After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

Radio talker Laura Ingraham is talking smack about Jeb Bush. Tweaking the former governor for appearing with Barack Obama during one of the president's recent visits to Florida, she vented to New York Post columnist Kyle Smith: "Obama has absolutely blockaded opportunity scholarships for kids in Washington, D.C. How do you appear onstage with him, welcoming him and giving him the imprimatur of legitimacy on education without becoming Charlie Crist?" Ingraham apparently believes the answer is an obvious "You can't."

George LeMieux said he will report raising more than $950,000 in the second quarter, topping fellow Republicans vying for the right to take on U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. LeMieux, a Fort Lauderdale attorney, touted the haul after Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos led the field with $2.6 million in collections during the first quarter. Adam Hasner, a third candidate in the GOP primary, attempted to blunt LeMieux's news by sending out a press release last week stating:

On Tuesday, Craig Miller, the former CEO of Ruths Chris who ran for the Republican nomination for a Central Florida congressional seat in 2010, is expected to announce that he is entering an already crowded primary to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012. Miller, a Vietnam veteran, has expressed interest in entering the race since early May. Besides touring the state since first leaving the door open, Miller has met with Republican leaders in Washington who have made Nelson --who is seeking a third term --one of their top targets in the 2012 election cycle.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Democrat leaders galore staged a town hall meeting in Central Florida Saturday to gain the support of the 300,000-or-so Puerto Ricans living in the area. The event at the Asociaci Borinque de Florida Central in Orlando was attended by dozens.