Mitt Romney announces VP pick Saturday in Virginia. Rubio or Ryan?

Mitt Romney is going to announce his vice presidential pick tomorrow. The short list is long (and unknown, really, to many of us), but allies of Sen. Marco Rubio think it's down to the Florida Senator and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan.

Of course, it could be neither of them.

There's Tim Pawlenty (boring), and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman (boring, with a dash of Bush-era budgeting to go with it). Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is a wild card, but way more exciting. New Jersy Gov. Chris Christie, a favorite of the Northeast/Beltway press, brings a fun combativeness to the ticket.

The press release:

 Boston, MA – On Saturday, Mitt Romney will begin his “The Romney Plan For A Stronger Middle Class” bus tour by announcing his choice for Vice Presidential candidate in Norfolk, Virginia. The following events are open to the press. Please note that the tour of the USS Wisconsin and Homemades by Suzanne drop by are pool coverage.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Event:                        Governor Romney Tours USS Wisconsin

 Location:                  USS Wisconsin

1 Waterside Drive

Norfolk, Virginia

 Program Time:        8:45 AM EDT

 Note:                          This event is pool coverage.

 Print: David Sherfinski, The Washington Times dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com

 Broadcast: Janet Roach, WVEC, Hampton Roads jroach@wvec.com

 Radio: Anne Marie Morgan, Virginia Public Radio ammcapitol@yahoo.com

 ***

 Event:                        Mitt Romney Announces Vice Presidential Choice At USS Wisconsin

 Location:                  The Back Patio

Nauticus Museum

1 Waterside Drive

Norfolk, Virginia

 Pre-Set Time:          4:00 AM – 5:00 AM EDT

 Sweep Time:           5:00 AM – 7:00 AM EDT

 Doors Open:            7:00 AM EDT

 Invite Time:              8:45 AM EDT

 Program Time:        9:05 AM EDT

 Note:                          A valid media credential is required.

Cuidado! Zombie ballot-brokers stalk the land

In Hialeah, zombies lurk behind the absentee ballots.

That is the caustic pre-recorded telephone message delivered this week to alert Hialeah voters about a boletera, or absentee-ballot bundler, who had gone around promoting the campaigns of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez and state Rep. Eddy González, R-Hialeah.

The satirical attack, playing off the gruesome "Causeway Cannibal" attack that occured in Miami on Memorial Day, shows how opponents of Giménez and González have taken advantage of the absentee-ballot scandal that erupted two weeks ago in Hialeah. Authorities have accused Deisy Pentón de Cabrera, 56, of forging the signature on an absentee ballot and collecting other people’s ballots. The candidates deny that she worked for their campaigns.

“In this election, Miami is living in times of zombies. Be careful, day or night you might receive an unexpected visitor,” a man’s voice intones in Spanish with musical drums in the background.

In the message, after hearing a knock on the door, an old woman asks who is it, and a sinister woman’s voice responds: “I am the boletera of Carlos Giménez and Eddy González, and I am here to get your ballot.”

Then a man adds: “In this election, beware of the boletera of Carlos Giménez and Eddy González and be careful with your ballot.”

The message was paid for by Citizens for a Reality Check, an electoral communications organization (ECO) being used to attack certain campaigns. Sasha Tirador, a political strategist who also manages the campaigns of Giménez’s and González’s opponents, has been paid by the ECO.

Gonzalez's attorney, J.C. Planas, sued the committee, Tirador and her employee, Maykal Balboa, who is running against Balboa. A judge Friday refused to strip Balboa from the ballot or to stop the committee from advertising.

Only one station is running the ad. The others are concerned about its legality.

Story here

Download Zombie Boletera

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/07/2938706/latest-salvo-in-campaigns-zombies.html#storylink=cpy

Happy election season: Ethics complaints filed in 2 Florida House races in Miami

'Tis the season for ethics complaints (and lawsuits and cease-and-desist letters) in political campaigns leading up to next Tuesday's primary election.

Two ethics complaints have recently been filed in separate Florida House races in Miami: one against state Rep. Jeanette Nuñez, a Miami Republican seeking reelection, and the other against Mark Weithorn, a Democratic candidate in Miami Beach.

The complaint against Nuñez is over mail sent by her legislative office to voters outside of her current district, in apparent violation of a House policy. It was filed by Silvio Amico, who has contributed to Nuñez's opponent, Libby Perez. He also filed the same complaint with the Florida Elections Commission.

