over Ethics". Related: "Curtains for Alex Sink".

RPOFer cash behind gerrymandering

"The campaign to change the way voting districts are drawn in Florida brought in New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz — two well-known independents — to promote its cause Friday. But behind the scenes, much of the money for and against the reforms pushed by FairDistricts.org is tied to the major political parties."

Much of the nearly $6.9 million collected by FairDistricts.org comes from Democratic-leaning interest groups, unions and law firms. The opposition, led by Protect Your Vote, has raised $1.1 million so far. The biggest donor: the Republican Party of Florida, which gave $750,000 last week.

The GOP's interest in maintaining the status quo is obvious. The Republican-controlled Legislature is poised to redraw voting districts by 2012 to reflect population shifts tracked by the U.S. Census. Voters will weigh in Nov. 2 on two constitutional amendments that say the districts can't be drawn to protect a politician or a party.

"Not going anywhere"

"Political signs are not going anywhere -- until after Election Day".

To drill again

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "President Obama's decision to lift a moratorium on deepwater oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico may rank as one of his most effective moves to stimulate the dormant economy." "Drilling decision strikes the right balance".

Time for a nap

"According to a recent Mason-Dixon poll, voters older than 65 are splitting evenly between the two candidates for Florida's governor, with 43 percent for each." "Feeling Ignored, Senior Voters Dissatisfied With Candidate Choices".

Rubio's pattern of treating donor money as his own

"This spring Marco Rubio's momentum in the U.S. Senate race was threatened by a series of revelations about him repeatedly using GOP campaign donations to pay for personal expenses — everything from personal care products to a family reunion to groceries."

But if Rubio worried the revelations would damage his surging campaign or image as a fiscal watchdog, he sure didn't show it. On March 31, the Miami Republican's campaign wrote a check a $1,500 to St. John Neumann Catholic Preparatory School. It was listed as a "registration fee" on Rubio's federal campaign reports.

When a Miami-based Democratic blogger, Joy Reid, flagged the unusual expense on her Reid Report blog, the Rubio campaign scoffed.

"It's BS. His kids don't even go there," the campaign responded to a St. Petersburg Times inquiry. "It was to sponsor some event they were doing and as it turns out they couldn't take money from a campaign so the check was never cashed and then voided."

Turns out, though, that there was a Rubio family connection: The money went to a school fishing tournament fundraiser organized by Rubio's sister-in-law.

Leading in the polls, he cautioned about 100 supporters to take nothing for granted and to prepare for negative attacks from Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek and independent candidate Charlie Crist.

The campaign made no apologies for trying to spend donors' money on his sister-in-law's private school fundraising event, but it's hardly the first time he's faced questions about how he spends political contributions.

The former state House speaker used a state GOP credit card for personal expenses. He says he always paid American Express directly for non-political purchases, but had to repay the party more than $2,000 for double-billed plane tickets after the Times/Herald obtained some of those records. Rubio will not release two years of those records.

Likewise, Rubio's political committees spent tens of thousands of dollars on credit card payments and other vague expenses. Even with little or no opposition as a state House member, his reelection campaigns spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, including $1,500 for a car payment. The campaign says all expenses were campaign-related.

"There's a pattern of Rubio treating donor money as his own and as a way to help out family and friends or to benefit personally,'' said Reid, the blogger who also writes a regular column for The Miami Herald.

Bought and paid for

"Agribusiness money powers Putnam's Ag Commissioner campaign".

Webster afraid of Grayson

"Alan Grayson debates, but without main challenger Dan Webster"

"Somebody pass me a flag to wave"

Joy-Ann Reid "tried a Twitter thought experiment, asking Florida Republicans to tweet back if they were proud -- not supportive, or intending to vote for, but proud -- of Rick Scott as their gubernatorial nominee."

The tweet got passed around (retweeted, for the uninitiated) for more than an hour, during which I got lots of feedback from folks who were getting direct messages from Republican friends and even GOP donors and consultants, who said they had to stand with Scott, but weren't thrilled about it. In the end, only one person took me up on the offer: a blogger who has received advertising buys from the Scott campaign.

More scientific is a new Quinnipiac poll showing Scott in a statistical tie, 45 percent to 44 percent, with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink. The poll finds that "likely voters'' believe Sink to be the more ethical businessperson by a whopping 44 to 28 percent, while among independents, the spread is 50 to 24. Scott is viewed negatively by 39 to 46 percent, while 89 percent say a candidate's business experience is important.

What does it say about us that a sizable minority is prepared to vote for people we don't like, aren't proud of, and who we don't think are ethical?

Somebody pass me a flag to wave.

Voters guide

The Saint Petersburg Times's "Midterm election voters' guide".

NcCollum finally gets off his duff

"Florida's attorney general joined 49 states and DC to launch a national probe into bank foreclosures." "States launch an inquiry into home foreclosure crisis".

Adams wants to repeal 17th amendment?

"The forum later turned to a Kosmas website that says Adams wants to repeal the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which established direct election of U.S. senators. Kosmas called the idea strange, but Adams said her opinion had more to do with letting states decide how to choose their senators." "Kosmas, Adams clash in rowdy congressional campaign debate".

Teabaggers attack Free Choice Act

"U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, voted for organized labor's top priority in 2007 - a 'card check'* bill that would allow unions to bypass secret-ballot elections if a majority of employees sign cards requesting a union. After that bill failed in the Senate, identical legislation was reintroduced in 2009. After some publicized hesitation, Klein signed on as one of 231 cosponsors." "Congressional candidate West challenges incumbent Klein's shift on union issue".

- - - - - - - - - -
*"Card check" is a derogatory term used by the Chamber of Commerce (the folks injecting foreign money into U.S. elections) and their mouthpieces in the traditional media.

