Would Democrats take advantage of new legislation that would allow top lawmakers to create committees to campaign for members of their political parties? The Democratic Party of Florida says it hasn't considered the question. "I think that what we're focused on is stopping Republican slush fiunds," said Eric Jotkoff, spokesman for the party.

Charlie is watching Marco's backside

In a bizarre 11-minute interview with Fox's Greta Van Susteren Monday night, Gov. Charlie Crist got off on a tangent about back-waxing. Here's what he said about GOP rival Marco Rubio: CRIST: It has come out in news accounts he had a Republican Party of Florida credit card that he charged $130 haircut, or maybe it was a back wax -- we are not sure what all he got at that place. GRETA: Wait a second, stop. A back wax? Wait a second. CRIST: I don't know what it was, you know?

Political Bits and Pieces

By Kevin Derby

Despite his reservations about the stimulus, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp continues to act like a good solider for Gov. Charlie Crist. After blasting the stimulus in an interview with NewsMax.com last week, Kottkamp inspected the Tequesta Drive Bridge in Palm Beach County. The Tequesta Drive Bridge was paid for with federal stimulus moneySure the Legislature is in session but thats not stopping Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, from hitting the trail for his campaign to be attorney general.

Democrats Anoint Rubio Frontrunner

By Kevin Derby

Marco Rubio is picking up steam in his bid to be Floridas next senator. At least his foes in the Democratic ranks think so. Florida Democratic Communications Director Eric Jotkoff sends out a constant streams of email bashing Republicans, pointing out their inconsistencies and lambasting their positions.

More Bad News for Crist Coming Tomorrow

By Kevin Derby

More bad news for Gov. Charlie Crist after today's New York Times story on his administration's Everglades real estate deal with U.S. Sugar. Tom Jenson of Public Policy Polling revealed today that his organization will release a poll tomorrow that has brutal numbers for Crist. The numbers Jenson released so fararent promising for Crist. The poll of Republican primary voters has 19 percent wanting to see Crist as governor for a second term, 14 percent backing Crists Senate ambitions and 56 percent wanting him out of office all together.

Crist Calls NY Times article a "hatchet Job"

By Kevin Derby

After a months-long investigation, looking over thousands of emails and conducting more than 60 interviews, The New York Times released a report saying Gov. Charlie Crist's Everglades deal seems to really only be a good deal for U.S. Sugar... and Crist's long-time friend, George LeMieux. Sunshine State News interviewed Crist Monday afternoon for his reaction and he dismissed the extensive research and reporting of The New York Times as a "hatchet job."

Dark Horse on a Tractor: Randy Hatch Runs for Agriculture Commissioner

By Kevin Derby

Its not every day that you see a tractor bedecked in American flags driving down Monroe Street in Tallahassee. But then its not every day you meet Randy Hatch, the former commissioner of Suwannee County who is now running to be state agriculture and consumer services commissioner. In front of the old statehouse, Hatch met with the press to talk about his campaign. Pointing to a crack in the sidewalk, he pointed out that he got his start in politics there when he parked his tractor in front of the capital during the farm strike in 1977.

Another Republican Disses Crist

U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Pensacola, isn't mincing words about the increasingly nasty Senate battle between Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist. In an op-ed in the Miami Herald, which Miller also excoriates, the congressman from Florida's First District, stated: "Let us be clear: This entire AmEx story is a ridiculous sideshow; a distraction manufactured by Gov. Charlie Crist's campaign in an attempt to smear Rubio. Crist has fallen far behind in the polls. His staff is starting to quit his campaign. And there's even talk of Crist himself quitting the Republican Party. He is getting desperate. And he's on the attack. "Marco's American Express statements had to have been taken from the Republican Party of Florida by former RPOF Chairman Jim Greer and likely leaked to The Miami Herald by the Crist campaign. "What the statements show is that Rubio worked hard to advance the goals of the Republican Party, and he did it as frugally as possible. He spent less in two years than Crist's handpicked RPOF staff spent in one month...

Ausley Starts Fundraising Events, Attacking Atwater

By Kevin Derby

Loranne Ausley, the favorite to become the Democratic CFO candidate, jumped into the race late, and she is starting her campaign fundraising with an event at Chez Pierre in Tallahassee on Tuesday. She is also starting to go on the offensive by taking shots at the GOP frontrunner, Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach. Ausleys campaign website is clearly taking Atwater to task for his involvement in the RPOF fundraising and the credit card scandals. Yesterday, at her website, the campaign asked:

Promise Kept: Saunders Gets Cruz on Government Operations Appropriations Committee

By Kevin Derby

When Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, won the special election for the 58th district House seat, during the victory party, incoming Democratic House leader Ron Saunders, D-Key West, promised that he would try to put her on an appropriations committee. Saunders delivered. House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, named Cruz to the Government Operations Appropriation Committee as well as to the Elder & Family Services Policy Committee and the Governmental Affairs Policy Committee.

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