Gallagher ethics charges will likely be dropped

Remember the ethics charges against Tom Gallagher that Gov. Charlie Crist used against him in their GOP primary debate? The attorney prosecuting the case on behalf of the Florida Commission on Ethics has reached a settlement with Gallagher's attorney that calls for the charges to be dropped.

Under the joint stipulation that will go before the full commission at its June 8th meeting, it states that "the public interest would not be served by proceeding further." The commission found that in July 2006 that enough evidence existed to say that former insurance commissioner Gallagher had broken state ethics laws when he purchased stock in two companies whose subsidiaries were regulated by the Department of Insurance.

The settlement agreement says that both sides now agree that Gallagher's stock ownership was "minimal" and that he had publicly disclosed it and that it did not involve an "abuse of his position." But the settlement agreement also states that Gallagher was "unaware" that his conduct could be seen as a violation of state law and that "in hindsight" he should have requested an advisory opinion regarding the stock purchase.

To read the proposed settlement: Download gallagher_stipulation.pdf

Gallagher ethics battle still not settled

Former Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher's battle against ethics charges has yet to be resolved, but court filings show that Gallagher's legal team continues to negotiate a settlement with the Florida Commission on Ethics instead of fighting the charges in court.

During the heat of Gallagher's primary contest against eventual GOP nominee Charlie Crist, the ethics commission found probable cause that Gallagher had broken state law by trading in the stocks of two insurance companies while he was serving as insurance commissioner. Gallagher vowed to fight the charges, but Crist, and his allies, attacked Gallagher for the ethics commission decision.

Since January, however, Gallagher's case has been put on hold to give time for lawyers representing the commission and lawyers representing Gallagher to discuss a settlement of the charges, which usually involves an agreement to pay a fine in order to end the case. A March 30th court filing states that "counsel continue to reasonably believe their discussion will result in a proposed settlement of all the issues." Administrative Law Judge Barbara Staros on Wednesday gave the two sides until May 15th to inform her whether or not a settlement has been reached.

Former Smith aide takes job at AHCA

Mike Murtha, the long-time aide to former state Sen. Rod Smith and the late George Kilpatrick, will be seen a lot at the Capitol this coming year. That's because Murtha has been hired as the new legislative affairs director for the Agency for Health Care Administration, which is led by Dr. Andrew Agwunobi.

Murtha, a Republican, helped out Governor Charlie Crist during the campaign after Smith was defeated in the Democratic primary for governor by Tampa Congressman Jim Davis. Murtha was the one of the organizers and the treasurer for the Coalition for Bipartisan Progress, a 527 organization that raised nearly $300,000 and ran radio ads telling people that they should vote for Crist over Jim Davis because he supported the class size amendment and reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada. The coalition also released a letter from State Sen. Mandy Dawson, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, who endorsed Crist over Davis.

Crist joins one senator and three congressmen of Greek heritage elected Nov. 7

Voice of America's Greek Service posted the following story highlighting Gov.-elect Charlie Crist and his family as part of a piece on the newly-elected crop of lawmakers of Greek heritage. Crist joins newcomers to Congress: Gus Bilirakis, John Sarbanes and Zack Space. Maine's U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe was re-elected.

LeMieux, who viewed Crist as "his client," emerges as new power

George LeMieux, the affable, thoughtful and centrist Crist advisor leaves the governor's race ready for the next challenge. More here.

Max Linn's campaign manager dies

Doug Friedline, 49, the New York native and campaign manager for Florida Reform Party candidate Max Linn and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, died Friday in Treasure Island.

Friedline had been suffering from a number of medical problems in recent years, the campaign said in a news release. He had complained of faintness for the past several days, but declined to take time off from the campaign to seek medical treatment. On Thursday, Friedline thanked his campaign staff with an emotional speech.

Friedline died Friday in an apartment rented for him in Treasure Island during his work on the campaign.

"Everyone on our team is shocked and deeply saddened by the death of Doug Friedline," Linn said in the statement. "He was one of the most principled and idealistic men I've known. Politics was truly his life. He worked tirelessly for our campaign -- the first to arrive at our office and the last to leave."

Linn's running mate, Tom Macklin said: "Doug literally gave his life for this campaign. We have to pick up the slack or his sacrifice will have been for nothing."

Friedline told friends he had planned to retire from politics but decided to make Linn's campaign his final battle.

Read a letter from a friend and supporter here: Download dear_friends_of_democracy.doc

The morning after: Crist wins, and how will he govern?

Republican Charlie Crist was swept to victory Tuesday on the strength of the most well-financed campaign in state history and a narrowly-focused message that never veered off course. Now, what happens next, and what can we expect from a Crist administration? More here.

Davis remains confident that bad weather didn't sap supporter turnout

   Democrat Jim Davis made his first statement to the press at 8:20 p.m., encamped in an 11th-floor, three-room suite at Tampa's Grand Hyatt Hotel, with about 30 friends and relatives, including his wife, Peggy; his mother and brother, both named Cody Davis; sons Peter, 16, and William, 14, and running mate Daryl Jones.

   Rain fell heavily in the late afternoon, but Davis said he didn't think it kept his supporters away from the polls.

   "We have had a great few days on the road, and there's a lot of energy, a lot of interest. People want change...We  think tonight is going to be a very powerful night," he said.

   The campaign had gone "in many ways exactly as I had hoped," he said. "...It is such a humbling experience...I think we succeeded in letting the voters know what our vision is."

   In a ground-floor ballroom, about 50 supporters noshed on a ginger/rosemary-seared pork tenderloin, grilled portobello and goat-cheese quesadillas, and beef tenderloin on pumpernickel rounds.

   Paul Fernandez, 54, a Tampa postal worker, wore an American Postal Workers Union Local 259 t-shirt and sipped a beer.

   "Voters are very dissatisfied with the Republicans," he said. "We're going
backwards. The governor has refused to deal with the insurance crisis."

   He decried what he called "the most negative campaign I've ever seen," and predicted that Democrats would re-take the U.S. House because "the war is a disaster."