Something, anything

"At the same time Alex Sink tried to ban felons from selling mortgages in Florida, her own state office was licensing ex-cons in the insurance business."

Sink's discretionary power to reject a license comes at the end of one of the most rigorous application processes in the country, according to several national insurance groups.

Florida requires 200 hours of training to sell property and casualty policies. All agents must be fingerprinted, including those who live out-of-state.

Would-be agents with a criminal history must wait five, 10 or 15 years after the crime before receiving a license. Lesser crimes, such as public drunkenness or disorderly conduct, require the shortest waiting period, while the 15-year punishment is reserved for insurance-related violations, like falsifying insurance claims, or the most heinous crimes such as murder or rape.

"Florida is one of the toughest places to get an insurance license in the country, if not the toughest," Florida Association of Insurance Agents vice president Scott Johnson said.

"A smart strategy"

"Constantly linking Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek to President Obama's policies is proving to be 'a smart strategy' for Republican Marco Rubio in Florida's U.S. Senate race, a new poll indicated on Wednesday." "Linking Crist, Obama paying off for Rubio".

"Jeb!" laff riot

"Jeb! says Deb! is treading on his trade mark. A lawyer for former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush has sent Deborah Gianoulis, a candidate for the Florida Senate, a letter demanding the Jacksonville Democrat cease using a red Deb! logo with white lettering." "Jeb! says Deb! treading on his trade mark".

Dem defectors

"Crist's critical, and apparently failing, battle to woo Democratic voters away from Kendrick Meek in the U.S. Senate race got a boost Wednesday from a member of the nation's Democratic royal family. Attacking Republican Marco Rubio as a member of the radical and "crackpot" tea party movement and praising Meek but calling him unelectable, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. threw his support behind Crist, who is running as an independent." "Crist gets Kennedy backing in U.S. Senate race but trails Rubio badly in latest poll".

"Will they all stay silent?"

Howard Troxler: "The only possible response to the newest scandalous revelations about that "Taj Mahal" courthouse in Tallahassee ..."

Is to block the 1st District Court of Appeal from occupying that corrupt, stinking, ill-gotten $48 million palace that it arranged for itself.

Lock the door. Kick them out. Make them move.

Right now.

I don't care how the Florida Supreme Court, the governor, the Cabinet and the Legislature do it.

But the 1st District Court of Appeal and Corruption cannot be allowed to take this building.

It would be like giving Al Capone a medal.

What does it take for the Supreme Court to speak out?

What does it take for the oh-so-righteous, "honor"-of-our-profession Florida Bar to speak out?

What does it take for every judge, every other appeals court in Florida?

Will they all stay silent?

Amendment 4 details are fuzzy

"A proposed change to the state Constitution could give voters power to approve or reject real-estate developments, although details are fuzzy." "Amendment 4: Question could change South Florida landscape".

Wingers dig deep

"Scott 527 nets $308,000 in four days".

Mail ballot mess

"If you changed your mailing address recently and just requested an absentee ballot, there's a small chance you might not get it quickly because of a glitch in the state's voter database." "Computer glitch may slow absentee ballot mailings statewide".

Plenty of alternatives

"In the top statewide races, voters have plenty of alternatives to Democrats and Republicans." "Dislike major candidates? Ballot has other choices".

Say who?

"CFO Race Overshadowed by Others".

Class size

"Fla. class-size debate over flexibility, funding". See also "Amendment 8 gives voters chance for second thoughts on strict class-size limits".

Ag poll

"Republican Pam Bondi holds a steady lead over Democrat Dan Gelber in the race for Florida attorney general, a new Sunshine State News tracking poll shows." "Poll Shows Bondi Holds Edge Against Gelber in AG Race".

Teacher haters scratching their heads

"Claim that 'We don't care about Democrats or Republicans' is half right, GOP skeptics say". "Teachers Union Shows Its True (Blue) Color".

Maverick Argenziano backs Sink

"Nancy Argenziano is leaving the Public Service Commission her way."

Denied re-nomination by a legislatively controlled selection committee, the PSC chairwoman said Wednesday she's not sure what she will do next. A lifelong Republican, she's supporting Democrat Alex Sink for governor and plans to continue to advocate separation of utility regulation from the political influence of elected lawmakers.

2 minutes

"The claims of fraud are real, but suggesting through images that police raided or seized records from Solantic is misleading. Ads are about both the visuals and the words campaigns choose. In this case, the Democratic Party is inflating the allegations against Solantic by including video of sheriff's tape and police collecting evidence. There have been no reports that we could find of police raiding a Solantic facility. And the Democratic Party, when asked, could provide no evidence of any such search. We rate that claim False." "Sink's ad attacking Scott gets fraud claim right, but also misleads".

Ros-Lehtinen

"Ros-Lehtinen to address women business owners".

Rubio, the darling of Republican and tea party activists, was favored by 44 percent to Crist's 30 percent in a survey of 1,055 likely Florida voters conducted between Oct. 6 and 10 by Quinnipiac (Conn.) University. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Today's results are essentially unchanged from a September 30 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, in which Rubio led Crist 46 - 33 percent with Meek getting 18 percent of likely voters.

Florida likely voters disapprove of President Barack Obama's job performance 54 - 43 percent, a slight improvement from October 1 when they disapproved 56 - 40 percent.

"As the clock ticks down to Election Day, there is no evidence that Marco Rubio's lead is narrowing. Anything is possible since there are still three weeks left in the campaign, but it appears Rubio's opponents will need an earth-shaking development to deny him the U.S. Senate seat," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Meek, who has trailed badly throughout the three-way contest, received 22 percent, although he was favored by half of the Democrats surveyed.

