FlaGop out-grubs FlaDems by 4 to 1 in run-up to primary

"Florida Republicans took in more than $9 million in the crucial run-up to this year's primary elections, significantly more than Florida Democrats who reported raising nearly $2.2 million during the last four months." "Millions raked in by Fla. parties".

RNC fears air attack on convention

"Military mum on reports of missile launchers in Tampa for RNC".

11 state constitutional amendments

"11 state constitutional amendments struggle for voter attention".

"The hat lady vs. the actor"

"The Democratic Congressional race between incumbent Frederica Wilson and Rudy Moise offers little controversy." "It’s the hat lady vs. the actor in North Miami’s Democratic congressional race".

"More concerned with the bottom line than with patients"

The Tampa Bay Times editors "The nation's largest for-profit hospital chain is in trouble with regulators again."

Florida hospitals in the HCA chain, including one in Pasco County, are under federal investigation in connection with concerns that cardiologists conducted unnecessary surgical tests and procedures. HCA allegedly boosted its billings by working with cardiologists who put profits before patient health and safety. After discovering the problem, hospital executives seemed more concerned with the bottom line than with patients, raising questions about HCA's ethics and its for-profit model.

West plays race card

"Rep. Allen West says ad plays on racial stereotypes; NAACP disagrees".

Grayson plays hardball, GOPers whine

"Is there an upset brewing in the Republican primary to challenge Democrat Alan Grayson in the 9th congressional district? Aides to establishment pick John Quiñones seem to think so. They say a flurry of last-minute attack ads -- largely funded by Grayson, who's spent $110,000 on anti- Quiñones TV commercials and more on mailers and radio ads -- have turned the GOP primary into a real race, with perennial candidate Todd Long playing the role of dark horse."

And they warn that unless Quiñones can regain momentum in just a few short days, then Long -- with a campaign warchest of just $3,511 -- could win the nomination next Tuesday. If that happens, a district drawn to be "accessible" to Hispanics – who make up roughly 41 percent of its voting age population – will see a general election contest between two non-Hispanic white men.

"It is a tight race. And I'm not just saying that," said John Dowless, a consultant to Quiñones. "I just hope the Republicans are wise and see where these attacks are coming from -- and why."

Grayson, a one-term congressman who earned a national reputation as an aggressive liberal, had nearly $1.2 million in cash-on-hand on July 25 and has been using emails to blast his would-be GOP opponents for weeks. But Dowless said they were caught by surprise by the paid ads slamming Quiñones as a tax-happy politician, a damning accusation in a GOP primary.

"This one caught us -- Republicans -- off-guard," Dowless said.

"Florida already is awash in guns"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "The National Rifle Association knows no limits."

It persuaded the Florida Legislature to allow gun owners to take their weapons to work. It passed another law to stop doctors from asking patients about their guns, which is tied up in court. Now the NRA wants lawmakers to allow nearly 1 million owners of concealed weapon permits to openly carry their guns on the street. Florida already is awash in guns and high-profile shootings, and embellishing the state's Wild West reputation is no way to attract business and tourists.

"Make the boleteras and boleteros unnecessary"

In this well-researched column, Myriam Marquez summarizes recent developments in absentee-ballot law in Florida, and concludes "there’s one clean fix. Make the boleteras and boleteros unnecessary by simply including free postage on the return envelope of an absentee ballot." "For the cost of a ‘free’ stamp on an absentee ballot: Democracy".

Just another campaign stunt

"Property insurance reform was nowhere to be found among Gov. Rick Scott's 'legislative priorities' during this year's lawmaking session in Tallahassee. " "Florida Legislature turns blind eye to property insurance reform".

Saint Marco

"Marco Rubio passed over for VP but benefited immensely from exposure".

Last day for early voting

"The final day for early voting in the state's primary elections has arrived." "Last day for early voting in Florida primary".

Mack-yawner

"Connie Mack casts his vote — but for who?".

"More interested in currying favor than following the law"

The Tampa Bay Times editors write that "the more that is learned about how top officials have handled the wetland mitigation credit application of a well-connected landowner, the more it appears Gov. Rick Scott's administration is more interested in currying favor than following the law." "Wetlands smell of cronyism".

"GOPer Twofer"

"GOPer Twofer: Romney Effectively Concedes Florida, and Lifts the Bill Nelson Campaign". See also "How Paul Ryan could be a drag on Mitt Romney in Florida". Related: "What people are saying about Paul Ryan as VP pick".

