Even when the New York Times props him up, "Bush continues to be ignored, and to languish in the polls . . . ." "Jeb Bush’s New Show of Confidence Is Failing to Connect With Republicans." "At 3% in the polls, Jeb Bush in free-fall ('The poll was conducted October 15-18 and surveyed 364 registered voters who leaned Republican and had a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percentage points.')"

Meanwhile, "the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll released Wednesday"

puts Bush in fourth place, behind Ben Carson at 22% and Sen. Marco Rubio at 10%.

Speaker's race

"Speaker’s race: Sprowls in, Eisnaugle claims support from three classes."

Uber drivers not eligible for unemployment

"Drivers for Uber and other app companies connecting passengers with rides are independent contractors and not employees, and are therefore not entitled unemployed benefits due to laid off workers, Florida’s jobs agency ruled Thursday. . . . the order is full of descriptive language that lauds the innovation of Uber and it’s relationship with drivers as a boon to the American Dream." "Florida: Uber drivers can't get jobless benefits."

Related: "Uber bill passes first House panel, faces tougher test in Senate."

"What's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State"

Marc Caputo: "Judge Jack Schramm Cox’s terrible ruling – Andrew Gillum for Congress? – RJC boos for Trump – Rubio’s hospital deal – Mike Murphy’s amnesia – Zimmerman’s Twitter suspension." "Florida Playbook."

Ros-Lehtinen Changes Team

"The dean of the Florida congressional delegation heads into 2016 with new key staff and representing different parts of Miami-Dade County." "Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Faces Changes to Her Team and District as 2016 Looms."

Backroom Briefing

Backroom Briefing: Lawmakers Push 'Cut and Dry' Energy Plan." See also "Weekly Roundup."

Will Gillum challenge Corrine Brown?

"Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a rising figure in Democratic politics, is actively taking calls about mounting a primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, whose seat was drastically altered as part of a long-running redistricting legal challenge." "With maps in place, Gillum inching closer to congressional run."

Panuccio gone

"Jesse Panuccio, Gov. Rick Scott’s jobs chief who was expected to face intense scrutiny during upcoming Senate confirmation hearings, announced Friday he is stepping down." "Gaither High taken off lockdown after receiving threatening call."

Amendment 1 lawsuit tossed

"A state circuit court judge on Thursday refused to throw out a lawsuit filed by environmental groups charging that the Legislature misappropriated $237 million provided for conservation spending under a 2014 ballot initiative." "Judge declines to toss suit over Amendment 1 spending."

Deutch, Frankel Exchange Districts

"In the aftermath of the Florida Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday to enact a map from the League of Women Voters (LWV) as the new congressional districts in the Sunshine State, two congressional Democrats carried out their promise not to run against each other." "In Aftermath of Congressional Redistricting Decision, Ted Deutch, Lois Frankel Exchange Districts."

Negron New Senate President

"Negron Chosen as Senate President as GOP Seeks Unity."

Florida's "lowest threshold in the nation for death sentences" may change

"With the lowest threshold in the nation for death sentences, Florida juries are sentencing prisoners to death faster than Gov. Rick Scott can sign their death warrants. But a pending U.S. Supreme Court case and a proposal before the Legislature could change that." "Court could change how Florida juries recommend death penalty."

Rubio sinking into irrelevancy

"Back for a very brief campaign swing through New Hampshire,"

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio on Friday declared that the recent California shootings signify "the most dangerous terrorist threat we've ever faced" while defending his vote against preventing individuals on the terror watch list from buying guns.

"It's just typical of the political left in America," Rubio continued. "I mean they didn't even know any of the facts about this and they immediately jumped on it as an opportunity to push their gun control agenda even though no gun laws would have prevented this from occurring."

"Rubio: San Bernardino Attacks Represent 'Most Dangerous' Threat."

"Christie Slams Rubio: 'There's Not a Lot of Depth There'."

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Bush’s National Finance Committee consisted of around 350 prominent donors led by Woody Johnson, best known for owning the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL).

Bush’s team has a Florida feel including Al Cardenas, the former chairman of the American Conservative Union (ACU) and the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), as well old family hands like former U.S. Sec. of Commerce Don Evans who served in President George W. Bush’s Cabinet.