Another Rivera bombshell

"Over the past seven years, Republican state Rep. David Rivera repeatedly said in sworn documents that his main source of income, outside of his salary from the Legislature, came from consulting work he did for the U.S. Agency for International Development."

But USAID has no record of ever hiring Rivera -- now a candidate for Congress -- or his company. ...

When asked by The Herald about his work with USAID, Rivera gave conflicting explanations, first saying he won the USAID contracts through competitive bidding, but later saying he worked only as a subcontractor to other USAID contractors -- whom Rivera would not identify.

Scott getting desperate

"Scott continues attack on Sink's decisions, judgment".

McCollum bending

"McCollum said Tuesday he has made overtures to the Scott campaign to meet with their candidate, albeit unsuccessfully at this point." "McCollum says he's leaning toward voting for Scott".

"Zero evidence either Meek or Crist dropping"

"So long as nonpartisan candidate Charlie Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek divvy up Democratic votes, Republican Marco Rubio is poised to comfortably win a U.S. Senate seat. And so far, there is zero evidence either Meek or Crist is remotely considering dropping out." "No sign of dropping out". See also "Democrats deny rumors Meek is dropping out of Senate race", "Meek denies rumors he's dropping out of Senate race, blames Crist team" and "State Democrats say Meek won't drop out of U.S. Senate race".

More: "Crist camp responds to charge of spreading Meek dropout rumors". Related: "Rumors of a Meek dropout ignore that his name would still be on the ballot".

Big of 'em

"Florida's gay adoption ban won't be enforced anywhere in the state after the Department of Children and Families decided Tuesday not to appeal the ban's overturn to the state Supreme Court. The only way the case stays alive is if Attorney General Bill McCollum separately decides to appeal to the Supreme Court to keep the ban in place. If McCollum doesn't appeal, it will end the three-decade old ban that was considered the strictest in the country." "DCF won't appeal overturn of gay adoption ban".

DCCC pulls Kosmas ads

"National Democrats are abandoning the re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, deciding Tuesday to cancel plans to spend $650,000 on television ads for the freshman Democrat in the final week before Election Day."

Republicans interpreted the cancellation as a sign that Democrats had given up on the New Smyrna Beach legislator. Democrats countered that Kosmas has enough money to defend herself against state Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, and didn't need the outside help.

Amendment 1, a simple choice

"Amendment 1 is giving Florida voters a simple choice: Do you want taxpayer money to pay for political campaigns? But there's a not-so-simple caveat: If you do, you should vote no. If you don't, vote yes." "Voters will get chance to embrace or repeal public finance of Florida campaigns".

Pelosi's puppet?

"Republican Steve Southerland sought to depict U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd as a puppet of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a pair of debates Tuesday." "Boyd, Southerland trade charges".

St. Johns River

"Monday evening’s meeting of the Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board once again featured a face-off between environmentalists and industry." "Georgia-Pacific and Riverkeeper go head to head (again) over proposed pipeline".

Who should pay?

"Speculation has been increasing that support for high-speed rail projects may hinge on who gets elected governor. In Florida, Democrat Alex Sink has long supported them, while Rick Scott has demurred." "Who should pay for Florida’s high-speed rail?".

Collective action

"A farmworker organization and major Florida grower are expected to announce a new deal to improve worker conditions. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Palmetto-based Pacific Tomato Growers are scheduled to hold a news conference Wednesday morning." "Florida tomato workers to announce deal with growers".

Expensive tix

Scott Maxwell: "The event was a fundraiser for Democrat gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink, and Buffett performed barefoot in the backyard of John 'For the People' Morgan's Heathrow mansion Sunday evening. The set was short — just a few songs, including 'Margaritaville' and 'Volcano.' But the cash haul was big — about $500,000, according to Morgan." "$5,000 for Jimmy Buffett seems like a deal next to $17,600 for Obama".

"Taj Mahal" Update

"Some judges 'bullied' a state agency into building an opulent courthouse that cost taxpayers about 11 million more than it should have, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink said Tuesday." "Sink's audit raps 'Taj Mahal' courthouse".

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s eye-opening audit of the $48 million 'Taj Mahal' courthouse shows stunning lapses by the Florida agency charged with overseeing state construction projects. It also exposes a group of politically connected judges who pushed aside any barrier — legal, ethical or otherwise — to secure a palatial new home built to their lavish tastes." See also "Sink chastises DCA judges" and "Sink: 'Taj Mahal' courthouse is 'more than embarrassing'".

Nancy Smith: "Put the whistle back in your pocket, Alex, you’re too late. The First District Court of Appeal’s 'Taj Mahal' of a building went up on your watch. Yours, girlfriend." "Hey, Alex Sink, 'Fire, Aim, Ready?' A Little Embarrassing, Girlfriend".

Obama house parties

"As President Barack Obama urged voters to head to the polls in November, Central Florida Democrats huddled around computers at house parties Tuesday night and tuned in his live webcast." "Central Florida Democrats gather at house parties to hear Obama's get-out-the-vote message".

LeMieux finds support for opposition to unemployment extension

"Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fla., was criticized by Democrats during the last day before the congressional recess for leading Republican opposition to another extension in federal jobless benefits." "Nobel 'Friction' Theory Supports Curbs on Jobless Benefits".

Wingnuts go after central Florida Dems

"It's now official: Alan Grayson and Suzanne Kosmas are walking bull's-eyes. So says Politico, which recently completed an analysis of TV ad-buys by outside conservative groups — and concluded that Grayson and Kosmas were tied for America's No. 1 target." "Local Dems are top target".

"An extremist"?

"A notably aggressive Ron Klein went on the offensive during a Tuesday debate in hopes of saving his congressional seat, calling opponent Allen West an extremist ill-suited to represent South Florida." "Klein, West trade barbs in close congressional race".

