Tropical Storm Isaac bumps VP Joe Biden from visiting Tampa

Blame it on Isaac ...

This news late Friday night from the Obama campaign in Chicago:

Due to disaster preparedness and local security concerns, Vice President Biden’s trip to Tampa, Florida on Monday, August 27 for campaign events has been postponed. This change in schedule is being taken out of an abundance of caution to ensure that all local law enforcement and emergency management resources can stay focused on ensuring the safety of people who might be impacted by the storm, as well as those attending the activities in Tampa.

Congressman David Rivera sweats, ducks questions about federal grand-jury probe on TV

There are two David Riveras.

 One of them goes on Spanish-language radio and TV where he holds forth, relatively unchallenged, to deny basic facts about The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald stories detailing the Republican Congressman's ties to a campaign that's the subject of a federal grand jury investigation in a cash-for-mailers scheme (last story is here). Denying investigations is nothing new for Rivera, who said last year he wasn't under state investigation and had no lawyer. But it turns out, he was under investigation and had a lawyer at the time he made his misstatements.

The other David Rivera says almost nothing in English about the investigation. He refuses to answer simple yes or no questions, issues statements from a campaign email account and doesn't sweat any details -- though he sweated through the difficult questions Friday during interviews with WPLG-10's Michael Putney and WSVN-7's Carmel Cafiero.

Both had to hunt Rivera down at an event and had a devil of a time getting Rivera to directly answer questions about his ties to Democratic candidate Justin Lamar Sternad, who lost to Joe Garcia in the Aug. 14 Democratic primary. They asked him at least 10 times.

Here's how WSVN begins its piece on the web: "Florida congressman David Rivera dodging questions about the campaign of a failed candidate that is now the focus of an FBI investigation." And WPLG's headline: "Congressman avoids questions about filing false financial campaign reports."

These are not the kinds of optics a campaign wants.

But, with a majority-Hispanic congressional seat stretching from Kendall-to-Key West, it might not matter. It appears that Rivera has decided to give access and answers to Spanish-language media, which probably means that he expects to blow away Democrat Joe Garcia, using stations like Radio Mambi that play to older Cuban-Americans.

On Univision (channel 23), Rivera waved Sternad's campaign finance disclosure forms in front of the reporter and camera as evidence that Sternad had reported his expenses. What he didn't tell Univision is that the reports were filed a week after the Aug. 14 primary, a potential violation of federal campaign finance laws.

In the same interview, Rivera also argued that he had never exchanged emails with Sternad nor his campaign vendors. What he didn't say was that he had told the Miami Herald that his campaign may have erroneously exchanged emails with the same campaign vendors during the Democratic primary campaign.

The Univison interview here

Rivera still hasn't answered, in any language, how he got access to Sternad's amended financial reports before they became public record. Nor has he explained how he has shown relatively detailed knowledge about Sternad's finances. Nor has he clearly explained why his former campaign vendors, who happened to work for Sternad as well, said he was involved with Sternad's campaign. Nor has he said why his lady friend Ana Alliegro, a self-described "Republican political guru" just happened to be the campaign manager for Sternad the Democrat.

WSVN-TV -

War on Wasserman Schultz?

Has the war on women turned into a war on Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz?

The Florida congresswoman and head of the Democratic National Committee got into a spat Thursday night during a segment with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who challenged how she used a Los Angeles times article to characterize Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s stance on abortion.

At issue: a fundraising appeal Wasserman Schultz sent out that links Romney to the Republican Party’s platform on abortion. Wasserman Schultz downplayed her use of the L.A. Times article, saying that the point of the fundraising solicitation was to point out that Romney hasn't distanced himself from the party platform, even if he himself supports exceptions for women who’s lives are in danger or who are victims of incest or rape.

Cooper's pointed questioning drew raves in the right wing blogosphere, including News Busters, which wrote "there are some lies told by the DNC that even CNN can't let slide. Such is the case with a recent DNC fundraising email written by Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz which misquotes the L.A. Times in order to attack Mitt Romney." The National Review had this headline: "Anderson Cooper Nukes Debbie Wasserman Schultz."