Crist's wealthy campaign to feast on "beggar's purses"

For the richest campaign in Florida history, how this for a menu: baby lamb
chops with rosemary, mini Beef Wellingtons, and spinach and feta cheese beggars purses. 

That is the menu for Charlie Crist's closest supporters, who plan to dine and watch the returns from a ballroom in the Vinoy Hotel, a historic resort just a few minutes from the candidate's boyhood home and the same spot where he celebrated his primary victory.

The banquet hall is decorated with hundreds of balloons hung ready for release from the ceiling and a giant photo banner of Crist, with the words: "The People's Governor."

Here is the Food Network's definition of Beggar's Purse: an appetizer made popular by Barry and Susan Wine at their New York restaurant, the Quilted Giraffe. A beggar's purse consists of a mini crêpe topped by a teaspoon of the finest caviar and then a dab of crème fraiche. The edges of the crêpe are pulled up in pleats around the filling and securely tied with a chive. The ruffle at the top makes this edible package look like a miniature purse. Beggar's purses are served at room temperature.

First he snubs POTUS, now he doesn't even call

First Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist dissed President Bush by pulling a no-show at the president's election-eve rally in Pensacola.

Now comes word that Crist might not have even called to apologize.

From White House spokesman Tony Snow's press briefing Tuesday:

Q: -- hear from Charlie Crist at all yesterday?

Snow: No

Q: Did anyone from his campaign reach out?

Snow: Don't know.

Max Linn ready to shock the world

Reform Party candidate for governor Max Linn rolled through Tallahassee on Monday as part of a 20-city barnstorming tour in advance of Election Day. Despite polls that show him far behind the GOP and Democratic candidates, Linn continued to boldly predict that he will mount the "biggest upset" in the history of gubernatorial politics in the nation.

Linn says the key to victory will be voter turnout. "I know we are going to see a volume turnout that will exceed all expectations,'' said Linn, who predicted Floridians, like the rest of the nation, are tired of "politics as usual."

LInn is right about one thing: Turnout tomorrow will be a big factor. The last time there was an open governor's seat in Florida, voter turnout was 17 percent in the primary and then 49 percent in the general election. Of course, there was no GOP primary for governor that year. This time around, with primaries for governor in both parties, the turnout was 19.6 percent, leading some to predict that turnout on Tuesday will be less than 50 percent.

By Crist! Enough ads to run 24-7.

If all the 30-second ads that have run on behalf of Charlie Crist were played nonstop one after another, they would last more than a week -- making Crist the most advertised candidate in the nation from Aug. 1 through Oct. 15, according to an analysis by Nielsen Monitor-Plus, a division of Nielsen Media Research.

Total number of times the Republican's ads aired in Florida during that period: 21,214. That's more than double that of Democratic rival Jim Davis. And it's even more than California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ad buys.

Story here.

Crist and Davis play it safe as they criss-cross state

With only hours, not days, to Tuesday's election, Republican Charlie Crist and Democrat Jim Davis plan another whirlwind tour of the state today as they try to hit the state's top TV markets to help fire up voters.

Crist will be in St. Petersburg, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale,  Miami and Fort Myers today. Davis makes stops in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Panama City, Pensacola and Tampa and, on Tuesday, Tampa and Orlando.

But, unlike Crist, who is traveling with his lieutenant governor candidate, Jeff Kottkamp, Davis's running mate, Daryl Jones is traveling separately in South Florida:  Delray Beach, Riviera Beach, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

Crist sends regrets to president, saying he needs to work on other "markets"

President George W. Bush's magnanimous attempt to help Charlie Crist's "tight race" has been rejected by the Republican attorney general's campaign.

Crist campaign manager George Lemieux said he made the decision today to have his candidate stay away from Pensacola and the president's visit so he can visit numerous other media markets, instead. He denied it has anything to do with the president's sagging poll numbers and the growing animosity many Republicans have for him.

"We're not going to be in the Panhandle. I made a decision there are markets we need to be in tomorrow where we have a unique opportunity to do well,'' Lemieux said. "The governor is going to cover Pensacola for us...There are places we have opportunities -- like West Palm Beach.''

Guiliani joins Crist while Davis goes to churches

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani greeted a cheering crowd of about 350 supporters for Republican Charlie Crist on Sunday at the Miami Sheraton, clearly amazed that so many Miamians would show up for the 9 a.m. rally. "I just got up,'' Guiliani joked. "This kind of enthusiam this early in the morning is terrific. I'm very excited about this race in Florida. You bailed us out a couple of times."

Guiliani also stayed on subject with the two themes Crist has pushed in campaign ads in the crucial final days of the campaign: Davis' as a pro-tax politician and his Congressional visit to Cuba and his meeting with Palistinian leader Yassar Arafat. Said Guiliani: "I threw Yassar Arafat out of a U.N. conference and, better than that, I didn't invite Fidel Castro.''

Davis has begun running a Spanish-language ad in South Florida designed to counter the Crist's ad, defending his trip to Cuba, and suggesting he met with Cuban dissident Oswaldo Payá, who led a petition drive calling for democratic rights.

Crist also appealed to his Cuban-American office in Miami: "If I win this election, I will be the first governor in modern history to go to see a free Cuba. Unlike my opponent, I know when it's time to visit Havana -- and it's when it's free."

Davis visited six churches in the Miami area.

Max Linn rakes it in

Reform Party candidate Max Linn had his best fundraising week after fighting his way into Monday's televised debate with Republican Charlie Crist and Democrat Jim Davis. He raised $2,366.

Linn also dumped $1.2 million of his own money into his account, bringing his personal investment to $2.35 million.

The retired financial planner from Treasure Island is garnering single-digit support in the polls and will make an impact on the race only if it gets real close.

Crist raises nearly $20 million

Well guess that Thursday night fundraiser for Attorney General Charlie Crist in Davie was a success. The final total for Crist's campaign: $19.6 million, with more than $769,000 raised in the final week of the campaign. That's more than three times the amount of money that U.S. Rep. Jim Davis raised. The final Davis report says he raised $6.86 million, including more than $605,000 in the final week.