Scott and Romney, though, have been clearly on different paths in Florida.

The two have not campaigned together and a Romney pre-convention bus tour of the state planned for Monday makes no mention of Florida’s chief executive.

Still, Scott and the Romney campaign pushed back earlier this summer against a media report that the governor had been warned to tone-down his talk of the state’s economic recovery because it clashed with the anti-Obama message.

"A contest between legacies"

"The race for the Democratic nominee for Senate District 39 has come down to a contest between legacies."

Dwight Bullard, a member of the House of Representatives and son of the current state senator in the post, hopes to continue carrying the family mantle while Ron Saunders, currently the House Democratic leader, is hoping to become the first senator from the Keys in 40 years.

The race is a rematch of sorts. In 2004, Saunders lost the race against Dwight’s mother, Larcenia Bullard. Dwight Bullard had served as her campaign manager.

But there’s one more major change this time around: Redistricting has condensed District 39 from six to four counties: Monroe, Miami-Dade, Collier and Hendry. It still remains one of the largest districts in the state.

Also on the ballot is James Bush III, a former state representative who has served two terms in the Florida House; Sal Gutierrez, who formerly lived in Key Largo and now lives near Tampa (he would have to relocate if elected); and John “JJ” Johnson of Miami.

The winner of the Aug. 14 primary will face Republican Scott Hopes of Homestead in the general election.

"South Florida’s cesspool"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "For decades, Lake Okeechobee was South Florida’s cesspool. In the 1970s and 1980s, great quantities of pollution-laden farm runoff were back-pumped from the south while great quantities of pollution-laden farm runoff flowed in from the north. Cleaning the lake is key to restoring the Everglades. After that decision in 2007 came another by the Army Corps of Engineers in 2008 not to keep the lake artificially high. Since then, back-pumping has taken place only occasionally, much to the displeasure of sugar growers." "Keep more polluted water out of Lake Okeechobee".

"Bondi is adamant that there is no feud"

"Attorney General Pam Bondi is adamant that there is no feud between her and legislators over Florida’s share of a national mortgage servicing settlement. But the two sides don’t appear to be budging over how the money, totaling around $334 million, should be spent." "‘No Feud,’ but No Agreement with Legislators on Mortgage Settlement Money".

Power of Democrats is diminished by simple GOP technique

The Tampa Tribune editors: "The way the Florida Senate drew its new districts technically meets the legal definition of 'fair,' even though the new boundaries will help keep Hillsborough Democrats underrepresented."

In a county with 51,600 more Democrats than Republicans, four of the five districts give Republican candidates a partisan edge.

The voting power of Democratic voters is diminished by one simple technique. So many Democrats are packed into one urban district that Republicans have a great chance at winning everywhere else. This built-in favoritism diminishes competition and thus discourages broad participation. District 19 is itself an example.

In the central-city precincts — part of the district that snakes across the bay to include similar neighborhoods in Pinellas and Manatee counties — no one can vote for senator because no one is running against incumbent Democrat Arthenia Joyner.

Setting up a safe seat for minorities is a legal requirement and has bipartisan support. But anyone who thinks the oddly shaped district is a good idea also must concede how impossible it would be to defend the racially segregated boundaries if they were for, say, a school district.

The shoo-in for one powerful Democrat in one district creates an uphill battle for the party everywhere else, and no territory for moderates. Here's the story, district by district ...

Teabaggers line up

"With a week to go until the primary, the fight between congressional colleagues U.S. Rep. John Mica and U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams continues to intensify -- and Florida Republicans are taking sides. On Tuesday, Adams unveiled the support of two fellow congressional freshmen from the Sunshine State -- U.S. Rep. Rich Nugent and U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross. After serving eight years in the Florida House of Representatives in Tallahassee, Adams won a congressional seat in 2010. Mica was first elected to the U.S. House in 1992."

Adams has also been endorsed by fellow freshman U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., and former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

"Quit whining"

"CFO Jeff Atwater on Tuesday told auto insurers resistant to rate reductions to 'quit whining.' Some insurers urged caution despite a draft report showing a new law aimed at reducing personal injury protection fraud would bring 12 to 20 percent savings to policyholders." "Atwater to auto insurers: Quit whining".