'Glades

"A $197 million attempt to restore the Everglades by turning over a swath of sugar farmland to the state was finalized Tuesday, ending two years of court battles and scaling back of the initial deal. " "State, U.S. Sugar finalize Everglades deal".

Poll results "quite a move for Sink"

About the Q poll reported yesterday: "Republican Rick Scott clings to a single percentage point lead over Democrat Alex Sink, 45-44, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday."

The results reflect quite a move for Sink, who was down 43-49 in Quinnipiac's Oct. 1 survey. Sink also is winning among independents, 51-34, a group that she had been losing, 40-46, to Scott earlier this month.

Two minutes

"Democrat Alex Sink will air a new ad during your local 6 p.m. news broadcast today that whacks Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott for alleged fraud at Columbia/HCA, his former health care company, as well as at Solantic, his current health care business."

However, Aaron Sharockman whines that "while many of the facts of the ad are correct, Sink and Democrats also use some clever editing and misleading visuals to sensationalize some of the accusations against Scott." "Sink's ad attacking Scott gets fraud claims right, but also misleads".

Never mind the lies

Dean Cannon, "the House speaker-designate is among multiple legislators making an incredibly gutsy — and questionable — claim in their campaign mailers." "Faulty claims".

Ending gerrymandering

"Every 10 years, the state Legislature redraws Florida's legislative and congressional district boundaries to reflect the latest census data. But the results tend equally to reflect the political ambitions of those wielding the pen."

It may sound like the ultimate insider's game, but voters have a lot at stake. How lawmakers divvy up the electorate into legislative districts, for example, can factor heavily into which party controls the Legislature, which policies it adopts and how it spends the state's money.

FairDistrictsFlorida.org is the citizens initiative responsible for Amendments 5 and 6, Backed by teacher and service employee unions as well as the Florida NAACP and ACLU, Fair Districts claims its proposals would end gerrymandering.

Three weeks before Election Day, the two antagonists were about even in the latest Quinnipiac University poll, with Scott at 45 percent and Sink, the state's chief financial officer, favored by 44 percent.

The survey of 1,055 likely Florida voters taken between Oct. 6-10 has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Just two weeks ago, Scott was up 49 percent to 43 percent in a similar Quinnipiac poll.

Ms. Sink's surge could be tied to voter belief, 44 - 28 percent, that she was a more ethical businessperson than Scott when both were in the private sector, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey finds. A total of 89 percent of likely voters say a candidate's record in business is either somewhat or very important to their vote choice.

By a 42 - 37 percent margin, Florida voters have a favorable opinion of Sink, while Scott gets a negative 39 - 46 percent favorability rating. This compares to the October 1 survey showing her with a split 39 - 39 percent favorability, compared to Scott's split 41 - 40 percent.

"In the last two weeks, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has moved into a statistical tie with Rick Scott. Her image has improved while his has deteriorated. It would seem that the debate through television ads about their respective business careers may be the reason," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "At this point she is winning that debate handily and it is having an impact on the race.

"How the voters feel about the economy is also directly tied to their vote: Among those who think the economy is improving, Ms. Sink leads 69 - 22 percent, while Scott leads 58 - 25 percent among voters who see the economy getting worse."

Week ahead

"The Week Ahead for Oct. 11-15".

Scott, runs, hides from ed boards

"The push to win newspaper endorsements has turned into a one-sided affair in the Florida governor’s race, with Republican Rick Scott effectively boycotting editorial boards while Democrat Alex Sink makes a big, homestretch pitch for support."

Sink has scheduled interviews with five of the state’s major newspapers this week – following sit-downs last week with editors at three other Florida papers.

Scott, meanwhile, plans no newspaper visits, although his campaign downplays the meaning of his snub of the decades-old tradition of courting the backing of Florida newspapers, whose endorsements are slated to appear in the final weekends leading to the Nov. 2 election.

Haridopolos purging staffers

"The once-moderate Florida Senate is growing more conservative under incoming leader Mike Haridopolos in the wake of high-level staff firings and resignations that have thinned the ranks of Democrats in the upper chamber." "Senate chief jettisons staffers".

Sink not a partisan gunslinger

"When Alex Sink was elected Florida's chief financial officer four years ago, supporters hoped she would lead a rebound for out-of-power Democrats in state government."

But instead of a partisan gunslinger, they got a pocket protector.

Her one term in office has been spent pursuing incremental reforms and cost savings rather than sweeping, headline-grabbing issues. She focused on a plethora of penny-pinching, sometimes yawn-inducing financial, insurance and contracting reforms that were often thwarted and even mocked by majority-party Republicans in the Legislature.

"Voters should remove Hawkes from office"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "An appellate judge’s obsession with building a palatial courthouse in Tallahassee looks more corrupt by the day. Paul Hawkes, the chief judge on the 1st District Court of Appeal, disgraced the judicial branch with his brazen lobbying and unethical conduct. The Judicial Qualifications Commission should investigate, and North Florida voters should remove Hawkes from office in November."

"A series of reports by Times senior correspondent Lucy Morgan recounts how Hawkes single-mindedly pursued a $48 million courthouse for himself and his fellow appellate judges without regard for judicial deportment or neutrality."

Hawkes not only lobbied his friends in the Legislature for the money and pulled off a questionable last-minute deal in 2007. He ruled on a highly consequential case involving the St. Joe Co. while the court was negotiating to build the courthouse on public land that was formerly owned by St. Joe and could have been retaken by the company.

These ethical lapses and conflicts of interest are so blatant that any beginning lawyer could see them. Hawkes, a former Republican state representative and legislative staffer, never made the transformation from political hack to impartial judge.

"Next-generation Jeb"

Mike Thomas: "The victory that teachers scored in thwarting a merit pay bill earlier this year will be very short-lived if Rick Scott is elected governor."

