News Service of Florida Blog

Crist Backpedaling on Stimulus Support

As Gov. Charlie Crist's opponent for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination tries to sear the picture of him hugging President Barack Obama into the minds of conservative voters, the governor tried late Tuesday to put some distance between himself and the president by saying he never supported the president's stimulus package.

Crist, who famously - or infamously to conservatives - hugged the president after campaigning for the stimulus with him in February in Fort Myers, was asked Tuesday by CNN's Wolf Blitzer if Crist regretted supporting the stimulus since it appears to be fueling the rise in the race of former House Speaker Marco Rubio.

"Well, I didn't endorse it," Crist said. "I - you know - I didn't even have a vote on the darned thing. But I understood that it was going to pass and I wanted to be able to utilize it for the benefit of my fellow Floridians."

But before the stimulus passed, when lawmakers were facing a shortfall that was projected to be as high as $6 billion, Crist did not appear to be so reluctant about the federal money.

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GOP Senate primary in WSJ piece

Florida's Republican primary in the U.S. Senate race is drawing increasing attention, with the latest national pub to give the race a look today's Wall Street Journal. The matchup between Gov. Charlie Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio gets a treatment today from Peter Wallsten, who formerly worked for the St. Petersburg Times in Tallahassee and covered both Crist and Rubio. Wallsten's story is here.

Dockery Jumps into Florida Gov's Race

   Sen. Paula Dockery jumped into the governor’s race Tuesday, ending what had appeared as Bill McCollum’s virtually unobstructed path to the nomination.

   The 48-year-old Lakeland senator said she planned to file campaign papers mid-afternoon Tuesday, walking the documents from the Capitol to the Secretary of State’s office two blocks away.

   “Some may question why I would undertake this campaign, given that the leadership of the Republican Party of Florida seems to have anointed a candidate,” Dockery said. “To them, I say this: people want a choice. People I meet don’t want to be told what to think.”

    McCollum on Tuesday shrugged off Dockery's entry into the race, saying he had expected a primary opponent to eventually emerge -- and that it would likely be the senator who has been talking about running for months. But McCollum said he was undeterred and that he still saw his real race being against Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the only major Democratic contender.

    "I'm focused on the race against the chief financial officer," McCollum said, adding, "that's where my energies will be focused."

    Read full story at www.newsserviceflorida.com

     

  

FOP backs Crist in Senate race

One of the state's two large police unions, the Florida Fraternal Order of Police, announced Monday it's backing Gov. Charlie Crist in his U.S. Senate bid. Crist was earlier also endorsed by the other major police union in the state, the Police Benevolent Association. Crist has for years been well liked by law enforcement, for his strong anti-crime stances going back to when he was known as “Chain Gang Charlie” in the state Senate. Crist's first major legislative push as governor was for legislation toughening the laws related to the treatment of violent probation violators. Crist is running in the Republican U.S. Senate primary against former House Speaker Marco Rubio.

Anti-Crist conservatives bolstered by Scozzafava move

Fresh off their victory in forcing moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava out of a New York congressional race, social conservatives are promising to move on to other races where they don't like the GOP-backed candidate – and they're mentioning Florida's U.S. Senate race. Adam Brandon, a spokesman for Freedom Works, which promoted tea party protests and sent angry people to town halls earlier this year, says in today's Politico that the movement is looking at Gov. Charlie Crist as a target and that the race is the “next major conservative electoral stand.” The Politico story quotes Florida tea party organizer Everett Wilkinson, who says “we are not going to allow our (movement) to be stolen by the GOP.” Former House Speaker Marco Rubio would appear to stand to be the beneficiary of any anti-Crist or anti-party sentiment. The party is firmly behind Crist in his primary with Rubio.

Perman files to run for Rader seat

Chiropractor Steven Perman will make a third run for the House District 78 seat that's being vacated by Rep. Kevin Rader, the Palm Beach Post reported Friday. Perman, a Democrat, lost in the primary in in 2006 to Richard Machek and to Rader in 2008. He's the first Democrat to get in the race for the Democrat-leaning South Florida seat.

Jennings, Day head Women for McCollum

Bill McCollum's campaign for governor announced Friday that former Lt. Gov. and Senate President Toni Jennings and GOP National Committeewoman Sharon Day will serve as honorary co-chairs of “Women for McCollum.” McCollum so far is the only well-known Republican in the governor's race, though he may soon have to face a woman opponent with state Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, considering getting into the race. In the general election, it's, of course, likely he'll face a woman anyway, with the lead Democratic candidate so far Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink.

Ranson to challenge Boyd

Republican Charlie Ranson of Tallahassee is joining a growing list of challengers to U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd. Ranson is the best known Republican so far to announce he's interested in challenging Boyd, joining Panama City funeral home owner Steve Southerland. Boyd, a Democrat, has also drawn a challenge from within his own party with term-limited Sen. Al Lawson in the race to unseat the Monticello Blue Dog in Florida's second congressional district. Ranson, a lawyer and former assistant attorney general, said he'd push for a return to smaller government and lower taxes. Ranson has also worked as a staffer in the state House, and for Florida TaxWatch and was special counsel to the Florida House in the aftermath of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge disaster.

Benson to announce campaign plans Thursday

Outgoing Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Holly Benson is holding a news conference on Thursday in her native Pensacola to announce her “intentions for the 2010 election cycle.” Benson, a former state legislator, is widely expected to enter the Republican race for attorney general. She announced earlier this month that she would step down at the end of October. Meanwhile, Tom Arnold was named Wednesday to be Benson's replacement at AHCA.

Nelson endorses Meek

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is endorsing U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek for the U.S. Senate. The only other well-known candidate in the Democratic primary for the seat opening up next year is former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre.

"Kendrick Meek's career has always been defined by his public service," Nelson said in a statement released Wednesday. "He's stood tall for the interests of all Floridians and is not afraid to take on special interests that put their needs above those of our state's citizens.  His voice and convictions are needed in the U.S. Senate."