"Proxy fight for future Senate leadership"

"Two Pinellas County House members are fighting lawn by lawn for an open Senate seat. And because no Democrat entered the race, the contest between representatives Jeff Brandes and Jim Frishe will most likely decide who represents District 22. Alan Raymond Baker qualified as a write-in candidate." "Primary Profile: District 22 shapes up as proxy fight for future Senate leadership".

"Greene lives in fear of populist revolt"

"Billionaire Jeff Greene is a different kind of rich Democrat."

The man who made his fortune hedging against the real estate market -- and since 2009 accumulating mortgage-backed securities -- still wants to represent the poor, improve their lot, convince his rich friends they should pay more taxes.

But is his political ideology built on compassion? On a sense of social justice and social order?

Not exactly, says Joel Endelman, "Jeff is definitely not about compassion."

Endelman is a political consultant who for a time during 2010 worked with Greene's campaign for U.S. Senate.

"Jeff isn't one of the patrician class of Democrats like the Kennedys," he told Sunshine State News. "Kennedy Democrats are wealthy intellectuals who generally inherited their money but feel a deep sense of responsibility toward those less privileged. I'm not saying there's anything phony about Jeff Greene because there isn't. But his concern for the underclass is all about self-protection."

Why are Greene's political motives popping up now? Because Jessica Pressler of New York Magazine interviewed Greene at his Sag Harbor estate. Her story on page 14, "The Other Barbarians at the Gates" -- called "jaw-dropping" by members of his own party -- has been political talk-show fodder ever since it appeared in last week's edition.

Pressler draws a picture of Greene, 57, worth an estimated $2.1 billion, as a man who lives in fear of a populist revolt, a plundering uprising of America's "poor people." As a member of the country's richest 1 percent, Greene claims the nation's wealthiest people, people like himself, should pay more in taxes willingly -- "buy a little democracy insurance" -- because one day, "if you have 50,000 angry people coming across the river, you think you're safe?"

"Robinson endeared himself to virtually no one"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Gerard Robinson did the Florida Board of Education and Gov. Rick Scott a favor by resigning as Florida's education commissioner. The cocksure Robinson endeared himself to virtually no one during his year on the job. The next commissioner should be someone who is a veteran of Florida schools and is committed to making classroom improvements, not defending the political status quo." "Go local for education chief".

Ethics complaint against Lee

"Two Carrollwood residents have filed an ethics complaint against Tom Lee, a state Senate candidate from east Hillsborough County, alleging Lee omitted assets from his personal financial disclosure form." "2 residents file ethics complaint against senate candidate Tom Lee".

Pelosi preaches to the choir

"The top Democrat in Congress, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, sought Monday to shore up support from one of her party's most critical constituencies — senior voters — by portraying Republicans as scheming to destroy Medicare."

Speaking to a crowd of more than 100 at the Veranda Club senior community, Pelosi asserted that Republican policies would leave older Americans to fend for themselves against insurance companies or turn to their children for help paying their medical bills.

"We cannot have our seniors be at the mercy of the health insurance industry," she said. "We cannot turn it into a gamble for seniors.''

Pelosi was preaching to the choir at Veranda Club, where board vice president Sam Topaz estimated 90 to 95 percent of the residents are Democrats.

The California lawmaker said her comments were neither political nor a scare tactic. It's the Republicans who are scary, she said.

HD 34

"HD 34: Jimmie Smith and Nancy Argenziano Await Democrat Primary Winner".

ALF industry representatives show their stuff

"The panel consisting of bureaucrats and industry representatives met six times as part of a negotiated rulemaking process. The public will get a chance to comment on proposed rule changes in November and December." "Panel finishes its work on new regulations for ALFs".

Judge blocks state law capping contributions by minors

"A tenacious Boca Raton 17-year-old has helped other kids gain equal footing with adults in the political arena, after a federal judge sided with her and blocked a state law capping political contributions by minors at $100. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams on Monday issued a temporary injunction blocking officials from enforcing the decades-old cap, saying the law 'had a chilling effect on the free speech and associational rights' of Julie Towbin and other teenagers." "Boca Raton teen wins battle for campaign contribution rights".

Dems remain the state’s largest political party

"Republicans have seen their rank and file numbers grow this year in Florida by a near 3-to-1 clip against the Democrats, which remains the state’s largest political party in terms of overall registered voters. While Republicans dominate the state Legislature, there are now 4,581,056 registered Democrats eligible to vote in the Aug. 14 primary in Florida and 4,137,890 Republicans, according to the state Division of Elections." "GOP Narrows Gap Among Florida's Registered Voters".

