While prominent Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Al Lawson of Tallahassee and Rep. Yolly Roberson of North Miami Beach have endorsed Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running without party affiliation for the U.S. Senate, the governor still has a few friends left in the Republican ranks.
On Monday, the Friends for Freedom and Prosperity, a 527 organization with ties to Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, and former Senate President Ken Pruitt who is now running for property appraiser in St. Lucie County, released a mailer praising Crist for standing up to special interests and being above partisanship Looking to keep Democrats from backing Crist, the campaign team of U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the Democrat in the Senate race, blasted a new mailer from the governors team, arguing that it revealed that Crist is in fact a conservative despite leaving the Republicans back in April
Bernie DeCastro, the Constitution Party candidate in the U.S. Senate race, will be attending the Nullify Now conference in Orlando on Oct. 10, focusing on reclaiming states rights from the federal government. Other attendees include bestselling libertarian author Thomas Woods and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson. While Johnson is the subject of buzz about making a stab at the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, the former New Mexico governor, best known for his opposition to the drug war, continues to leave the door open for a possible third party or independent bid for the White House. He even attended a media event Tuesday to push for legalizing cannabis in California, led by Christina Tobin of the Free and Equal Foundation. While Tobin is running for secretary of state in California as a Libertarian, she is best known for her work on Ralph Naders independent presidential bid in 2008 ...
The Rotary Club of Land O' Lakes is getting a good look at the two candidates running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite in Congress. Hernando County Sheriff Rich Nugent, the Republican candidate, spoke to the group on Monday. Next Monday, Democratic candidate Jim Piccillo will address the organization Democrat U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, facing a tough challenge from Republican Rep. Sandy Adams of Oviedo, released her second television ad of the general election on Tuesday, blasting Adams for backing tax breaks for companies that outsource American jobs Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis joined U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat from New York City, in condemning the 36-year occupation of northern Cyprus by Turkey. Bilirakis and Maloney called for Turkey to respect the freedom of religion and to protect religious sites
Speaking to the Jacksonville Rotary Club on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, part of the Republican leadership in the U.S. House, predicted that Republicans would win control of the House in November Crenshaw joined forces with Democratic U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd -- who Republicans are targeting in November -- to bring $200,000 to Tallahassee Community College to improve equipment for science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses... Jacksonville City Councilman Daniel Davis, a Republican who is running to replace Rep. Jennifer Carroll of Jacksonville in the House, is already laying the groundwork for his own 527. With Carroll being selected by Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott to be his running mate for lieutenant governor, Davis is the only candidate on the ballot to replace her in representing parts of Clay and Duval counties
Democratic CFO candidate Lorrane Ausley, a former representative, held a media event Tuesday hammering her Republican opponent, Senate President Jeff Atwater of North Palm Beach, for blocking the state accessing federal funding for energy rebates Speaking of the energy rebates, Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, backed the contention of House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, that the rebate program needs the approval of the full House and not just the Legislative Budget Commission. Proctor added that he would back the House voting on the rebate program Disbarred attorney Jack Thompson, who ran against Janet Reno for Dade County state attorney back in 1988, continued his campaign against violent video games, this time focusing on the latest installment in the Medal of Honor franchise. Thompson sent a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, arguing that the newest game, which allows gamers to play as a member of the Taliban, could threaten American lives.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