In fact, merit pay could be the least of their problems.

Scott isn't interested in school reform. He's for school revolution.

His plan is next-generation Jeb. ...

Scott will have little problem pushing his agenda in an increasingly conservative Legislature that has long been at odds with the Florida Education Association — the state's teachers' union.

"Florida one of the worst states in the nation"

"New Census information shows that deep poverty claims more Floridians and the number not officially 'poor' but living on relatively low incomes has also increased dramatically. Florida continues to be one of the worst states in the nation in terms of residents covered by health insurance." "Poor and Near-Poor Increase While Income Gap Widens" (.pdf).

Amendment 4 kerfuffle

"Amendment 4 supporters demonize big business in television ads, but others argue well-funded special interest groups would potentially have more influence over local land use, not less, with the passage of Amendment 4." "Business Leaders: Amendment 4 Will Stifle Growth".

Rove denies he's a crook

"Rove denies GOP gets money from foreign sources".

"Officially a big national deal"

"In case there was any doubt, the race between Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein and Republican challenger Allen West is officially a big national deal." "Obama, Boehner visits to S. Fla. show Klein-West race important nationally".

"Politics of the pout"

Daniel Ruth: "You want smears? You want good old-fashioned backstabbing, character assassination, lies and innuendo? Well, you've come to the right place." "A young master’s politics of the pout".

Amendment 8

"Amendment 8 debate centers on money for schools". More: "Amendment 8: Summary of pros and cons".

Commercial space

"There's a growing realization on the Space Coast that the future of the area's economy and the future of space exploration are going to rely heavily on commercial space companies." "Legislators Want Incentives for Commercial Space Enterprise".

Where was LeBron?

"Obama spoke at the home of former Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning, who was joined by Miami Heat players Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and former L.A. Lakers and NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson." "Obama's Miami visit and NBA stars draw campaign funds".

Villages Idiots

"Crist stops by The Villages".

Rivera, Garcia debate

"Rivera, Garcia debate again -- on Spanish radio".

Grayson "leaving constituents breathless"

"U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson isn't subtle and neither is the attack ad the Democrat is running against his Repbulican opponent."

"Religious fanatics try to take away our freedom in Afghanistan, Iran and right here in central Florida," it begins. It ends by calling the opponent "Taliban Dan Webster."

Webster's campaign and others have called the ad completely misleading, but the ad is pure Grayson: brazen, combative, unabashedly liberal and leaving constituents breathless by the audacity of what he just he said.

West not looking to make nice

"House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) will head to South Florida on Monday to campaign for Allen West, a fiery conservative who’s in a tight race against Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.). But West, a tea-party favorite, isn’t exactly looking to make nice with the House Republican leader." "Politico: GOP hopeful bucks party 'Pledge'".

Enough with the "glacial slowness"

The Miami Herald editors: "EPA director Lisa Jackson has won a reprieve on an order to appear in Miami federal court last week to explain her agency's 'glacial slowness' in meeting water pollution standards vital to Everglades restoration. A reprieve is not a pass, however." "Where's the EPA?".

"They've let the kooks co-opt their party"

Stephen Goldstein: "Today, the Republican-tea party is waving a few alluring ideas before us — like keeping taxes low, reducing government waste, creating jobs. But if you fall for them, you'll get stuck with its real agenda, stamped with the sinister imprint of the radical religious right. It's itching to win the next round in our culture wars."

Of course, the party won't admit to its evil designs. The party knows it would scare you into not voting for it. But if Republicans increase their power in Congress and maintain their lock on the Florida Legislature, they will try to impose all their reactionary ideas on you.

They've got big plans for how they want you to lead your life, whether you like it or not.

1. If you want to let Wall Street run amok again and play fast and loose with your money, help John Boehner replace Nancy Pelosi. ...

2. If you want to let Wall Street profit at the trough of Social Security, vote Republican. ...

3. If you want your family at the mercy of the state like Terri Schiavo's family, vote for Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate. ...

4. If you want to force women who are victims of rape and incest to have babies, vote Republican. ...

5. If you are against finding cures for diseases, vote Republican. ...

6. If you don't believe in the separation of church and state, vote for Marco Rubio. ...

There are no moderate Republicans; they are all radical because they've let the kooks co-opt their party.

Amendment 2

"Amendment 2, put on the ballot by the legislature, would exempt deployed soldiers who are homesteaded in Florida from paying property taxes for the days and months they spend fighting in conflicts abroad." "On the ballot: Proposal to give property tax exemption to military deployed overseas".

Ambler goes to trial

"A one-day trial gets under way this morning to hear state Rep. Kevin Ambler's lawsuit that seeks to disqualify Jim Norman's candidacy for the state Senate District 12 seat."

Ambler says Norman should be disqualified because he failed to disclose that his wife owns a lakefront house in Arkansas and that Norman's former friend and political supporter, Ralph Hughes, paid most of the home's purchase price.

Norman's defense is that the house belongs to his wife, who had a business partnership with Hughes to re-sell the 2,800, $435,000 home for profit.

Private school follies

"A Fort Lauderdale-based for-profit college says its reputation is being unfairly smeared -- prompting a lawsuit against a Florida community college." "For-profit colleges slam state schools".

Obama a drag

"President Barack Obama's swing through Maimi raised funds for his party on Monday but, according to a new Sunshine State News Poll, his policies raise deep distrust among Floridians and threaten to drag Democratic candidates down." "Poll: Barack Obama a Drag for Florida Dems".

"Declaration of Independents"

"Independent congressional candidate Dianne Berryhill of Tallahassee has joined a dozen other no-party candidates in signing a five-point proclamation promising to change the way Congress operates." "Candidate Berryhill signs 'Declaration of Independents'".