GOTV Sharpton style

"Rev. Al Sharpton urges ‘action’ to get South Florida’s black voters to vote".

Another deep thinker

"The governor cited cost-of-living concerns when he discussed renewable energy legislation heading into the 2012 legislative session. But on Tuesday, he said his concerns about cost of living are a separate issue from the $690 million rate hike request being considered by the Public Service Commission." "Scott avoids wading into FPL rate hike request".

"Requiring the Florida Legislature to keep its paws out"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Tough economic times and a penchant in Tallahassee for 'easy solutions' to close budget gaps have left the state’s environmental treasures and wildlife programs in the dumps. What these recreation and conservation lands need is a stable, dedicated source of funding."

Enter the Florida Water and Land Legacy Campaign, a coalition that includes the Trust for Public Land, Audubon Florida, the Florida Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy, 1000 Friends of Florida, Defenders of Wildlife and other groups that want to preserve Florida’s natural beauty — and its clean water — for generations to come.

The campaign will be gathering signatures of registered voters — it will need at minimum 676,811 certified signatures — to put the issue on the ballot in 2014. If voters agree, and there are many reasons they should, the program would raise about $10 billion over 20 years — without any new tax or a tax increase.

It would simply require the Florida Legislature to keep its paws out of the trust funds meant for environmental and parks programs — guaranteeing at the very least that one-third of the revenues from the existing excise tax on documents during the sale of property goes toward designated environmental programs. That tax is now collected, but it’s not being used for its intended purpose.

"Suit to kick Florida justices off ballot"

"A trial judge is hearing argument in a lawsuit aimed at throwing three of his seven bosses — Florida Supreme Court justices — off the Nov. 6 ballot." "Suit to kick Florida justices off ballot gets hearing".

GOPers go to court

"The legislative campaign between Rep. Eddy Gonzalez of Hialeah and his challenger in the Republican primary, Maykel 'Miguel' Balboa, has moved into the courts, with Gonzalez filing a wide-ranging complaint Monday seeking to have Balboa kicked off the ballot and an allied political group dissolved."

The complaint, which amends a lawsuit Gonzalez filed last week, accuses Balboa, along with a Miami political operative and an electioneering communications organization (ECO), of orchestrating a smear campaign against Gonzalez through allegedly illegal robo-calls and television ads about Gonzalez’s ties to other Miami-area politicians.

It centers on a complicated web of connections between Balboa; G&R Strategies LLC, listed on Balboa’s disclosure as his sole source of income; Sasha Tirador, a political consultant listed as owner of G&R Strategies; and Citizens for a Reality Check, an ECO.

Balboa has challenged Gonzalez in House District 111, which runs from Hialeah into parts of Miami.

Gonzalez, whose lawyer is former Rep. J.C. Planas, alleges in the lawsuit that Balboa and the others illegally coordinated a campaign that included a television ad claiming Gonzalez had endorsed former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, a Democrat, and a recorded phone call saying Gonzalez was linked to absentee ballot fraud and was lying about support from U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.

Gonzalez denies the charges in the ad and the robo-call.

That's a yawner

"Jeb Bush to speak at GOP convention". See also "Second Round of GOP Convention Speakers Includes Jeb Bush, Rick Santorum and Rand Paul" and "Jeb Bush joins list of convention speakers".

Publix. Walt Disney Co. U.S. Sugar. Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Though Republicans have a lock on the state House, the Senate — despite the GOP's 28-12 supermajority — has remained [in a handful of cases*] a difficult place to pass ideologically conservative and corporate-tilted legislation. Lawmakers on both sides say the dollars are flowing into a half-dozen state Senate races in the hope of influencing that balance. ...

Four Florida companies — Blue Cross/Blue Shield, U.S. Sugar Corp., Disney and Publix — have already blown past the million-dollar barrier in political giving this year. All have also surpassed — in one case by more than tenfold — their total contributions to state races in the 2008 elections, the last election cycle without statewide Cabinet offices on the ballot.

Florida Chamber President Mark Wilson, whose lobbying organization is scoring big checks from the companies, said they broadly support "free enterprise efforts to improve education, stabilize taxes, [and] lower the cost of doing business." [And, may we add, crush Florida's public sector labor movement**]

Medicare wars

"In Florida, where nearly one in five residents is a Medicare beneficiary, politicians who sound a false note on Medicare can risk losing election."