Crist's incredible success in the last week was fueled, as it has during the entire campaign, by bundling, the practice of multiple corporations owned by the same individual each giving $500. For instance, on Thursday, Crist's campaign got $15,000, or 30 donations, from the same address in Altamonte Springs, Fl. and $7,000 from the same address in Naples. There is at least one example of bundling on Davis' report--$9,000 from the same address in Miami Beach.

Jeb calls reporter "horse's ass" and rebukes questions about Crist's sexuality

As Gov. Jeb Bush was campaigning with Republican Charlie Crist in Orlando Friday, a local television reporter asked each of them what they thought of new allegations from people claiming in depositions that another man has claimed Crist is gay.

"Silly season junk. Next question,'' Crist replied.

The governor was more forceful. He called the reporter a "horse's ass" for interrupting someone else who was asking a question and then criticized the "unfounded allegations'' that have emerged at the last minute.

Crist has repeatedly said he is not gay, although rumors continue to surface, especially in the final days of the campaign.

The governor also said Republicans should stop criticizing U.S. Sen. John Kerry, the Massachusetts lawmaker who apologized this week for botching a joke that appeared to question the intelligence of U.S. troops in Iraq.

"As much as I don't like John Kerry or his views, you have to give him the benefit of the doubt,'' Bush said. "He apologized."

President to campaign Monday in Pensacola

President George Bush leaves the White House tomorrow for a four-day campaign swing that includes a visit to Pensacola on Monday. The president and first lady are scheduled to attend a Florida Victory Rally 2006 at the Pensacola Civic Center at 1:15 p.m. central time.

The question of the day: Will Republican candidate for governor candiddate Charlie Crist be there, or will he keep his distance from the president whose approval ratings in Florida continute to decline? "I'm still working on an answer," said Crist campaign spokeswoman Erin Isaac.

The White House says that's the point of the president's visit. He will be
campaigning in Pensacola, the heart of the military
communities of Florida's Panhandle, because it's an area he can "have the most impact,'' a senior administration official said. The president is targeted "close races'' in Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Florida in an effort to bring out the vote for the Republican ticket, the Bush aide said. In Florida, the close race is Crist's.

   "This is about Republican turnout," the Bush aide said. "These are all competitive races and areas where he can really step up the vote."

Meanwhile, Gov. Jeb Bush, whose approval ratings are still remarkably high, will join Crist on the campaign trail on Friday for the first time since the Orlando $25,000-a-plate fundraiser for Crist and the party which brought the president to town in September. The governor will be traveling with Crist in Jacksonville, Orlando, St. Petersburg and Fort Myers.

Election official denies foul play

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson denied that his office tampered with Democrat Jim Davis' voting record to suggest that he skipped the 2000 presidential election.

The campaign for Davis' rival for governor, Charlie Crist, distributed a document tonight that shows Davis skipped the historic 2000 vote. Davis insisted that he did vote and indirectly suggested foul play by Johnson, who was appointed in 2003 by Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.

"We're six days from the eve of an election where I am closing the gap, and a Bush appointee has released a piece of paper about my voting record that mistakenly says I didn't vote,'' Davis told reporters.

Reached at home, Johnson said: "I resent and categorically deny that it was released by my office today. Voter histories are public documents.''

After every election, elections officials scan a barcode next to the voter's signature to update the computerized voter history. Johnson said the process "is not intended to be foolproof.''

Four More Years...for Crist?

Attorney General Charlie Crist continues to be supremely confident as Election Day moves closer and closer and even hinted Wednesday that he probably will run for re-election in 2010 should he win next week.

While exhorting a group of 50 retirees at Sun City Center to vote for him, Crist told the group their vote was "important because this is probably going to be an eight-year decision that Florida is about to make. That's a long time...so we've got to make sure we make the right decision for Florida."

During that same stop in Sun City, Crist said he was glad that outgoing House Speaker Allan Bense was selected as the Bay County Republican chairman, a move that positions Bense to take over the state party. Crist--who has raised a stunning amount of money from people with clashing agendas--also reinforced his stance that he did not want Florida Power & Light to help him since the utility helped finance a 527 that went after Crist during the primary. The utility reportedly tried to make amends with Crist following his win over Tom Gallagher.

"They tried to take me out and I don't need their damn money,'' said Crist.

Daryl Jones campaigns with family of Sherdavia Jenkins

Republican Attorney General Charlie Crist, who has touted himself as the state's No. 1 crime buster, continues to draw flak for saying in Monday's gubernatorial debate that violent crime is down.

Under aggressive questioning by moderator Chris Matthews, Crist was forced to acknowledge that the murder rate in Florida has recently increased.

Daryl Jones, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, is expected to recall that testy exchange during a press conference today at the Miami home of David and Sherrone Jenkins. Their 9-year-old daughter, Sherdavia, was killed by a stray bullet in Miami on July 1.

Jones and Davis met with the Jenkins family three weeks ago during a roundtable discussion about violent crime. But they declined to endorse their petition drive try to change the NRA-backed "stand-your-ground'' law passed by the Florida Legislature in 2005. The law allows people to shoot in self defense in some circumstances.

Fuzzy and fuzzier math

U.S. Rep. Jim Davis has spent a lot of time decrying $20 billion in special interest tax breaks handed out during the tenure of Gov. Jeb Bush. Now the Republican Party of Florida has returned fire, sending out a press release this morning saying that Davis wants to raise taxes $20 billion "per year" and that undoing the tax breaks would cost the average Florida family $2,538.

Well it can be argued that both Davis and the Republican Party are engaged in some serious fuzzy math. The $20 billion figure came from Gov. Bush's office _ but that was a figure calculated before the 2006 session. Two of Bush's proposals, which come to more than $1 billion, were not enacted by the Legislature so the $20 billion total is wrong to begin with.

