The Florida Chamber of Commerce is increasing its bet on Attorney General Bill McCollum in the battle for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Having already spent $225,000 to run a television commercial praising McCollum, the chamber is now forking over another $660,000 to keep the ad on the air
With less than two weeks until the primary elections, Jacksonville received a good deal of attention this week from Floridas gubernatorial candidates. Having campaigned with former Gov. Jeb Bush in Jacksonville on Monday, McCollum plans to return to the First Coast with events in Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach and St. Augustine on Thursday and Friday. Rick Scott, McCollums chief rival for the Republican nomination, was in Jacksonville on Wednesday attending a luncheon focusing on small businesses. Independent candidate Bud Chiles was also in Jacksonville on Wednesday, touring the facilities of Alternative Energy Technologies, pushing alternative sources of power before heading to Palatka Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, locked in a close and increasingly bitter contest with Sen. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres for the Democratic nomination for attorney general, was also in Jacksonville on Wednesday, holding events at the Clara White Mission and the Southside Businessmans Club before heading to Sunrise in the evening to campaign at the Sunrise Democratic Club. Gelber will be in Jacksonville on Saturday ...
Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, resigned on Tuesday from the Pasco County Republican Executive Committee. Fasano has been heavily criticized by Republican activists for continuing to support the U.S. Senate bid of Gov. Charlie Crist, who left the Republican Party to continue his campaign without party affiliation Former Rep. Loranne Ausley, the Democratic nominee for state CFO, clearly thinks she can reap some political benefits from using the new $48 million courthouse in Tallahassee as a symbol of all that is wrong in Tallahassee. During an event on Tuesday in front of the building, Ausley blasted the leadership in the Legislature -- including Senate President Jeff Atwater of North Palm Beach who is the Republican candidate in the race -- for playing games with the budget. The Ausley campaign team sent out an e-mail on Wednesday continuing to trash Atwater and the courthouse which it's labeled the Tallahassee Taj Mahal U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson will be meeting with Polk County commissioners on Monday to discuss federal projects and funding in the area
Former Ruth's Chris CEO Craig Miller, running in a close Republican primary to take on U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, was endorsed by New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer on Wednesday Independent congressional candidate Troy Stanley, running against Republican U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw in November, is increasing the pace of his campaign appearances. Besides appearing at the Southside Businessmans Club event in Jacksonville with Gelber on Wednesday, Stanley plans to campaign at the Jacksonville Political HobNob on Thursday and a Baker County candidates forum held in Macclenny on Saturday While newspapers are endorsing longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns for another term, his primary opponent is trying to make it an issue. Former Winter Springs City Councilman Don Browning, who is challenging Stearns for the Republican nomination, is trying to use the endorsements to his advantage -- arguing that this proves the media favor the congressman. Browning insists he is more conservative than Stearns
George LeMieux 2012? The retiring U.S. senator is already the subject of much speculation that he intends to take on Nelson in 2012, and his recent political activities will not dampen that buzz any. LeMieux is hosting a fund-raiser for Chip LaMarca who is running for a seat on the Broward County Commission Scrambling to stay relevant in the contest for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate race, former Miami-Dade Mayor Maurice Ferre plans to campaign in Pembrooke Pines this weekend and will speak to the Kings Point Democratic Club in Delray Beach next week With the University of Florida holding a gubernatorial debate on Oct. 26, organizers are hoping to lure two men who know a little about what it takes to be governor to serve as hosts. Organizers have asked former governors Bob Graham, who also served the U.S. Senate, and Bob Martinez to help out with the event.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