Despite Republican efforts to pivot to economic issues, the discussion keeps coming back to abortion. The Republican platform committee met Tuesday in Tampa and adopted tough anti-abortion language. It was nearly identical to the language agreed to in 2004 and 2008, but Democrats used the vote to highlight what they called the party’s callous, even hostile, attitude toward women.

And it comes even as the uproar continues over Missouri Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin who said last weekend that "if it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." Akin later said he’d misspoken, and he apologized. Despite pleas from Republican leaders, including presidential candidate Mitt Romney, the congressman refused to leave the race.

Here’s Wasserman Schultz’s explanation to Cooper:

"Well, I think that women need to know the dramatic difference between President Obama's position on a woman's right to her own reproductive choices as well as the Democratic Party's position and Mitt Romney and the Republican Party," she said. "And so Mitt Romney's words are very nice. But the bottom line is that, his campaign just directed the Republican Party platform to include the most restrictive constitutional amendment that would say to women that you would have no opportunity to make your own reproductive choices under any circumstances even in the case of rape or incest."

Expect an even feistier Wasserman Schultz in the coming weeks.The congresswoman on Sunday will be welcoming Republicans to Florida by opening a Democratic war room to attack GOP policies while the party's convention is in Tampa. The theme will be "Romney economics, wrong for the Middle Class," according to the media invitation. Limited Cadillac parking, the invitation warns. And also notes that "Medicare vouchers not accepted."

Debbie Wasserman Schultz called out by CNN's Anderson Cooper

DNC Chair and Broward Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz got called out today by CNN's Anderson Cooper over she misquoted a Los Angeles Times story regarding Mitt Romney’s stance on the Republican Party’s abortion platform plank.

Wasserman Schultz had said: "The Los Angeles Times’ reported yesterday that the platform was, and I quote, ‘written at the direction of Romney’s campaign.’

But Cooper said the quote “was ripped, in fact, out of a sentence.” The real LA Times piece said: “Delegates for presumptive nominee Mitt Romney are voting down substantive changes to the platform language that was written at the direction of Romney’s campaign.”

Cooper: “Do you at least acknowledge that the quote that you gave from The L.A. Times is completely incorrect?”

Draft RNC platform demands mandatory E-verify, dropping lawsuits against states

A draft version of the Republican National Committee platform was briefly available Friday and, according to this version reposted by Politico, the party is reviving its hardline approach against immigration, demanding a national E-verify program be used by all businesses.

The issue could, however, revive bitter feuds within the agricultural community in Florida and elsewhere. The database compares employment information in the federal Homeland Security and Social Security system to determine the legal status of employees. However, the database is considered incomplete and employers complain it takes too long to determine verification.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who campaigned on a promise to require all businesses in Florida use the internet-based E-verify program, backed down from his promise in June, saying he preferred a national solution instead. Download Draft platform

Scott warns of possible Panhandle landing for Isaac

New weather projections about Tropical Storm Isaac have Gov. Rick Scott increasingly concerned the storm will hit North Florida, he said at a press briefing late Friday.

The storm is now aimed at vulnerable Haiti and is projected to trend toward the Gulf, where it could reach hurricane strength. The storm could reach landfall near the Florida Panhandle by Tuesday, he said.

"The more time it spends over warm water, the greater chance it will be a worse storm," he said. "No evacuations in the state at this point."

Details emerge about cost of FPL settlement to customer bottom line

State regulators said today they will wait until the completion of Florida Power & Light’s rate case before they officially take up the four-year settlement offer between the company and the state’s largest utility users. 

PSC Chairman Ron Brise said he will announce a schedule for addressing the proposal on Monday. The agreement would set the base rate for FPL’s 4.6 million utility customers between January 2013 and December 2016 and cost customers an estimated $3.4 billion, according to preliminary numbers from the state's consumer advocate.

Preliminary numbers by FPL indicate the rate increase would amount to a net increase of about $4.21 a month by 2016 for the average customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours a month, said Mike Sole, FPL spokesman. That number could be higher, or lower, if fuel costs shift, however. 