But you can break this down even further. First Davis has lumped all the tax breaks together as being for special interests. That's not correct. Included in the tax break total is the annual back to school sales tax holiday, as well as the hurricane sales tax holiday, both of which Davis has said he plans to continue. Also lumped in as a "special interest" tax break: A cut in property taxes charged by school districts, which is what Davis himself is proposing in television ads and on the campaign trail.

Another issue, however, is the overall total, be it $20 billion, or $19 billion. That total is a cumulative total over eight years. In other words, Bush's office has counted a tax break handed out, say in 1999, and kept adding it to the total year after year. Even if Davis rolled back every one of the tax cuts enacted since 1999 it would not add up to $20 billion in a single year. Another quibble: Bush's office counted property tax rollbacks, but did not account for what happened in 2002 when many counties were forced to actually increase their millage rates to help pay for a billion dollar increase in school funding.

Party spokesman Jeff Sadosky defended the RPOF release, saying it was intended to highlight the claims about the tax breaks that Davis is making. "If he is going to scare Florida into this, we are going to show what his numbers are,'' said Sadosky.

Bill Clinton is coming back

Former president Bill Clinton, who already headlined recent fundraisers for the Florida Democratic Party in Coconut Grove and New York City, will rally Saturday in Miami with gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis.

The 6 p.m. rally will be held at the Joseph Caleb Auditorium, 5400 N.W. 22nd Ave.

Clinton is one of the most coveted Democratic figureheads on the campaign trail this year. Some political strategists see a not-so-hidden agenda to cultivate support for his wife's potential presidential bid. U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York also appeared at a fundraiser for Davis last month.

Michael Schiavo blasts Crist's debate claim that he took a stand on the issue

Among the viewers to last night's debate between Republican Charlie Crist and Democrat Jim Davis was Michael Schiavo, the Pinellas Park man whose right-to-die crusade for his wife Terri, made national headlines in 2003. He didn't like what he heard.

When moderator Chris Matthews asked what he thought of the way Gov. Jeb Bush handled the case, Crist replied that while he respects his governor "on this, I think it's important to stand up on issues you believe in yourself.'' When Matthews asked Crist if he stood up when Congress got involved, he said: "Yes I did'' and Davis snapped back: "No he didn't.''

Schiavo, who has endorsed Davis, said he was outraged when he saw Crist try to rewrite history in that way. He recalls Crist, the attorney general, "said nothing, did nothing and he avoided this case like the plague,'' he told the Herald. "He chose to stay away from it and let Gov. Bush's legal counsel handle it.''

Meanwhile,  when Congress began to get involved, Davis led the fight to stop him, Schiavo said. Davis "stood up and said, 'I object.' He brought it to the floor and brought everybody back to have a debate. He got it stopped.''

Davis has used the Schiavo case to point out that while Crist has criticized Davis for his poor attendance record in Congress -- airing television commercials that poke fun of him by showing an empty chair traveling through Washington -- Davis has been "standing up" for issues when Crist has been absent.

Rate the debate

Just as we did last week during their first debate, we want to hear from you during and after tonight's debate between Charlie Crist and Jim Davis. Let us know if the candidates are answering the questions you want answered. Let us know what you think of their performance and whether they said anything that you agree with or disagree with. Joining the discussion will be Miami Herald reporter Gary Fineout, who like most other Floridians will be watching the debate on TV.

Linn back in court

He's back. Reform Party candidate for governor Max Linn filed a lawsuit in a Hillsborough County court Friday demanding that he be allowed to participate in tonight's gubernatorial debate between Charlie Crist and Jim Davis. A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled to be heard at 2 p.m. this afternoon. Linn, you may recall, filed a similar lawsuit in South Florida prior to last week's debate. A circuit court judge agreed that Linn should participate but an appeals court overruled the decision.

The prospect of Linn participating in the debate has fueled speculation that he would ask Crist if he is gay. Linn has maintained on several radio interviews that he and Crist discussed Crist being gay when they knew each other in Leadership Florida classes. Crist has repeatedly denied Linn's statements and maintains he is heterosexual.

Broward Democrats get more pro-gun mail

Broward Democrats -- and who knows who else -- got more mail over the weekend from the Republican Party of Florida that rips Democrat Jim Davis' stance on gun control.  "That dog just won't hunt. Jim Davis would take away the rights of gun owners,'' says the mailer, which notes Davis got an "F" from the National Rifle Association.

That's a badge of honor among some Democrats. The state party had said the mailers weren't a mistake. If that's the case, the GOP's millions have addled its mail-targeting strategy.

Last Crist-Davis debate at 7 p.m. tonight

Democrat Jim Davis has been telling voters that he and Republican Charlie Crist will spend only two hours together during the entire general election campaign for governor. The second hour is tonight, beginning at 7 p.m.

To read more about tonight's debate. Click here.

Candidates jockeying for black voters

At a campaign stop with Democrat Jim Davis in Daytona Beach, Democratic state Rep. Joyce Cusack said she is concerned about polls that show his Republican rival winning significant support from black voters.

Two recent surveys showed Charlie Crist picking up 15 percent of black voters, an unusually high percentage for a Republican.

"We're not getting our story out,'' Cusack said, as her constituents ate barbecue in a local gymnasium. "We need to shout it from the rooftops.''

To read Beth Reinhard's column on the importance of the black vote in the governor's race, click here.

Ads coming fast and furious

With 10 days left before Election Day, the airwaves are filling up with political ads. Two new ones in the governor's race will go up Saturday. The Republican Party of Florida will begin airing an ad called "Prescription" that touts the fact that Attorney General Charlie Crist supports the reimportation of drugs from Canada in the U.S. (U.S. Rep. Jim Davis supports this as well.) You can watch at www.rpof.org. This is the 11th ad that the party has done on behalf of Crist.

The script is as follows: "My dad's a family doctor and I believe healthcare is a fundamental right. As attorney general I started MyFloridaRx.com--a website to allow you to save money on prescription drugs. As governor, I'll negotiate to lower your drug prices. give every Floridian a prescription drug card and work to import safe and cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. My opponent voted against importing drugs from Canada and that's wrong. I'm Charlie Crist and I'll never stop working for you. Charlie Crist-a better vision for Florida's future."

