Financial links between the Florida TEA Party and U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., are giving Republicans plenty of political ammunition in the crowded 8th Congressional District race.
Grayson had bought advertising on an Orlando radio program -- now canceled -- hosted by Doug Guetzloe, a TEA consultant. And Guetzloe's son interned at Grayson's congressional office.
This week, TEA Party legislative candidate Victoria Torres also was connected to Grayson. Torres, a last-minute filer in the 51st Florida House district, worked as a pollster for Grayson.
According to the Florida Department of State, Torres incorporated Public Opinion Strategies Inc. in December 2008. In the first quarter of this year, Graysons campaign made two payments to her firm, totaling $11,000, for polling and survey expenses.
Curiously, Public Opinion Strategies also happens to be the name of a large Alexandria, Va., polling firm that does work for the Republican Party nationally.
Shes got various businesses on the side, said TEA Party spokesman Nick Egoroff, who fielded calls to Torres. Its just a business relationship. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Republicans pounced on the news.
"Central Florida voters deserve to know why Alan Grayson trusts as his pollster a 'quasi-paralegal assistant' who runs a cleaning service," said Bruce O'Donoghue, one of seven Republicans vying for the Orlando area congressional seat.
O'Donoghue, who said he received a "threatening letter" from TEA Chairman Frederic O'Neal, challenged Grayson to come clean on his links to the TEA Party.
"Along with details of Ms. Victoria Torres' credentials, Alan Grayson must immediately produce a certifiable document that not one penny of his fees to Ms. Torres went to pay for Florida TEA Party filing fees or consulting fees.
"Otherwise, there is no hiding from this reality: Alan Grayson's shell game of campaign cash is designed to confuse conservatives and thus further his time in the liberal limelight."
Through a spokesman, Grayson called the allegations "absurd."
Peg Dunmire -- who initially filed to run as a Republican -- is the TEA candidate in the 8th District and claims to be the first tea party candidate in the nation.
Dunmire and Grayson will square off this fall against the winner of the GOP primary, which features O'Donoghue, Ross Bieling, Dan Fanelli, Kurt Kelly, Todd Long, Patricia Sullivan and former state Sen. Dan Webster.
O'Donoghue, who is endorsed by former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez and former Florida Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings, raised more than $350,000 in the first quarter-- more than the rest of the GOP field combined.
Florida's 8th Congressional District is considered a "tilt Republican" district by the Rothenberg Political Report.
ODonoghue argues that the goal of the TEA Party was to provide a platform to get 5 percent to 7 percent of the vote, which, he said, could help Grayson keep the 8th District seat.
O'Neal last week blasted O'Donoghue for those comments.
In a letter to the candidate, ONeal declared, I now have a grudge with you.
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
