Elusive Rep. Hastings Talks About His 3,000-Mile Road Trip

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, telephoned me today to take issue with our story, "Alcee Hastings Rolls Over Another Token Opponent."

The nine-term congressman, who's all but assured of a 10th, took umbrage at our suggestion that he hasn't bothered to seriously campaign this year.

"I drove 3,000 miles during the break," Hastings said of his travels throughout his heavily Democratic 23rd Congressional District, which winds from south of Interstate 75's Alligator Alley north to Fort Pierce.

Back on Capitol Hill this week, the congressman acknowledged that much of the $625,453.03 he reported raising so far this year came from outside his higher-minority, lower-income district, but, he added, "Most of it is spent in the district."

Asked why he and his staff have failed to return multiple phone calls and e-mails in recent months, Hastings said, "I don't e-mail," and added, "I don't have time to respond to every media inquiry."

We're at least grateful he found a few minutes to chat today.