FL gov race ranks in top four

From CQ: The Democratic Governors Association in a fundraising e-mail Tuesday highlighted Florida, Alaska, Georgia and Minnesota as 2010 takeover opportunities."We know we can take back the governor's mansion in every one of these states. But these are historically Republican seats, and in this crucial election, we won't win them without a fight," DGA National Political Director Ray Glendening wrote in the fundraising pitch.Three of the races are open seat contests and in the fourth, Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin has yet to confirm her intention to seek re-election.

Florida: Republican Gov. Charlie Crist's decision to run for Senate instead of seek re-election prompted CQ Politics to change this race rating from Republican Favored to Tossup. Democrat Alex Sink, the state chief financial officer, is running on the Democratic side, and state Attorney General Bill McCollum is vying for the GOP nomination. Republican state Sen. Paula Dockery continues to indicate she may complicate McCollum's bid and vie for governor.

Brown disses colleagues as 'party insiders'

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown of Jacksonville, a potential Senate candidate, is dismissing endorsements by two of her colleagues for U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek's Senate campaign.

Meek was endorsed earlier today by U.S. Reps. Ron Klein of Boca Raton and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston. In response, Brown "reaffirmed her exploratory committee'' --  which is like saying she is really really thinking about a Senate bid -- and "discounted the endorsements of party insiders."

Who's bankrolling redistricting reform?

While the group trying to overhaul the way Florida draws congressional and legislative districts is officially non-partisan, most of the money behind it is Democratic to the core. 

Top donors to FairDistrictsFlorida.org include Christopher Findlater of Naples ($200,000), Charles Brink of Tampa ($100,000), SEIU ($75,000), Janet Boyle of Fort Lauderdale, ($32,000), Wilkes & McHugh of Tampa ($25,000), Frank Brunckhorst of Sarasota ($55,000). Wayne Hogan ($25,000), Eugene Stearns of Key Biscayne ($25,000), Alison Miller of Coral Gables ($25,000) the Grossman Roth law firm of Coral Gables (1$15,000) and Donald Hinkle of Tallahassee ($10,000.)

The group has raised about $1 million, with most of the money -- $670,000 -- going to California-based PCI Consultants Inc., which deploys petition gatherers around the state. Wait until the Republican party gets a hold of this -- PCI stands for Progressive Campaigns Inc. and describes itself as "playing a leading role in promoting nationwide campaigns to reform our nation's drug laws."

Organized opposition has yet to emerge, but give it time. The likely sources: Allies of the Republican party who want to keep redistricting in GOP hands, and possibly, black incumbents worried about job security. Of the three black members of Congress from Florida, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami supports the petition drive, while U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings of Miramar and Corrine Brown of Jacksonville are not on board. None of them returned repeated calls from The Miami Herald last week, suggesting the issue's politically sensitivity.

Story here.

Mayor Diaz endorses Meek

Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami has landed another big-city endorsement for his U.S. Senate campaign, this time from Miami Mayor Manny Diaz.

Meek has been slowly dropping names of the elected officials who are backing him as a way to build momentum.

"Cities are being asked to do more with less, and Kendrick has proven himself to be a leader on the Ways and Means Committee who opposes disadvantaging our cities and most vulnerable citizens,'' Diaz said in a written statement.

Margolis wants back in the Senate

Six months after she lost a runoff election for Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser, Democrat Gwen Margolis said she will try to return to her old job in the Florida Legislature.

Margolis wants to fill the unexpired term of Democratic state Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, who is running for attorney general in 2010. Margolis previously represented the area in the Legislature for 18 years and served as the first female Senate President.

"With the resignation of Senator Gelber to run for Attorney General, it is crucial that the people of Florida Senate District 35 be represented by an experienced legislator that has a proven record of working for the people,'' Margolis said in a written statement.

Dan Gelber running for AG

Carrie Meek 'heartbroken' over Brown's Senate bid

Democratic U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown's fledgling campaign for the U.S. Senate is injecting some highstrung personal drama into a high-stakes political contest.

Her friend and former colleague in Congress, Carrie Meek, is said to be "heartbroken'' over Brown's decision to compete against her son, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami. Kendrick Meek began running for the Senate back in January.

Carrie Meek, Brown and Alcee Hastings were elected together in 1992 -- the first black members of Congress from Florida since Reconstruction. Meek retired in 2002, handing over her seat to her son.

"Those two women have been as close to being sisters as two friends can get,'' said political fundraiser Ana Navarro, who is close to the Meek family. "Corrine is my friend and I hope this will pass. I hate to see her risk her seat in Congress and even more so, her friendship with Carrie Meek. 

"I talked to Carrie on Saturday and I could hear the pain in her voice,'' Navarro added. "Not because she thinks Corrine can beat Kendrick, but because it is her lifelong friend saying she wants to run against her son. This is breaking Carrie Meek's heart. It is difficult and sad for those of us who are friends with the Meeks and with Corrine."

Carrie Meek did not return calls yesterday. More on Brown's campaign is here.

Why do the Dems gather at such a posh place?

Why did Florida Democrats, the party that portrays itself as speaking for the poor and working families suffering in a recession, hold its annual gala Saturday at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach -- one of the swankiest places around?

Because it's also one of the only South Florida hotels largely run on union labor.

The hotel created some interesting contrasts. When Kendrick Meek held a presser, he stood in front of a group of ordinary residents supporting him who wore blue jeans, flip flops and hand-scrawled signs. Meanwhile, Meek stood underneath a massive crystal chandelier as he spoke in the lobby over the din of music from the bar where svelte women sipped cockails and a young child played chess.

The Jefferson-Jackson dinner raised about $625,000 for the Democrats.

Emily's List already touting Sink

Look what's appearing on the home page of the Emily's List website. The group bundles checks from donors around the country for Democratic candidates who support abortion rights.

"In a state as influential at the national level as Florida, this could be an incredible opportunity to elect a pro-choice Democratic woman to a top executive position,'' says the group.

For Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, an endorsement from Emily's List could mean millions of dollars for her campaign. She's a longtime contributor herself. But the group's heavy hand in the race could hurt Sink's efforts to portray herself as bi-partisan, moderate and mainstream.

Obama 2.0 launching in FL

Organizing for America, the national Democratic party's effort to keep President Barack Obama's grasroots network engaged (otherwise known as Obama 2.0), has hired Ashley Walker as the state director in Florida.

Walker was deputy state director for the Obama campaign in Florida and the first Obama staffer hired in the Sunshine State -- some might recall her temporary exile during the boycott over the state's early primary. She previously helped elect state Sen. Jeremy Ring.

"She is an extremely talented operative and a real warrior in every sense of the word,'' said Steve Schale, her boss during the 2008 campaign.