Nuñez has said her office mailers should not have gone out to people outside of her district, and that she gave strict staff instructions to that effect.

The complaint against Weithorn is over his failure to disclose a $13,500 judgment against him in his financial disclosure form. The complaint was filed by Alan Geffin, an attorney for Weithorn's former business partner who has contributed to the campaign of Adam Kravitz, one of Weithorn's opponents.

Weithorn, who has hired a lawyer to review his financial disclosures, said in a statment that he will file an amended report "in an abundance of caution."

"It's dirty politics as usual," he said of the complaint.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson accepts Tampa Bay Times/CNN debate invite

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson today accepted a CNN / Tampa Bay Times debate and one proposed by Leadership Florida jointly with the Florida Press Association.

But, this morning, Mack publicly pushed Nelson to accept future debate invites and told the Times/Herald he's ready to debate Nelson in Tampa.

Mack angered his lesser-known rivals in the GOP primary by refusing to debate them.

Republicans are hoping to help secure a majority in the Senate by unseating Nelson, who is seeking his third term.

The date, rules and format of the debates are undecided. Nelson campaign manager Pete Mitchell said he'd wait until after the Aug. 14 primary to address specifics.

Twitter: @Britt_alana

 

Carroll wraps up Trinidad trade mission

Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll wrapped up a trade mission to Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, after spending a week in the island nation where she was born.

Representatives from 27 Florida companies traveled to Trinidad as part of the trade mission organized by Enterprise Florida. The goal was to strengthen trade ties between Florida and Trinidad, a top trade partner in the English-speaking Caribbean.

During the trip, Carroll met with acting Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Jack Warner, and other government officials. She also gave a series of lectures on behalf of the U.S. State Department.

Trinidad celebrates its 50^th anniversary of independence this month.

@ToluseO

Connie Mack ready to debate Bill Nelson in Tampa

The Election Day primary hasn't even arrived. But let's face it: Rep. Connie Mack is going to win the Republican race to face Sen. Bill Nelson. Mack refused to debate his little known Republican rivals.

But his campaign confirmed that it has accepted an offer from Gannett newspapers and WTSP CBS 10 (and all affiliated Florida CBS stations) to debate Nelson the first week of October at the University of South Florida

Mack's campaign spokesman, David James, said the representative wants multiple debates: "We believe several debates are appropriate for a Senate race of this magnitude, including this debate. We look forward to a series of issue-based debates on the right path for the future of our nation with Senator Nelson and thank WTSP and their partners for extending their offer."

Alex Diaz de la Portilla: Recall Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo

Nothing like striking while the iron's hot.

Four days before Tuesday's primary election, a Tallahassee-based electioneering communications organization run by former state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla is putting out robocalls calling for the recall of Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo.

Bovo's former aide, Anamary Pedrosa, has been questioned by authorities in connection to 164 absentee ballots she delivered to a post office after they were dropped off -- most by ballot brokers known as boleteros -- at Bovo's Hialeah district office.

"Commissioner Steve Bovo thinks he can fool us," the robocall says, adding that Bovo's district offic is "at the heart" of an investigation into voter fraud. "Let's stop Steve Bovo's clowning around."

The narrator gives a phone number to call for a form to file a petition to oust Bovo. ("Say no to fraud. Say no to this clown. Say no to Bovo.")

"Bovo needs to be recalled," said Diaz de la Portilla, who heads Citizens Desiring Accountable Government, an ECO registered with the state division of elections last month. "He is an embarrassment. People need honest leaders and integrity in government. They don't need their elected officials to have their offices used as a place where votes can be stolen."

Said Bovo: "It's campaign season, and all this stuff is par for the course, I guess."

Diaz de la Portilla is running for Florida House in a Little Havana-based district. His younger brother, however, is vying for a House seat in Hialeah. Renier Diaz de la Portilla is facing Manny Diaz Jr., who has been backed by Hialeah's political establishment -- including Bovo.

--PATRICIA MAZZEI AND MARC CAPUTO

PolitiFact rules Bullard-connected mailer attacking Saunders False

Nothing says kiss of death in a Democratic primary like a candidate looking cozy with Republican Gov. Rick Scott. And that’s what a recent mailer attacking state Rep. Ron Saunders does in a competitive South Florida state Senate battle.

The mailer shows a cartoon image of Saunders, the House’s Democratic minority leader from Key West, grinning and shaking hands with Scott as if they are best buds.

