The Democratic National Committee put out the call in August for a massive infusion of cash, and thousands of "low-dollar donors online and in the mail" answered it. Its fund-raising haul for September, reports Politico, is more than $16 million. In fact, September was the Dems' best month of the 2010 campaign, better even than its $13.3 million take in March.

Republicans are feeling their oats. With less than a month to go till midterms, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is riding a towering wave of confidence that includes clean sweeps in four states and claims "every Republican incumbent running for re-election will win."

Conservative radio talk-show host and Florida resident Rush Limbaugh was on the attack again Sunday, but liberals needn't duck and cover. This time he was defending Brian, a dog on the Fox animated sitcom 'Family Guy,' with a series of martial arts moves. Limbaugh also showed off his softer side in a duet with Brian later in the episode.

Much more special-interest money is being spent on this year's congressional races, and lots more of it is going to Republicans, a Washington Post analysis says. The Post said that the $80 million spent thus far by interest groups represents a five-fold increase from 2006. More ominously, less than half that amount is identified by actual contributors. Explains the Post:

U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, received another endorsement Monday in the race for agriculture and consumer services commissioner, this time from a hunting organization as his campaign hopes for a clean shot at the Cabinet seat.

For some elected officials, the October surprise is a pair of handcuffs. Two weeks after eight public officials, including the mayor, were arrested in Bell, Calif., on corruption charges, Alabama state senators were among those arrested Monday as part of a crackdown on vote-buying related to gambling legislation.

Fifty-one more Florida organizations -- ranging from the city of Miami to Pinellas County to the sprawling State Department of Management Services -- have joined the federal Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. Nationally, nearly 3,000 large and small businesses, state and local governments, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and unions have been accepted into the program and will begin to receive reimbursements for their early retirees medical claims this fall.

Marco Rubio, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, is running way ahead of independent Gov. Charlie Crist and Democrat U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek in the latest polls, but he is not getting complacent.

When one congressman is so salty he creeps out another congressman, you know you've got a problem. Seems the offensively salty lawmaker is -- surprise, surprise -- our boy. Yes, Florida's go-nuclear Democrat, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, falls under the category of "good reason why more than 130 former members of Congress wrote a letter to every congressional candidate in both parties" last week, begging them to cut out the personal attacks and "focus on promise solving."

The conservative James Madison Institute of Tallahassee has analyzed the constitutional amendments on the November ballot. Check out the pros, cons and recommendations here.

Voters have until the end of the day Monday to register to vote for the Nov. 2 election. To be eligible to vote in Florida, one must be a U.S. citizen, a Florida resident, at least 18 years old, not be "adjudicated mentally incapacitated" (a lower threshold than one would think), and not be a convicted felon -- or have one's rights restored after a felony conviction. Voters can register here, or with their local county's supervisor of elections office.

It's a bit convoluted (it's meant to be), but this video definitively dissects how one bank, on one loan, profited handsomely from the FDIC -- and taxpayers are paying the bill. Thanks to the not-so-invisible hand of Goldman Sachs, the rich get richer.

The ever-entertaining FSU-Miami clash this coming Saturday could give either squad bragging rights as the best team in this football-lovin' state. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at SunLife (Dolphin) Stadium on ABC. Both teams are coming off solid victories. Each has just one loss. On the strength of their win at Clemson, the Canes vaulted to No. 13 in this week's AP poll, edging past the Florida Gators. The Seminoles returned to the Top 25 after thrashing Virginia, landing at No. 23.

Unemployment is stuck in double digits, foreclosures remain rampant and home values continue to fall in St. Lucie County. So what do county officials do? Raise the property tax rate, of course. Commissioners this week boosted the levy from $6.62 per $1,000 assessed value to $7.47 -- a 12.8 percent increase. Officials justified their action by saying that because of plummeting property values, "most" homeowners would see a decrease in their annual bill.

In an interview with a South Florida TV station today, Gov. Charlie Crist said he and his wife Carole had discussed the possibility of having kids. Crist pointed out the fact that he's 54, but said his wife is still young. "I think it would be cool," he said. But it's a decision he says they won't make until after the election.