Wingnut GOTV scam

"This spring for the first time in state history, according to the Department of State, Florida lawmakers placed a non-binding referendum on the statewide ballot. It asks voters in politically charged language whether they want to "stop the uncontrolled growth" of the national debt 'which threatens our economy and national security' and require a federal balanced budget without raising taxes." "Balanced budget item is the first nonbinding referendum ever on statewide ballot".

Where's Rod?

"Democrat Alex Sink campaigns hard across the state, but Democrats everywhere note the near-invisibility of running mate Rod Smith. Nonsense, says Sink's campaign." "Sink keeps running mate Rod Smith in the background".

"Florida's disreputable status"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Florida's disreputable status as the nation's pain pill dispenser should change soon, thanks to a new state law that took effect Oct. 1. " "State can shut down dangerous 'pill mills'".

For many immigrants and Hispanic leaders, proposed legislation to give unauthorized immigrants a path to citizenship is a rallying cry to turn out the vote for Democrats, including Alex Sink for governor.

Garcia and Rivera trade punches

"In their first TV debate Sunday, congressional hopefuls Joe Garcia and David Rivera spoke over each other and argued fiercely in a face-off as nasty as their campaign."

Reiterating attacks they have previously made in their campaigns, Rivera linked Garcia, a former member of President Barack Obama's administration, to Washington, D.C., and Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a favorite GOP target this year as Republicans try to regain control of Congress.

Garcia emphasized the ties Rivera, an eight-year state representative, has to Tallahassee and compared him to a Miami-Dade County Commission increasingly unpopular with Hispanic voters.

The debate, held at the Pembroke Park studios of WPLG-ABC 10 and broadcast live on This Week in South Florida With Michael Putney, lasted less than 30 minutes and marked the first and perhaps only time the two candidates will face off on local television.

Never mind that "outsider" stuff

"The wealthy Naples businessman told supporters on primary election night that in Tallahassee "the dealmakers are crying in their cocktails" in response to his stunning victory. He'd just spent about $50 million of his own money winning the Republican nomination, and said if he's elected governor he won't owe any political favors."

Now, with less than a month to go before the general election, Scott has gotten more than chummy with many of the same GOP "insiders" and special interests he railed against - and who raised millions of dollars to defeat him in the primary. They are helping each other refill their coffers and put their newly found mutual admiration on display at campaign events.

Many of these Republican insiders were critical of Scott because of his link to a massive Medicare fraud scandal at the hospital corporation he founded - but they aren't talking about that anymore. ...

His campaign co-chairs included former Gov. Bob Martinez, former state party chief Tom Slade, U.S. Sen. George Lemieux and a host of GOP members of Congress and state lawmakers. Most of them supported his primary opponent, Attorney General Bill McCollum - who, incidentally, has withheld his endorsement. He says he has concerns about Scott's character.

Scott smiled and shook hands recently at a glitzy $500,000 campaign fundraiser in Sarasota put on by a group of influential Republican politicians and donors. Lately he's appeared at fundraisers hosted by big sugar companies and the business lobby Associated Industries of Florida.

He's been endorsed by the politically powerful Florida Chamber of Commerce, which alone spent millions trying to defeat him in the primary.

Charlie's strange brew

"Put together [Crist's] big sister, a longtime Tampa Bay GOP organizer, a veteran Democratic strategist and college buddy [Mike Hamby, executive of the Florida Democratic Party], and a New York City political hotshot with no Florida experience, and it sounds like a recipe for dysfunction." "Meet Charlie Crist's unconventional U.S. Senate campaign team".

"Trial Lawyers Double Down"

"$3 million-plus in attorney contributions eclipse any other group, including unions". "Trial Lawyers Double Down for Democrats, Alex Sink".

Klein takes on teabagger

"U.S. Rep. Ron Klein and Republican challenger Allen West argued about `don't ask, don't tell,' tax cuts and other issues during a testy Sunday debate." "Klein-West debate turns nasty". See also "Klein, West fire familiar volleys in televised debate".

"Close enough for government work"

Bill Cotterell: "State employees have more at stake than usual in this year's statewide campaigns, particularly the race for governor."

It's pointless to keep saying it, but Florida government is the nation's smallest, in ratio of employees to population, and cheapest, in per-resident personnel costs. Facts are stubborn things, as Gov. Charlie Crist said on an unrelated point in last week's U.S. Senate debate, and government employment data don't fit well into a 30-second television advertisement or bumper sticker. ...

It would be simplistic to say Republicans hate state workers and want to get rid of as many as possible, while Democrats like them and want more. But, as the saying goes, it would be close enough for government work.

SD 14

"The current national mood ahead of the midterm elections is unfavorable for Democrats across the country. While that’s true for many parts of Florida, Senate District 14 isn’t one of them." "Democrat Perry McGriff in Hot Pursuit of Steve Oelrich's 'winnable' SD 14 Seat".

Obama SoFla fundraiser today

"Eager to retain Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, President Barack Obama returns today for his third Miami fundraiser of the year — this time to benefit House races, including an increasingly competitive South Florida contest."

The reception and dinner at the Coral Gables home of retired Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning will benefit the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Boca Raton Democrat Rep. Ron Klein, whose tea party-backed challenger, Allen West, is nearly matching him dollar-for-dollar. The pair squared off in a debate Sunday.

Republicans are gunning to pick up at least 39 Democratic seats to claim a 218-vote House majority and have energetically targeted four Democratic-held districts in Florida, including Klein's seat. In 2006, Klein won by ousting veteran Republican Rep. E. Clay Shaw.

Obama's last fundraiser in Miami in August raised an estimated $700,000 for the Florida Democratic Party. In April, he raised $2.5 million for the Democratic National Committee at Gloria and Emilio Estefan's house in Miami Beach. Picking up the pace as the election approaches, he headlined four DNC fundraisers in September, helping the party raise $16 million — its best monthly haul.