The former Florida governor is also relying more on his family to reach out to Republicans. The Bush campaign sent out an email from former President George H.W. Bush over the weekend in which he showcased the campaign’s “Jeb can fix it” slogan.

Grayson Campaign Shakeup

Kevin Robillard and Marc Caputo: "Rep. Alan Grayson's campaign manager, deputy campaign manager, and senior adviser are leaving their jobs in the Democratic congressman’s troubled Florida Senate campaign."

Campaign manager Doug Dodson's last day was Monday and deputy campaign manager David Keith — a longtime friend of Grayson’s — is leaving day-to-day operations but will stay on as an informal adviser, multiple sources tell POLITICO. Additionally, senior adviser and campaign spokesman Kevin Franck also plans to leave before year’s end.

Lie down with dogs . . .

"Prominent Hispanic Republicans: Please, Not Donald Trump."

"What's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State"

Marc Caputo: "Grayson’s mammoth campaign SHAKEUP – Obama’s Miami climate-change fish tale – Prison for pig art in ‘new’ Cuba – FL icon’s roadkill problem." "Florida Playbook."

Trump's Florida rally

"Trump takes on rivals Rubio, Bush in Florida rally."

"Gov. Scott uses personal touch to push tax cut plan." See also "Scott makes surprise House visit to pitch his tax cut proposal" and "Florida Gov. Rick Scott injects rare personal touch in tax cut push with Legislature."

Tallahassee Brief

"Tallahassee Brief: Lawmakers dissect Scott’s budget; hefty push for Everglades funding."

The best Rubio can do?

"U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., reeled in a major endorsement on Monday as U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., announced he was backing him for the Republican presidential nomination."

Erin Walker, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), looked to tie Issa’s support of the Benghazi investigation to Rubio’s take on foreign affairs and the recent Islamic terrorist attack in Paris.

“It’s fitting that Congressman Darrell Issa, who led the Republican effort to exploit the Benghazi attack for political gain, is endorsing Marco Rubio, who is leading the Republican effort to exploit the Paris attacks for political gain,” Walker said on Monday. “While people around the world were still mourning the terror attacks in Paris, Marco Rubio was on television claiming the attacks were a ‘positive development’ for his campaign, echoing Donald Trump’s call to ‘shut down’ mosques and other public spaces in response, and cutting ads discussing the prospect of an attack on the U.S.

“After 9/11, Democrats and Republicans came together to support President George W. Bush,” Walker added. “The GOP response to the Paris attack – especially Marco Rubio’s – has been shameful by contrast. We need a commander-in-chief serious about protecting this nation, not a grandstander-in-chief who exploits terror as a ‘positive development’ to further his own political ambition.”

Sidney Blumenthal. Really?

"Just days after she was identified as the woman who set off an investigation that brought down the CIA leader, Jill Kelley was the subject of an email conversation between then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and a top advisor."

The email from Sidney Blumenthal to Clinton, one of 7,800 pages of emails on Clinton’s private server that were released Monday by the State Department, is far from flattering to Kelley or the Tampa military culture at the time.

The emails were released to comply with a court order demanding the State Department publicly release work-related emails stored on the private server of Clinton, wife of former President Bill Clinton and now the Democratic presidential frontrunner.

In the email, Blumenthal was advising Clinton on what to do about the controversy raging over the deaths of four Americans in the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

FlaDems slam Scott’s budget plan

"House Democrats, as usual, slam Scott’s budget plan."

Hill in town

Marc Caputo: "Over the next two days, Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton will embark on a five-city Florida fundraising tour, punctuated by a 1 p.m. public event Wednesday in Orlando." "Clinton set to make two-day fundraising swing through Florida." See also "Hillary Clinton in Tampa area today for private fundraiser."

13 in the Klown Kar

"Fla. GOP Primary Ballot Inked, 13 Active Presidential Candidates."

This winger ain't happy

"Steve Southerland Endorsement Riles Up GOP Primary to Take Down Gwen Graham."

Raw political courage

"Stuart Republican Joe Negron’s top priorities as Senate president will be improving Florida’s universities, providing funding for postsecondary scholarships and continuing water projects to prevent harmful outflow from Lake Okeechobee." "Senate President Negron aims to improve universities." See also "Legislature tries again to regulate backyard gun ranges."