As the political season heats up, Floridians can expect to see plenty of political ads warning that President Obama or challenger Mitt Romney will destroy the program.

Indeed, the battle already is underway as both men seek voter support in this battleground state.

In a campaign swing through Florida last month, Obama used the issue to galvanize older voters against Republicans, warning that Romney’s proposal to repackage Medicare as a fixed benefit is a “voucher” system that “will end Medicare as we know it”. He said his health care reforms have helped seniors receive discounted prescription drugs and get access to free preventive care.

Romney, meanwhile, has vowed to repeal the Democrat’s 2010 health care law that he says cuts Medicare by $500 billion.

Hiaasen: "Uncensored peek at Scott’s e-mail"

Carl Hiaasen has some fun with "An uncensored peek at Gov. Scott’s e-mail".

SunRail accused of not hiring minorities

"Outgoing state Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, contended Wednesday that the $1.2 billion SunRail commuter train is not hiring minorities. His allegations were denied by SunRail spokesman Steve Olson, who said in an email that at least $16.6 million in work has awarded so far to contractors with minority connections." "Siplin: SunRail will not hire minorities".

Gelber's proposal will help Crist

"Former state Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, has an intriguing idea for his party: open Democratic primaries to independent voters."

Why do it? Democrats have a lousy track record turning out voters in nonpresidential years. If unaffiliated voters were included in the primary, it would force primary candidates to reach out to a big chunk of the electorate that is crucial in the general election.

"It would force us to engage early and meaningfully important voters who by definition are unaffiliated and in play,'' said Gelber, who ran for attorney general in 2010. He said the move could help the party in 2014.

Who else might it help? Republican-turned-independent Charlie Crist is widely seen as a potential Democratic candidate for governor in 2014. If he does run, Crist could have a tough time in a primary, given his history supporting Republican priorities. But Crist remains popular with independent voters.

West whines

"Fans of Rep. Allen West, including Rush Limbaugh, have been complaining for months that Tallahassee Republicans purposefully redrew his district to include more Democrats. Now, the assertion is being used to raise money for West." "Fundraising's fighting words".

"Florida has a very long way to go"

"The University of Central Florida's latest economic forecast tries hard to find something nice to say about the state's condition."

Being in a recovery – even a bumpy, sluggish, unsatisfying one – it says, "sure beats an economic recession," says the report released Thursday. But Florida, it concludes, has a very long way to go before it's once again feeling strong.

Just how long, in some cases, is remarkable.

Consider the construction industry, which was devastated by the housing bust and economic collapse.

The UCF forecast says the construction sector lost 384,000 jobs from its peak employment levels before the recession and will not return to those levels until 2031.

"That sector has gone through carnage, really," said UCF economist Sean Snaith. "And those jobs aren't going to come back any time soon."

The rest of the labor market isn't quite so bleak.

The UCF forecast projects unemployment will stay above 8 percent through the second half of 2014 – an estimate consistent with recent state forecasts. Snaith says payrolls will grow gradually over the next three years, returning to pre-recession levels by the end of 2016.

"The most unpopular governor in the country"

Adam C. Smith: "There's little or no precedent for the popularity of a governor influencing a presidential election in that state, but Arceneaux said the party will do everything it can to exploit the low approval ratings of Gov. Rick Scott before the election."

"He's the most unpopular governor in the country. He lacks any political skills, and that's the Republicans saying that, not me. We're certainly going to make an issue of him. And we think the fact that people just don't like him, that'll help really define the Republican brand in Florida by Rick Scott," [executive director of the Florida Democratic Party Scott Arceneaux] said. "If you don't like what Rick Scott's doing in Tallahassee, which we don't think people do, if you don't like the Republican governor, you're not going to like Mitt Romney."

Scott's publicity stunt "won't save much money"

Aaron Deslatte: "When they hear gripes about the perceived high levels of taxation in Florida, Gov. Rick Scott and lawmakers have a go-to pressure-relief valve: this weekend's sales-tax holiday."

The "back-to-school" three-day tax holiday is a skimpy version of past efforts. It covers only clothing selling for $75 or less and school supplies going for $15 or less. And it doesn't cover books, which any studious school-shopper can tell you cost quite a bit these days.

Hope you enjoy it. But advocates from both sides agree: You probably won't save much money.