After all, she was black

"Here's how justice system let innocent woman sit in jail for 3 months".

"Final days seem like eternity"

Steve Otto: "It's not all bad news. In a little more than three weeks this most pathetic of campaign seasons will be over and at least for a couple of weeks before the next round begins we can enjoy the holidays with no other ballots to be cast other than the ones that decide which team is going to what bowl game. Meanwhile you are going to have to suck it up and make some decisions here." "The final days seem like eternity as campaign season grinds on".

'Ya think?

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Dan Gelber for attorney general".

Amendments 5 and 6

"There are Florida legislative and congressional voting districts so oddly shaped they resemble your small intestine." "Amendments' goals: Curb tailor-made voting districts".

"Rubio doesn't rest"

Jeremy Wallace: "Republican Marco Rubio is not ready to rest easy, even though polls consistently show he is pulling ahead of independent Charlie Crist in the U.S. Senate race with just three weeks to go." "Despite topping polls, Rubio doesn't rest".

Aaronson considers bailing

"Still fighting to win votes from his own party in the final weeks of the general election campaign, Democratic Senate nominee Kendrick Meek plans to meet Wednesday with Democratic Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson, who's been mulling an endorsement of independent Charlie Crist." "Meek looks to lock in Aaronson endorsement".

'Glades

"Getting U.S. Sugar land ready for Glades restoration would cost millions".

A Hillsborough thing

"On Tuesday, a Tallahassee judge will hear a case that could make or break the 18-year political career of Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman." "Ambler's suit to knock Norman off ballot goes to trial Tuesday".

Will RPOFers run wild in Tally

Gary Fineout: "Millions of dollars are being spent to elect Florida's next governor, but what happens over the next four years may hinge just as much on little-noticed races going on in Gainesville, Sarasota, Tampa and West Palm Beach."

The Florida Legislature is already solidly Republican and Election Day will do little to change that. But a handful of races in the state House and Senate could give Republicans a veto-proof majority.

Mica now saying "yes" stim bucks

"For communities facing high unemployment and with a long list of transportation projects, the problem is not finding funding but getting it delivered. So says U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, who was in Flagler County Thursday to spread a hopeful message regarding federal stimulus dollars." "Mica vows push for stimulus".

Amendment 1

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editors: "Florida's public campaign funding requirement, enshrined in the state constitution in 1998, should not be repealed." "'No' on Amendment 1".

Amendment 2

"U.S. military personnel serving outside the United States would be eligible for an additional property tax break under a proposed constitutional amendment facing voters Nov. 2." "Amendment 2: Military Tax Breaks Spur Little Opposition".

RPOFer looks for loophole

"A convicted Palm Beach County commissioner hopes to have his criminal record erased, arguing his failure to disclose a financial interest in land deals no longer stands up as illegal since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal law prosecutors used against him. Anthony Masilotti's legal challenge is the first by a South Florida public official convicted of 'honest services fraud,' following the high court's far-reaching decision in June." "Jailed official puts hope in high court ruling".

"Starkly opposite positions"

"Floridians can't vote on President Obama's national health-care plan next month, but they can decide whether their state should continue fighting it in court." "Health care factor in attorney general race".

"Confusion in a year dominated by extreme views"

"The 2010 elections may go down as a year of polar politics, when the extremes of the tea party on one side and a progressive agenda on the other left those in the center feeling out in the cold. And, then, there's the race for Florida's House District 26, where voters may actually need the R and the D on the ballot to tell the candidates apart." "Area's largest district finds fewer extremes".

But the aggressive verbal air war between the candidates for governor waged on Florida's cable channels says more about the candidates than their campaign strategies. It also reveals a bit of their decision-making style.

"Alex Sink is running the best advertising campaign of any Democratic gubernatorial candidate in the country'' he said.

Webster's "covenant marriage" problem

"At a quarterly meeting, Florida-based members of the National Organization for Women said Grayson, a Democrat, was a champion for the group's causes. They also said his Republican opponent, Daniel Webster, would significantly delay or turn back women's advancement if elected."

Webster, who was a member of the Florida Legislature for 28 years, sponsored a bill in 1990 that would have established covenant marriage and prevented divorce for people married under the program except in cases of adultery. He also voted against legislation to prevent health insurers from considering domestic violence to be a preexisting condition.

In the 1990s, Webster reportedly said he opposed abortion in all cases including those involving incest and rape.

Big questions

Jane Healy writes that the "race for the U.S. Senate seat in Florida certainly is a spirited one. The problem is that voters have to wrestle with big questions about each of the three candidates — Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio and Kendrick Meek." She reviews some of them this morning in "Crist, Meek, Rubio all have big question marks".

Dubya, Jebbie ... same thing

Michael C. Bender's take on the Scott-Sink debate: "Scribbles after Rick Scott and Alex Sink debate" One of Bender's little gems:

Scott might be one of the few Republicans in Florida who has a deeper relationship with George W. Bush than Jeb Bush. Scott and his business partner Richard Rainwater both owned part of the Texas Rangers at the same time as W.

That might help explain Scott’s stumble when he tried to drop Jeb’s name in response to an education question:

"Governor George, uh, Jeb Bush is here in the audience supporting me. He had a major impact on our schools."

Hiaasen on "well-financed desperation"

Carl Hiaasen: "Major home builders are uncorking a bombastic media blitz to scare Floridians away from voting yes to Amendment 4."

The same people who helped ignite the housing crash and mortgage meltdown are absolutely terrified of giving citizens actual control over growth in their own communities.

The so-called Hometown Democracy Amendment would require local voters to approve any significant changes to a county or city ``comprehensive land-use plan,'' the map by which municipalities evolve.