Davis is coming out with own ad titled "Stay the Course" and it's available on his website www.jimdavis2006.com. "You can trust Charlie Crist. To do what? The St. Petersburg Times says Crist has no immediate plan for tax relief. No tax relief for businesses and renters. On education, a strong defender of the current system. Insurance? The Palm Beach Post calls his plan pay, hope and wait. No tax relief for four years. Nothing for renters or small businesses. No changes in education. No plan to lower insurance rates. Trust Charlie? You sure can. To stay the course."

Courting Cuban exiles

The Republican Party of Florida has launched a new ad linking Democrat Jim Davis to a villain that to Cuban-Americans, looms even larger than Saddam Hussein or Osama Bin Laden: Fidel Castro. Check it out at www.rpof.org or www.charliecrist.com.

The Spanish-language ad rips the Tampa congressman and candidate for governor for visiting Cuba but fails to mention that he met with leading dissidents. 

"I did not see Fidel Castro while I was there,'' he told The Miami Herald in August. "I wanted to see for myself the plight of the Cuban people, and I came back more convinced than ever that Fidel Castro has treated his people miserably.''

In related news, the ACLU asked a judge Thursday to suspend a state law that bans universities in Florida from allowing travel to Cuba for research and academic exchanges. Read more about the lawsuit here.

Jones mum on Dawson defection

Daryl Jones, former state senator from Miami and running mate of U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, wouldn't say much Thursday about the decision of State Sen. Mandy Dawson, a member of the Legislature's black caucus and a Fort Lauderdale Democrat to endorse GOP candidate Charlie Crist.

"I really don't have anything to say about it,'' said Jones, who shrugged off all follow-up questions regarding the endorsement, which was announced by the Coalition for Bipartisan Progress, a 527 organization started up by supporters of Rod Smith, who lost to Davis in the Democratic primary. In her letter to the coalition, Dawson, who has been reprimanded by the Senate for her dealings with lobbyists, praises Crist as a "great public servant" and says he "listens," "deliberates" and "cares."

Things Jones was willing to talk about? He said that he wanted to match up against Rep. Jeff Kottkamp in a lieutenant governor debate but that the Crist campaign had refused. And Jones praised how Speaker Designate Marco Rubio, a Miami Republican has dealt with the controversy surrounding Rep. Ralph Arza, the Hialeah Republican who left a obscenity and racial ephitet-filled message on the voice mail of a fellow Republican. "The incoming speaker has taken the right action,'' said Jones.

Campbell: Terrorist threat due to outsourcing

State Sen. Skip Campbell, the Democratic candidate for Attorney General Charlie Crist, lambasted GOP frontrunner Charlie Crist again Thursday for failing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shipment of sensitive personnel data overseas to India and Barbardos by a company working for Convergys, the corporation that took over personnel functions for state government.

But Campbell this time notched up the rhetoric, saying that allowing social security numbers and drivers license information for state employees to go overseas could lead to identity theft, including by those who may "terrorist purposes,'' also adding there is a "potential for terrorists getting this information and getting into the United States and doing harm." Campbell's press conference on the Convergys contract included the two whistleblowers who used to work for GDX, a Colorado based company that at one time was responsible for indexing millions of personnel files. (GDX no longer has a contract, a lawyer representing the women said.)

At the same event, Campbell unveiled a new television ad that will begin airing in "select" markets that blasts his opponent Bill McCollum for pushing a change to the False Claims Act, which allows private citizens to file lawsuits that contend that the government is being defrauded. The legislation did not pass but it was roundly criticized by GOP U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa at the time.

Crist Unplugged!

Fresh off his debate with U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, Attorney General Charlie Crist barnstormed across the Panhandle on Wednesday _ making stops in Pensacola, Shalimar, Santa Rosa Beach and Panama City, an area that he called "Victory Lane" based upon the Panhandle's record of voting heavily for Republicans.

While traveling on his tour bus, Crist sat down with reporters and talked about everything from Rep. Ralph Arza to insurance. Some of the tidbits include: Crist said he "probably would" have vetoed the insurance bill passed this past spring by the Florida Legislature, which included a subsidy to Citizens Insurance to minimize the surchage it would need to charge in order to make up an operating deficit. Crist favored sending money directly to the people instead of routing it through Citizens. That bill also allows insurance companies to get small automatic rate increases without state regulatory review _ although most companies are asking for amounts far beyond what's covered in the bill.

On Arza, Crist would not say if the Miami Republican should resign, saying instead that he supported "the efforts" of Speaker Designate Marco Rubio on what should be done. "I think it's appropriate to conduct an investigation,'' Crist said.

On the issue of automatic restoration of felons voting, Crist said he is willing to consider issuing an executive order to accomplish that goal. "I would like to do it the most expedient way,'' he said.

Gun-loving Broward Democrats for Crist?

A new mailer from the Republican Party of Florida touts Charlie Crist's endorsement from the National Rifle Association. "Charlie Crist proudly defends our Second Amendment rights,'' says the mailer, which features photos of the candidate for governor holding a rifle.

This would be a smart, targeted mailing had it landed in the mailbox of a conservative Republican, or perhaps a rural Democrat. But it came to diehard Democrats in the state's liberal stronghold of Broward County.

"For us, this is a persuasion piece in favor of Jim Davis,'' said a puzzled Dan Reynolds, president of the Broward AFL-CIO.

Some Broward Democrats also received another mailing from the Republican party that calls Crist a "pro-family conservative'' who opposes same-sex marriage, adoption by gay couples and abortion. 

The GOP denied that the mailings were a mistake. "We are reaching out to all types of voters, regardless of their party,'' said party spokesman Jeff Sadosky.

GOP pushes Crist's NRA endorsement

Charlie Crist poses with two members of the Pinellas Park shooting club, the Wyoming Antelope Club, in a new mailer out this week which proclaims: "Our 2nd Amendment Rights are Safe with Charlie."