Scott's latest damage controller

"For the third time since taking office, Gov. Rick Scott has a new chief of staff to help shape his agenda, steer him through political minefields and bolster his shaky standing with Floridians."

Adam Hollingsworth, 43, is a battle-tested former chief of staff to a Jacksonville mayor, a communications specialist and former executive at CSX Corp. who already has faced several tough tests since taking over July 6.

Embarrassing news reports over school grades, the lieutenant governor and a botched open government website threatened to deepen the governor’s already-low approval ratings. In each instance, Hollingsworth worked behind the scenes to contain the damage by reversing course, with Scott’s consent.

"Nelson ad ridicules Mack"

Adam C. Smith: "For much of the year, it looked like Democrat Bill Nelson would have far more money for his re-election than the Republican nominee. But spending by outside groups is likely to mean Nelson's campaign actually has significantly fewer resources than his Republican rivals. Assorted conservative organizations already have spent more than $9 million on TV ads attacking Nelson as a liberal."

Now Nelson is firing back — hard.

A new Nelson ad ridicules likely GOP nominee Connie Mack IV as a former Hooters employee with one of the worst attendance records in Congress, as well as a history of debts, liens and "barroom brawling.''

It's going to be an ugly campaign.

"Lawmaker’s finances are murkier than they first appear"

"In disclosure forms filed in June, state Rep. Erik Fresen presents a picture of financial health, earning $225,000 last year with just $103,000 in outstanding debts for student loans."

But the Republican lawmaker’s finances are murkier than they first appear. There’s the $29,000 debt to the Internal Revenue Service that remains unpaid. There’s the $10,000 citation for a code violation. And there’s the longstanding foreclosure lawsuit that nearly cost Fresen his Little Gables home.

Bushco won't die

Can anyone in the Bush family ever get a real* job? "In the eyes of one new political action committee, immigration, Hispanic outreach and education are the new frontier—and it’s headed by a member of the Bush political dynasty."

The man in focus is Jeb Bush Jr., the son of former Gov. Jeb Bush, nephew of former President George W. Bush, and grandson of former President George H.W. Bush.

In Miami on last Thursday, Jeb Bush Jr. was headlining an education luncheon sponsored by his Sun Political Action Committee, a new PAC dedicated to “engage, educate and recruit Hispanics,” according to its website.

The event was co-hosted by the James Madison Institute, a nonpartisan[**] free-market think tank based in Tallahassee, focusing on how to improve educational options for parents and students.

While his father was in the national press supporting the hypothetical Republican vice presidential candidacy of fellow Floridian and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush Jr. was introducing the audience to his new conservative group.

"Slow start to early voting"

"A slow start to early voting in Broward and Palm Beach counties".

True Florida voting fraud rests with "super voters" — most of them registered Republicans

Myriam Marquez: "While Gov. Rick Scott and the GOP-led Legislature focus on 'illegal' votes by non-citizens and on limiting the time the polls will be open for early voting, the true nature of fraud in Florida rests with elderly 'super voters' — most of them in South Florida registered Republicans — who are visited at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, community centers, comedores and even their homes by campaign 'volunteers' to 'assist' them in getting their ballots to the mail. Such volunteers are nothing more than paid ballot runners too often abusing the law." "Why use a boletera when there’s mail service?"

Dems in newly drawn CD 7 also have a choice to make

"While the spotlight has been aimed on the Republican primary — and the rare spectacle of two incumbents, U.S. Reps. Sandy Adams and John Mica, squaring off against one another — Democratic voters in Florida's newly drawn Seventh Congressional District also have a choice to make."

And unlike in most primaries, the differences between these two candidates are stark.

Jason H. Kendall calls himself a moderate "Blue Dog Democrat" and advocates abolishing the income tax in favor of a flat sales tax. Nicholas Ruiz III is a self-described "old school liberal and progressive New Deal Democrat" who supports lowering the Social Security retirement age to 55 and increasing benefits by 20 percent.

"The murky edges of Hialeah politics"

"Deisy Cabrera has been a small-time fixture at the murky edges of Hialeah politics for many years, one of many freelance ballot-brokers who collect absentee votes on behalf of candidates for office, usually for a fee."

But the obscure Cabrera found herself suddenly enveloped in unwanted public notoriety this week when anti-corruption Miami-Dade County cops targeted her for alleged ballot fraud, lifting the lid on what many say is a long-tolerated practice among local political operatives.