FPL presented the offer last week, just days before two weeks of technical hearings were set to begin before the Public Service Commission on Monday. The proposal was designed to force the commission to consider an alternative to the one-year $690 million base rate increase they are now considering and, in turn, allow the company to avoid coming back to have its earnings reviewed in a full rate case by state regulators for another four years.

The state’s consumer advocate, J.R. Kelly, however, says FPL’s projected numbers for what it would cost the average customer are unreasonably low and wants the PSC to reduce customer costs by $253 million beginning next year.

Ann Romney gets a televised speaking slot. Again

**Updated** From a press release:

All – Please see the quote below if you are covering the program and speaker schedule at the Republican National Convention. Please note that Senator Rubio will not be changing speaking slots. 

“Sen. Rubio was incredibly gracious to offer his speaking slot to Mrs. Romney, and we thank him for his kind offer. However, he will remain the last speaker in primetime on Thursday night before Gov. Romney accepts the nomination. In many ways, Sen. Rubio represents the future of the Republican Party and we can think of no better person to introduce Gov. Romney on this important night.” – Matt Rhoades, Romney for President Campaign Manager

 Also, please find the following changes below to the program. Please note that Ann Romney will now be speaking on Tuesday night and Gov. Susana Martinez will be speaking on Wednesday night. The following schedule reflects these changes. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Earlier in the day, it didn't look this way: Here's the original text of this blog that had the headline: Mitt's choice: Dis Marco Rubio in primetime, or let Jeb Bush give Ann Romney RNC speaking slot?

Rubio's RNC speech to get bumped by Ann Romney's?

Republicans are telling us it's likely Marco Rubio will lose his high profile speaking slot Thursday, so that the Romney campaign can ensure Ann Romney gets prime time network coverage. Nothing has been announced yet, but Republicans are buzzing about Rubio getting moved to a lower-profile spot on Tuesday. Mrs. Romney had been scheduled to speak Monday night, but none of the networks are covering Monday night.

It only makes sense the campaign would want to highlight the appealing Mrs. Romney to as broad an audience as possible, but you can count on some ticked off people in Florida and perhaps elsewhere if the country's highest profile Hispanic Republican gets shifted to a second tier speaking slot. Spanish radio stations in Miami have been hailing Rubio's convention appearance for days.

If Rubio does get bumped, it would be on the heels of the Republicans adopting a platform embracing hard line immigration positions, including encouraging more laws like Arizona's. Cuban-Americans in south Florida have already taken note that only a few years ago Paul Ryan wanted to open up trade with Cuba. You can predict the Democratic talking points about Romney-Ryan writing off the Hispanic vote.

And you can bet a lot of Florida Republicans will, once again, be quietly cursing Romney consultants, Stu Stevens and Russ Schrieffer, who used to work for former Republican Charlie Crist against Rubio. When someone on the campaign told a reporter Rubio was not being vetted earlier this year, many assumed that came from Stevens or Schrieffer. Then Rubio was passed over for the keynote speech in favor of Schrieffer client Chris Christie.

-- Adam Smith

Democrats launch new web site to target David Rivera

U.S. Rep. David Rivera's latest political woes have provided convenient fodder for a liberal super-pac that does opposition research into Democratic opponents.

The George Soros-backed group, American Bridge 21st Century has launced a web site called the "TheRivera Files.com," featuring a stream of television and newsaper stories about investigations into the Republican congressman's personal and campaign finances, including links to stories first reported by The Miami Herald. 

"Since 2006, Florida Rep. David Rivera has been the subject of five different investigations for alleged ethical violations, including money laundering, tax evasion, and funding a fake primary challenge against his likely Democratic opponent. We don’t think this behavior is appropriate for a member of Congress. Do you?,'' asks the site.

Rivera has been linked to a failed Democratic congressional candidate, Justin Lamar Sternad, whose campaign is under federal grand jury investigation. Campaign vendors told The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald that Sternad’s congressional Democratic primary run was backed by Rivera, who says he has never met or helped Sternad. 

According to FactCheck.org, American Bridge 21st Century was founded by David Brock, a conservative-turned-liberal activist, and amongs its principal funders is billionaire hedge fund manager George Soros.