The mailer is paid for by the Republican Party of Florida and continues the gun rights group's effort to promote Crist among gun owners. The National Rifle Association has also paid for billboards across Central Florida along Interstate-75 touting its endorsement of the attorney general.

Weigh in on tonight's debate

Chat with Herald political reporters during tonight's debate between governor candidates Charlie Crist and Jim Davis. Just post a comment here and share your thoughts with Tallahassee bureau chief Mary Ellen Klas and staff writer Gary Fineout, who will be offering their perspective in real time. You don't have to register.

Max Linn not ready for prime time

Reform Party candidate Max Linn's effort to crash tonight's debate has been blocked by the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Linn sued on Monday to force groups putting on the debate between Charlie Crist and Jim Davis to include him as well. A Broward County judge agreed but the groups putting on the debate appealed that order. And the court quickly responded this afternoon in a one-page order, saying the "debate may proceed without the participation" of Linn.

Debate organizers were obviously pleased with the decision.

"We fully respect Max Linn's candidacy, but we believe our criteria, based on a threshold of support, offered an opportunity for a robust debate,'' said Jeff Bartel, chairman of Leadership Florida, which is sponsoring the debate along with the Florida Press Association and the Florida Public Broadcasting Service.

Mailer calls Crist "Pro-Life leader."

North Florida voters--including Democrats--are getting a mailer from the Republican Party of Florida that describes a different side to Attorney General Charlie Crist. The slick, two-sided brochure has a smiling picture of a couple that says "because every life has meaning." Inside voters are told that Crist is a "pro-life leader."

The mailer notes Crist voted for a ban on partial birth abortions, that he supports voluntary silent prayer in schools and that he has "backed efforts to permit the display of the Ten Commandments in public buildings." It also notes he supports a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and that he "supports Florida's ban on gay adoption."

While on the campaign trail, however, Crist has also come out in favor of embryonic stem cell research, said he favors civil unions for gays because he's a "live and let live" kind of a guy, and has said that he would rather change "hearts" than change the law when it comes to abortion. While in the state senate Crist also voted against requiring a waiting period before an abortion can be performed.

And let's not forget that Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher and his allies constantly called Crist "pro-choice" and that he would take Florida down the path of "Liberal Lane."

Three's a crowd at tonight's debate

Organizers of tonight's gubernatorial debate between Republican Charlie Crist and Democrat Jim Davis have appealed a ruling that calls for the virtually unkown Reform Party candidate, Max Linn, to participate.

The request was filed with the 4th District Court of Appeals, said Jeff Bartel, chairman of Leadership Florida, which is sponsoring the debate along with the Florida Press Association and the Florida Public Broadcasting Service.

"Right now it's up to the court to decide whether we will have two or three participants,'' Bartel said. "We are planning for the prospect of three participants.''

Bartel said it is unclear whether the court will respond before the 8 p.m. debate, which will be broadcast live on all public television stations.

"We think the voters of Florida will welcome the opportunity to hear from Max Linn and know that there is an alternative to the two-party system,'' said his spokesman, Liz McCallum.

What do voters want from tonight's debate? Share your thoughts on Herald's interactive forum

With polls showing the race for governor may be tightening, the pressure is on for Republican Charlie Crist and Democrat Jim Davis to perform. Each must display his strengths while drilling into his opponents weaknesses and exposing flaws. What strategy do you think each candidate should take? What questions and topics do you want to hear?

Please share your thoughts here before the debate and log-in to Naked Politics for an interactive forum with reporters during the debate. No registration will be required. You can listen to a live webcast of the event from your computer on WLRN radio, or watch it on your own TV. Check back onto Naked Politics for links before the debate and then join us with your comments.

Law-enforcement groups shoot at Davis

Two law-enforcement groups, The Florida Association of State Troopers and the Florida Police Benevolent Association, which represents 35,000 police and corrections officers, today sharply criticized U.S. Rep. Jim Davis for being "silent" on public safety issues. Of course, both groups have already endorsed Attorney General Charlie Crist in the governor's race.

"We are just two weeks out from the election and we have heard nothing from Congressman Jim Davis on what he would do to protect the public,'' said PBA Deputy Executive Director Matt Puckett, who also faulted Davis for votes in Congress on public safety issues. Furthermore, the group contends that Davis has "yet to put forth a single position on law enforcement or public safety."

That's not 100 percent true. It is true that Davis has yet to unveil a policy paper aimed at public safety issues and there is scant mention on his website. But a close review of Davis' policy papers shows he has proposed to "crack down on criminals who prey on seniors" and that he "fought in favor of higher funding to prosecute hate crimes."

When asked today PBA officials would not say whether or not they plan to spend money to spread their message about Davis to the voters.

Poll finds governor's race getting interesting

A new poll calls Florida's race for governor a "statistical dead heat,'' boosting the stakes for tomorrow's televised debate between Republican Charlie Crist and Democrat Jim Davis.

A Quinnipiac University survey released today showed Crist capturing 46 percent of the vote and Davis receiving 44 percent. The same poll two weeks found Crist ahead 53 to 43 percent, and Davis has trailed by double digits in other surveys.

"This new poll makes the debate a much bigger deal, and it should affect their strategies,'' said Quinnipiac pollster Peter Brown. "It will force both of them to reassess what they're going to do, not just in the debate, but what their strategy is for the final two weeks of the campaign.''

Eight percent of voters are undecided and 11 percent of those who name a candidate might change their mind before Nov. 7, according to the poll.

Hastings on Crist

Democratic U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar said Saturday that it's a good thing he's not running for governor against Republican Charlie Crist.

Some say that the Democratic nominee, Jim Davis, could be tougher on Crist.

"I'm not as nice as Jim Davis,'' Hastings told about 50 black elected officials and clergy members gathered in Lauderhill. "I would rip the hide off of him.''

A Democrat for Crist

"For thirty-six years I've supported every Democratic nominee for governor of Florida,'' begins the e-mail from Miami public relations consultant Seth Gordon. "But this November I'll break this tradition and support my Republican friend Charlie Crist.''