"As a state representative, Ron Saunders made the choice to stand with Rick Scott. Now he’s asking you to send him back to Tallahassee as your state senator. When you see Ron Saunders, tell him that supporting Rick Scott was the wrong choice."

The mailer also states that Saunders "has helped" Scott to:

• "Take money from public schools by expanding vouchers"

• "Make college less accessible by restricting Bright Futures scholarships"

• "Give extra tax breaks to the wealthiest Floridians while so many families are struggling"

Saunders is running in a crowded Democratic state Senate primary that includes state Rep. Dwight Bullard of Miami. Bullard comes from a political dynasty: His mother Larcenia Bullard is a state senator and his dad Edward is a former state legislator. The newly drawn District 39 spans Miami-Dade, Monroe, Collier and Hendry counties.

The mailer was sent by Tomorrow’s Vision of Florida, an electioneering communication organization formed by Edward and Larcenia Bullard in July. We made multiple attempts to reach Dwight, Edward and Larcenia Bullard and did not hear back.

For this article, we will check if Saunders voted as the mailer claims. And we will also explore whether those votes mean Saunders "made the choice to stand with Rick Scott." Read why  PolitiFact ruled this attack False.

UPDATED Former Hialeah mayor's uncle arrested in absentee-ballot fraud investigation

The uncle of Hialeah’s former mayor was arrested Friday as part of a broad voter-fraud investigation, after police say he filled out two absentee ballots with his own choices, not those of the voters involved, including a woman with dementia.

Sergio Robaina, 74, turned himself in Friday afternoon. He was briefly held at Ward D of Jackson Memorial Hospital, where inmates receive medical treatment, before posting a nominal bond Friday evening. His nephew is former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina.

Sergio Robaina was charged with two felony counts of voter fraud for allegedly filling out the two ballots in a way that did not match the voters’ intentions. He also faces two counts of violating a county ordinance by possessing more than two absentee ballots belonging to others.

Robaina admitted to police he picked up the ballots of seven or eight other people, according to an arrest affidavit, and told police that “he will continue to do it.”

Robaina is the second ballot broker arrested as part of the investigation, which has brushed the political campaigns of the Miami-Dade mayor and state attorney, and the office of a sitting county commissioner. More here.

Miami-Dade State attorney's BF declared bankruptcy but has loads of offshore cash to spend on her campaign

A recent campaign mailer sent to Dade Democrats accuses Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle of receiving some $110,000 in contributions in the past three elections from “off shore” contributions tied to real estate developers in Puerto Rico.

Many of them, the ad says, come from post office boxes.

What the attack doesn’t say: a good bulk of the Puerto Rico contributions came from corporations controlled by Fernandez’s boyfriend, wealthy lawyer David Efron. The mailer was sent by A Vote For Justice, a PAC funded by the top prosecutor’s longtime nemesis, the Police Benevolent Association.

Efron is a Cuba-born attorney whose personal injury and medical malpractice law practice is based in San Juan. Records show he controls 26 corporations, most of them real estate developers on the island.

At least 12 of Efron’s companies donated $500 each to Fernandez’s campaign in the past year, according to state campaign finance reports.

And it’s perfectly legal. Although campaign finance law caps donations in state primary races to $500, separate donations can be submitted under the names of individual corporations. Even if they are owned by the same person.

The ad shows a campaign contribution document that list donations from Norfe Bank Properties, Norfe Krome Properties, Norfe Group Corp., Miramar World Center, Metropol Development Corp., Hegon Corp, and several others. All those companies are listed on Efron’s bankruptcy filing.

A review of Efron’s 2011 bankruptcy filing shows he controls several, or nearly all, the companies listed in on the attack ad. A few more campaign donors that are not listed in the bankruptcy filing as being Efron’s assets share the same address as other companies he owns.

The well-heeled lawyer listed $100 million in assets, including a shopping center and a $120,000 2005 Maserati.

Efron and Fernandez have been together for at least a decade. There’s a picture of Fernandez on Efron’s law office website, and they are often photographed together at community events.

The two raised eyebrows early in their relationship when they showed up together at a traffic stop on Galloway Road near Kendall Drive, where Efron’s then 16-year-old was getting a ticket for careless driving and a juvenile curfew violation.

Efron did not much appreciate the publicity given to the Sept. 2001 incident: he sued the Miami Herald for libel, invasion of privacy and infliction of emotional distress.  A judge tossed the suit, and the appellate court agreed.

-- Frances Robles