If the measure passes -- and it needs the support of 60 percent of voters -- no massive housing subdivision or commercial development could be built without the project first appearing on a ballot.

It's not exactly a radical concept, but the opposing special interests will do just about anything to kill it.

They're scared because they know Floridians are fed up with lousy planning and overbuilding, and the high taxes that always result.

They're scared because they know Floridians are sick of watching elected officials cave in again and again to developers, making a farce of land-use regulations.

But mostly they're scared because, if passed, Amendment 4 has the potential to disrupt the influence-peddling and outright corruption that's made it so easy to subvert the will of the public.

Undecideds dominate Cabinet poll

"A new poll shows that the Republican candidates for state Cabinet races have pulled slightly ahead of their Democratic opponents. But a high percentage of undecided voters remain, according to the poll by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc."

• In the Attorney General's race, Pam Bondi, a former assistant state attorney from Hillsborough, leads Democratic state Sen. Dan Gelber, of Miami Beach, 42 percent to 37 percent. That's up from [sic]* a 38 to 24 percent lead in September and slightly more than the 4 percentage point margin of error**.

• In the Chief Financial Officer race, Republican Jeff Atwater leads Democrat Loranne Ausley 34 percent to 29 percent***, up from a two-percentage point lead in September. However, 33 percent of those polled are still undecided.

• In the Agriculture Commissioner race, Republican Adam Putnam's lead has grown from four points to nine points. As in the CFO race, however, nearly a third of those polled are undecided.

Guide to the amendments

Scott Maxwell: "Confused by the amendments on the ballot? Here's a breakdown".

About Meek

"Meek trying to convince Democrats he can beat Rubio". Related: "With Election Day 23 days away, a split Senate decision".

Amendments 5 and 6

Derek Catron: "If approved by 60 percent of voters, amendments 5 and 6 would require compact and contiguous districts that more closely align with boundaries of cities and counties. The amendments -- one deals with state boundaries, the other with federal -- also would prohibit districts drawn to favor a specific political party. "

Supporters say it would provide better representation by linking areas of common interest and promoting more-competitive races.

Opponents argue the new districts will prompt court battles and hurt minority representation. The Legislature sponsored an amendment opponents said would have crippled the measures, but it was stricken from the ballot by the state Supreme Court.

A series of computer simulations, as part of an academic study, concluded Republicans would still hold the advantage in about 60 percent of districts because of residential-living patterns -- close to what they hold now.

"Pro-Republican bias is a natural outgrowth of the geographic distribution of voters when districts must be compact and contiguous and Democrats are concentrated in cities," according to a paper presented last month by University of Michigan professor Jowei Chen and Jonathan Rodden of Stanford University.

Aubrey Jewett, a political-science professor at the University of Central Florida, said he believes the amendments will pass but said voters need to be aware of their limitations.

"My thought is it might help (change) a seat or two," Jewett said. "I think to say there will be no impact is a little much. But I don't think the Democrats will get as much change as they're looking for.

Puffing Marco

"Ambition, charisma propel Rubio". See also "A once unknown Rubio takes over lead in the Senate race".

Teabaggers crowd downtown Naples

"Marco Rubio pumps up downtown Naples crowd of 300".

Scott's "plans" Alarms Economists

Lloyd Dunkelberger: "Many of the questions surrounding Rick Scott's campaign to be Florida's next governor have centered on the massive fraud that occurred when he was CEO of what was then the nation's largest health care chain, Columbia/HCA."

But some economists, and more than a few members of the Florida Legislature, are also alarmed by what Scott aims to do if elected. Specifically, they're concerned about his plan to revive Florida's economy.

The plan is so audacious that some doubt whether Scott could get it passed, even in a Legislature where Republicans are projected to hold a 2-to-1 advantage.

What makes the plan so controversial? Start with the premise of cutting billions of dollars in tax revenue from the state budget. Even in a boom year, that would be a challenge. But Scott is advocating it at a time when Florida is already facing a $2.5 billion shortfall next year. So far in the recession, Florida has avoided deep cuts in law enforcement, schools and other services by raiding trust funds and taking in massive aid from the federal government, but both sources have run dry, making next year a pivotal one in state budgeting.

Imposing an immediate $1.4 billion reduction in property taxes supporting Florida's schools. Scott says it will reduce taxes for the owner of a $200,000 home by $200 a year.

Permanently ending the state's corporate income tax over the next seven years. The tax represents nearly 3 percent of the state's budget.

"In loco aequo tempore aequo"

"Democrat Loranne Ausley's campaign to be the state's next chief financial officer has gained traction by decrying the building as a monument to insider politics and business as usual. ... 'In loco aequo tempore aequo'. In the right place at the right time. And with the right friends." "Right place, Right time".

Not your Mother's RPOF

Howard Troxler: "Seventh in a series of columns on key votes taken by the Florida Legislature since the last election."

This past spring, the Legislature voted to require women seeking first-trimester abortions in Florida to have an ultrasound, to view it, or to have their doctor describe the fetus to them unless they signed a form opting out.

Women also could avoid this requirement if they provided evidence they were victims of rape, incest, domestic violence or human trafficking. (This always struck me as odd. It's still okay to have abortions sometimes, then?)

The measure was House Bill 1143. It also declared that no public health plan under Obamacare would cover abortions in Florida. Poor women not only would have to have an ultrasound; they had to pay for it.

As we have seen on so many issues, this was a last-minute amendment to an otherwise innocuous bill about nursing homes. It did not go through the full process of committees, public input or deliberation. It was done on the fly.

Nonetheless, the House voted 76-44 for the final bill. The Senate voted for it 23-16.

Gov. Charlie Crist, who by this time was in full breakup mode with the Republican Legislature, vetoed it.