Gordon said Crist transcends partisan politics, and he praised him for taking positions contrary to many members of his party. For example, Crist supports stem cell research. Gordon added that he asked himself: "Do I like him? Do I respect him? Does he have the overall capacity to govern? Charlie towers over his opponent in this regard.''

Less Jimmy, more Jimbo

Down in the polls, down in fundraising, and running out of time: What's a Democratic candidate for governor to do?

To quote a cliche mangled by former presidential candidate John Kerry: "Bring. It. On.''

Some fans of Democrat Jim Davis are grumbling that the mild-mannered congressman needs to get a lot more aggressive if he has any shot of catching Republican Charlie Crist on Nov. 7. They want harder-hitting ads, tougher talk and maybe even some publicity winning stunts.

"I'd like to see some more red meat,'' said fundraiser Ira Leesfield. "It's hard for Jim to take off the gloves.''

Read more of Beth Reinhard's column here.

South Florida debate-watching party

South Florida Democrats will gather to watch the first televised debate in the governor's race from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Renaissance Hotel in Plantation.

Democrat Jim Davis and Republican Charlie Crist will square off at 8 p.m. from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

Democratic U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Robert Wexler will be among the elected officials and activists at the debate-watching party. Davis is expected to drop in after the cameras go dark.

New Davis ad: tougher and longer

The hardest-hitting ad yet touting Jim Davis, the Democratic candidate for governor, is on the air. In contrast to his three previous ads that last only 15 seconds, this spot is 30 seconds long. See it here.

Crist calls series of changed positions his "evolution"

Republican Charlie Crist's change of position on felons voting rights, how the state uses the FCAT and Citizens Insurance have  "evolved" the candidate says. His opponents say it's election-eve pandering. Read here and listen to his interview with the Miami Herald editorial board on these issues.

Crist gets his podium

The front-running Republican candidate for governor, Charlie Crist, has agreed to participate in an Oct. 30 televised debate with Democrat Jim Davis as long as they are standing behind podiums instead of sitting around a table. Read more here.

Crist moves to Davis' position, vows to change felons voting ban

Republican Charlie Crist calls it an "evolution" and a change of heart brought about by talking to people on the campaign trail, but his promise to support scrapping  Florida's 136-year ban on automatic restoration of felons civil rights brings him right in line with Democrat Jim Davis. If either follow through on their promises, they also bring Florida into the mainstream. More here.

Iowa gov stumps for Davis

Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa, a possible presidential contender who headlined a fundraiser for Democratic candidate Jim Davis last night, knows a thing or two about lagging by double digits in the polls with three weeks to go.

Vilsack said he was in a similar spot during his first run for governor in 1998. Asked if he had any pointers for Davis, trying to close the gap with Republican candidate Charlie Crist, Vilsack said his advice was for the donors and activists.

"Don't lose sight of the fact that you have a winning message if there are adequate resources to get it out,'' Vilsack said in a stop at The Miami Herald.

Vilsack said he learned at yesterday's fundraiser that he and Davis have something else in common. Davis' campaign manager, Jennifer O'Malley, is engaged to the campaign manager for the Democratic candidate seeking to replace Vilsack, Chet Culver.

See Jones, not Kottkamp

Former state Sen. Daryl Jones, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, will speak at the Dade County Bar Association luncheon Thursday at the Miami Hyatt Regency.

Jones' Republican counterpart, state Rep. Jeff Kotthamp, was invited but has declined to attend, according to organizers. The Jones-Jim Davis ticket has been accusing the Kottkamp-Charlie Crist ticket of dodging joint appearances.

To make a reservation for the bar luncheon, call 305-371-2220.

Crist radio ad stretches the truth

The newly formed Coalition for Bipartisan Progress released its first advertisement on behalf of Republican Charlie Crist's campaign for governor. 

The radio ad touts Crist's civil rights legislation and support for paying for smaller classes and importing cheaper drugs from Canada. It also says "he led a successful fight to stop oil drilling off Florida's coast.''

That's stretching the truth. Back in April, Crist was among several elected officials who wrote letters opposing a federal plan to allow oil drilling off Florida's coast. Crist's Democratic opponent, Jim Davis, has been much more involved in the federal issue as a member of Congress.

The Bipartisan Coalition for Bipartisan Progress was formed by three supporters of former Democratic candidate for governor, Rod Smith.

To hear the ad, go to www.bipartisanvoters.com.

A look at Jim Davis and Charlie Crist

Today the Miami Herald begins the first of a series of profiles on the two candidates for governor. The stories will cover everything from their childhoods to their lives in politics. The Jim Davis story is here. To read about Charlie Crist click here.

Crist's amazing fundraising continues

Attorney General Charlie Crist's amazing fundraising numbers aren't slowing down. Crist's campaign reported raising $1.1 million in a single week from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, reports filed today showed. Not counting the tremendous support he's already getting from the Republican Party of Florida, this gives Crist more than $3.8 million to spend with less than a month left before Election Day. Crist has now raised a record $17.5 million _ the most by a gubernatorial candidate in state history.

Democratic rival Jim Davis reported raising $347,747 during the same time period, raising his campaign total to $5.62 million. The Tampa congressman has about $1.1 million left in the bank to spend in the final three weeks.

Is Crist trying to avoid a Hardball moment?

For weeks Charlie Crist's campaign has been trying to persuade WFLA-TV in Tampa to change the "talk show" format of the debate with Democrat Jim Davis moderated by MSNBC host Chris Matthews, to a traditional format -- in which the candidates are separated by podiums. Progress has been slow so, this week, the campaign began shopping for an alternative.

"We don't want a talk show, we want a debate,'' said Crist campaign manager George LeMieux. "We told NBC we don't have an issue with Chris Matthews."

The Donald or The Grove?

Where would you rather be tomorrow night: with Donald Trump in Palm Beach or Hillary Clinton in Coconut Grove?

Republican candidate for governor Charlie Crist will be with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Perhaps Trump is expecting a bad hair day; no cameras are allowed.

