Gallagher campaign will urge South Florida voters to watch debate

The campaign of Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher said Monday night that they will do their best to make sure that South Florida voters get a chance to watch the bruising brawl between Gallagher and rival Attorney General Charlie Crist.

Miami NBC affiliate WTVJ, channel 6, opted against airing the GOP debate live, saying that the debate would air Saturday at 2 p.m. The station aired a news special on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina instead. Gallagher campaign consultant Mike Murphy said after the debate that the campaign will place automated calls to South Florida Republicans urging them to watch the performance of Gallagher _ which was his best during three different debates and forums.

During the debate Gallagher repeated his message that Crist isn't a true conservative because of his stances on abortion and civil unions for gays and the class size amendment. Crist responded by pointing out Gallagher's recent ethical problems and his support for a penny for prisons tax back in 1994.

Debate not airing live in Miami

Voters in Florida's two biggest counties -- Miami-Dade and Broward -- won't get a chance to watch tonight's debate between Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher and Attorney General Charlie Crist.
Miami NBC affiliate WTVJ, Channel 6, has decided instead to tape the debate and show it on Saturday afternoon. The TV station decided to air a news special on Hurricane Katrina instead of the debate.

Argenziano to Jordan: back off

Looks like a Republican Party rift is widening over the Villalobos-Bolaños race.

State. Sen. Nancy Argenziano has responded to state GOP chief Carole Jean Jordan (click here for background):

Said Argenziano: "Why is it that the Governor’s comments didn’t prompt a press release from you about crossing many lines?  It seems to be par for the course to go after any Republican whom the powers that be can’t strong arm:  John McCain, Katherine Harris, Debbie Sanderson, Christina Todd Whitman [sic], the behind the scenes efforts to go after Charlie Crist, and many more.  Whether you agree with the positions of these individuals is not the point."

For more: Download ArgenzianoR.doc

Davis in lead. Will Ernesto change that?

From a press release by the Florida Chamber of Commerce:

A statewide poll... reveals a nine-point difference between gubernatorial candidates U.S. Rep. Jim Davis (36 percent) and state Sen. Rod Smith (27 percent), with eight percent choosing “some other candidate” and the undecided voters at 28 percent. These poll results are the first to be released since the August 23 Democratic gubernatorial candidate debate.

This poll, conducted by InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion Research on August 24-25, 2006, was a phone survey of 500 likely voters in the Democratic primary. It was weighted for age, race, gender and geographic distribution. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.

“Although Jim Davis still holds a lead over Rod Smith, the undecideds and the eight percent leaning toward an unnamed candidate suggest an even lower turnout than the GOP primary poll suggested,” said Marian Johnson, vice president of political strategy for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “Basically this race could go either way, especially if voter turnout in South Florida is affected by the hurricane. This could possibly help Rod Smith.”

More here: Download Poll.doc

Bush reticent to respond to senator

Gov. Jeb Bush, who is usually quick to fire back at those who criticize him, declined to say much about Sen. Nancy Argenziano's stinging rebuke.

When asked about it following a hurricane briefing, Bush said: "Other than to say I’m disappointed in what I saw, I have no other comment."

Hurricane crashes Democratic debate

Take a break from the Weather Channel tonight. The debate between the leading Republican contenders for governor is on.

Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher and Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist will face off at 8 p.m. from WPTV, the NBC affiliate in West Palm Beach.

But Hurricane Ernesto's approach has forced the station to postpone tomorrow's debate between the major Democratic candidates for governor, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis and state Sen. Rod Smith. WPTV debate producer Tom Kastanotis said the debate will be rescheduled as soon as the storm passes.

"We're going to do it and get it done this week.'' he said.

Jordan: senator crossed line

State GOP chair Carole Jean Jordan is protesting Sen. Nancy Argenziano's recent letter suggesting the governor is a dictator.

Jordan wrote in a statement: "While I understand that State Senator Argenziano might have strong feelings about a hotly contested Republican primary involving a good friend, her comments today regarding Governor Jeb Bush crossed many lines.

Primaries exist to help the Republican Party confirm its direction, and a hearty debate on the issues is healthy, but personal attacks on the sitting Governor of Florida questioning his character are far beyond the bounds of responsible dialogue.  I sincerely hope that Senator Argenziano will reconsider her comments, especially in light of all that Governor Bush has done for the people of Florida and for the Republican Party."

Gallagher launches a new attack ad

Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher is staying on the offensive: His new commercial flails Charlie Crist once again as "pro-choice" and in favor of gay civil unions, and criticizes him for supporting the class-size amendment. Of course, Crist maintains this is misleading and says he's "pro-life" even though he does not support the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, the key U.S. Supreme Court decision that authorized abortion in the nation.

Here's the script: "Don’t be fooled by Charlie Crist’s smokescreen, Tom Gallagher opposes new taxes. And Charlie Crist? Charlie Crist is pro-choice and supports gay civil unions. Tom Gallagher opposes gay civil unions and is endorsed by Florida Right to Life. Tom Gallagher stood with Jeb Bush fighting billions in new liberal spending. Charlie Crist sided with the Democrats. Sorry Charlie. Only Jeb Bush conservatives get to be governor."

Jeb, the "dictator"

State Sen. Nancy Argenziano, outraged over the governor's recent letter supporting the opponent of fellow Republican Sen. Alex Villalobos of Miami, just issued this scorcher, addressed to challenger Frank Bolanos:

"Governor Bush’s suggestion that Villalobos caters to special interest, while you accept millions of dollars from de facto special interest groups, is hypocritical and bizarre.  The Governor has a history reflecting accommodation of special interests as evidenced by his agencies’ contracts, and his flexible Republicanism is at odds with both America and actual Republican principles.  In his heart of hearts, the Governor prefers dictatorship to democracy."

More here: Download Argenziano.doc

Here's what ticked her off: Download Bolanos.doc

Click this for more on the race

Bush said elections will go forward

Gov. Jeb Bush said Monday morning that right now he expects the Sept. 5 primary to proceed on schedule, despite the looming threat of Tropical Storm Ernesto, which is expected to strike Florida as a hurricane by Wednesday.

"My expectation is that the election will go off,'' said Bush, who added there could be an impact on early voting already under way. "Everyone of these supervisors have plans in place to deal with this.''

But Bush was less certain whether or not the four candidates for governor should proceed with their scheduled debates Monday and Tuesday night in West Palm Beach. "That's a good question,'' he said. "I haven't given it much thought."

The looming storm, however, has apparently caused the campaign of Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher to announce that they were postponing a statewide bus tour that was supposed to commence on Tuesday .