Former House Speaker and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio was in Delray Beach on Wednesday, talking about Israel and Middle Eastern affairs to the Republican Jewish Coalitions Florida Region Chapter. Rubio has been a firm supporter of Israels recent actions against ships heading toward Gaza Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre was in Pensacola earlier this week, inspecting the beaches impacted by the oil spill. Ferre is calling for comprehensive energy reform on the national level and is calling for the elimination of damage caps resulting from oil spills The gubernatorial campaign trail is getting cluttered. Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott spoke on Thursday to the Duval Republican Women in Jacksonville, while his primary rival Attorney General Bill McCollum hosted a breakfast in Venice to talk about jobs and the economy. State CFO Alex Sink, the leading Democratic candidate in the race, was speaking in Clearwater
Florida Federation of Teenage Republicans Chairman Jacob Engles has put together an impressive list of speakers for its annual convention in Jacksonville this weekend. State CFO candidate Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, will be at the convention Friday night. U.S Rep. Adam Putnam, the GOP candidate for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services, will be addressing the convention via Skype on Saturday night. U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and congressional primary rivals Rep. Kurt Kelly, R-Ocala, and Bruce O'Donoghue have filmed videos for the convention While the Democratic primary battle between Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, and former Leon County Democratic Chairman Rick Minor is gaining a good deal of attention, Republican candidate Ann Yarko, who just set up a Web site for her campaign, has started her fund-raising drive, looking to raise $9,000 in nine days
Gov. Charlie Crist is bringing in Steve Yerrid as a legal adviser to deal with the consequences of the oil spill in the Gulf. Yerrid, who played a key role in the states settlement with big tobacco back in 1997, is doing the work pro bono Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, will be hitting the campaign trail hard on Saturday in his bid to replace retiring Sen. Durell Peaden, R-Crestview. Evers will be making appearances in Chipley, Bonifay, DeFuniak Springs, Molino and Pensacola on a very busy Saturday for him Looks like Crist and gubernatorial candidate Bud Chiles are getting more company in the ranks of independent candidates for Florida office. Attorney general candidate Jim Lewis, who has made several unsuccessful bids for office over the years, has dropped out of the Republican primary and will continue his campaign as an independent
Florida Right to Life named its pro-life legislators of the year. This years winners were Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Ocala, and Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland ... Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Alex Snitker picked up the endorsement of former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia who was the Libertarian Partys presidential candidate in 2008. Barr, who served as one of the House managers during the impeachment of Bill Clinton, pulled more than 17,000 votes in Florida in 2008 -- placing behind Barack Obama, John McCain and Ralph Nader. Its a busy week for Snitker; the campaign trail took him to Orange County and radio appearances in Orlando and Daytona Beach.