Democratic candidate Jim Davis will be with Sen. Clinton at the Ritz-Carlton in Coconut Grove.   

Before they mingle with well-heeled donors, both candidates will hang out with regular folks at separate events in Palm Beach County. Crist will be talking about health care, Davis about hurricane insurance.

Another Democrat bites the dust

Another expatriate from the campaign of former Democratic candidate for governor Rod Smith is switching sides.

Todd McWaters, former field director for Smith in the Panhandle, has been working for Democratic nominee Jim Davis since he won the primary. On Wednesday, McWaters announced he was quitting and joining a new fundraising group for the Republican contender for governor, Charlie Crist.

McWaters said in a written statement that the Davis campaign doesn't care about North Florida, calling its strategy "the same flawed and failed policies of yesteryear.''

Campaign spokesman Josh Earnest said Davis has spent time and money in North Florida and will continue to do so. He also said McWaters hadn't been meeting expectations.

New Jim Davis commercial

The Florida Democratic Party is airing a new television commercial touting Democrat Jim Davis' plan to lower hurricane insurance rates.

The commercial will rotate with the party's ads on the FCAT and property taxes. All are 15-second spots that also feature Davis' running mate, Daryl Jones.

Check it out here.

Crist decides not to use Moore ad

Just days after historians began raising doubts about the Attorney General Charlie Crist's investigation into the 1951 murder of the slain civil rights leader Harry T. Moore and his wife Harriette, the Crist campaign dispatched a camera crew to the Maryland home of the couple's only surviving child, Juanita Evangeline Moore.

She agreed to be filmed, but later told friends she had no intention of endorsing in the governor's race in Florida and had no idea it was to be used that way. Friends even offered to post a statement to that effect on the website of the cultural center in North Brevard County dedicated to the memory of her parents.

As the questions continued, Crist called Moore and offered to refrain from using the video footage. Her son, Skip Pagan, told the Miami Herald that was enough to persuade Moore and him that Crist was not out to take advantage of her, so Moore, 76, consented to letting the campaign use the footage for a campaign ad because she was so grateful he had assigned his office to investigate.

But the controversy hasn't died down. In an interview with the Miami Herald Tuesday, Democrat lieutenant governor candidate Daryl Jones said he was outraged that Crist conducted the investigation but failed to answer the lingering questions that have haunted the case for decades.

Crist said late Tuesday he will not use the Moore ad. "I have too much respect for her,'' he said. He stands by his investigation, however: "I have every confidence in the investigators in my office."

New Crist ad slams Davis

The Republican Party of Florida is launching its fifth "statewide" television ad today in the governor's race and guess what? It attacks Jim Davis, saying he is "wrong on taxes, wrong for Florida." For those who keep count the party has now bashed Davis in three of its ads touting GOP nominee Charlie Crist. Of course, as always the party is using a campaign finance loophole that allows it to use "soft money" or unlimited donations to pay for television ads for Crist as long as it mentions other GOP candidates in the small print contained in the ad. You will be able to see the ad here later today.

The script of the ad is as follows: "Everday life gets more expensive and Jim Davis isn't helping. In Congress he voted for billions in new taxes. Even voted to keep the marriage tax and the death tax. Says a social security tax increase ought to be on the table. Worse, Jim Davis wants to tax savings, tax seniors. Incredibly, Davis says all Florida tax breaks would be up for elimination. This isn't complicated. Jim Davis--wrong on taxes, wrong for Florida."

Crist gets help in battle over the black vote

Evangeline Moore, the daughter of civil rights activist Harry T. Moore, has agreed to let Attorney General Charlie Crist use her in a campaign ad because of his efforts in attempting to solve the cold case of her slain parents. Read more here.

Will her decision deliver a decisive blow to Democrat Jim Davis' in his attempts to win over reluctant African American voters? Many blacks were turned-off by Davis' slow-to-come apology for a 1990 vote against compensation for Wilbert Lee and Freddie Pitts, two blacks who were wrongfully convicted and jailed in Florida of the 1960s.

Says Bill Gary, president of the North Brevard Branch of the NAACP and a friend of Evangeline Moore: "There are a lot of folks I respect who support Jim Davis because he has put Daryl Jones on the ticket. There are a lot of folks I respect who support Charlie Crist, because of what he's done for Ms. Moore. This television ad could bring more black voters to the polls. We'll have to see who it helps the most."

New poll shows Crist still leading; CQ changes race to 'Leaning GOP'

A new poll by Quinnipiac University shows Republican Charlie Crist ahead of Democratic challenger Jim Davis by 10 percentage points -- 53 percent to 43 percent -- among likely voters, including those still undecided but leaning one way or another.

The poll shows a tightening in the race from a Miami Herald poll conducted two weeks ago by Zogby International in which Crist led Davis by 21 percentage points with 16 percent undecided. The Quinnipiac poll shows only three percent undecided while another 28 percent say they could still change their minds.

These poll numbers and Crist’s solid performance since the primary has prompted Congressional Quarterly’s Election Forecaster to change its rating for the race from “No Clear Favorite” to “Leans Republican.”

 

The Quinnipiac poll may shed some light on why. Crist appears to be strong among likely Democratic voters, with 22 percent of the voter, while only 7 percent of the likely Republican voters are prepared to move to Davis.

No surprise: the poll shows that property insurance is the most important issue facing Florida voters, with 58 percent listing it as it the top issue, followed by 20 percent who say tax cuts is the top concern and 19 percent who say the school-based FCAT test. Both Davis and Crist plan events today to talk about their positions on insurance.

If it's Tuesday, it must be Richardson

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson  - a potential presidential contender in 2008 - is headlining a fundraiser for Democrat Jim Davis tonight.

Richardson is the latest nationally known politician to lend a hand to the Democrat's underfunded campaign for governor. Last week it was U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. Friday it will be U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.

Richardson leads the Democratic Governors Association but is not expected to bring a six-figure check, as his Republican counterpart did on behalf of Davis' opponent, Charlie Crist. Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts gave $1 million to the Republican Party of Florida last month.