In TV spot, Putnam stresses renewables

Agriculture Commissioner candidate Adam Putnam is up with his second TV spot (his first has run for a couple of weeks) that stresses how the agriculture industry could help get new jobs through renewable energies such as wind and solar. The ad is on "most markets" across the state and the campaign has spent about $2 million on TV time so far.

You'll remember that opponent Scott Maddox has argued Putnam has a poor record on renewables, while Putnam has refuted that charge.

Poll: GOP up in Cabinet races, Amend 8 DOA, Hometown Dem might pass

The Republican candidates in the three races for Florida Cabinet are gaining traction with independent voters and slightly leading their Democratic rivals, according to a new poll that suggests 2010 is shaping up to be a good year for conservatives.

But it’s not a cakewalk.

The leads of Pam Bondi for attorney general, Adam Putnam for agriculture commissioner and Jeff Atwater for chief financial officer are well within the 4-percentage point error-margin of the Mason-Dixon Research & Associates survey of likely Florida voters.

The poll shows far clearer results when it comes to the Legislature’s plan to scale back a constitutional limit on classroom sizes. It appears headed for certain defeat at the Nov. 2 polls. Another proposed Constitutional Amendment, which would give citizens a vote in growth management plans, has a fair chance of passing.

While the Cabinet races are far tougher to predict, the poll indicates Republicans are enjoyed the support of voters with no party affiliation – the crucial swing vote in Florida.

“It’s a subtle sign that this is looking like a Republican year,’’ said Brad Coker, Mason-Dixon pollster. “I don’t think there’s a Democratic pollster out there who isn’t seeing this and who isn’t worried about it.”

Putnam to hold fundraiser in Maddox backyard

Republican ag commission candidate Adam Putnam, from Polk County, has scheduled a big fundraiser next Tuesday in Tallahassee, the backyard of opponent Scott Maddox. Check out the invite here: Download Putnam Tallahassee Fundraiser

Putnam responds with pro-green energy votes

Adam Putnam responded to Scott Maddox's charge on green energy with this statement: "My record of support for alternative and renewable energy technologies is clear, and dates back years before the home stretch of a statewide campaign. I was an early leader shaping America's farm policy into renewable energy from cellulose, rather than just corn."

The campaign also noted two major bills that Putnam supported, the 2008 farm bill, which extended several renewable energy programs and provided research funds for cellulosic ethanol production. He also voted for a bill lauded by Speaker Nancy Pelosi as "an historic bill to make America more energy independent." That bill, among other things, required more stringent fuel economy standards for cars.

Check out the rest of Putnam's statement below:

Maddox calls Putnam 'hypocrite' on green energy

Democrat Scott Maddox today blasted his opponent in the agriculture commissioner race, Adam Putnam, for what he calls hypocritical votes in Congress against green energy legislation. Maddox cited six bills, though he said the "big one" is the stimulus bill, which provided Florida will $34 million for solar programs, part of which would pay down the state's backlog of solar rebates it promised.

"These votes made by Congressman Putnam hurt everyday Floridians," Maddox said. (Reaction from the Putnam camp to come.)

The solar rebate money is currently held up by the Legislature, which argues it is not legally able to spend the money yet. Maddox called on Putnam to urge lawmakers to release the funds.

Also on hand at the press conference was a solar power company owner who relocated his small business from Tallahassee to Arizona. Pete Rosen of ProSolar Systems said he has about 20 customers owed $1 million in rebates. "I'm a 37-year Florida resident and unfortunately I can't work in my home state."

Democrats play the culture of corruption card

Florida Democrats are planning nearly 100 events across the state on Sunday to warn voters of what Democrat Alex Sink’s gubernatorial campaign manager Jim Cassady said in an e-mail to supporters were "bold face lies" coming from Republican Rick Scott. (Sounds like the "lies" refer to Scott's latest ad.)

The door knocking and phone calling will be made on behalf of the Democrat’s slate of statewide candidates as part of a day-long effort Democrats are calling “Knock Out Republican Corruption Day.” The slick campaign literature offers head shots of the Democratic candidates while referencing the arrest of former Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer, the indictment of former House Speaker Ray Sansom, the credit card questions facing GOP U.S. Senate nominee Marco Rubio and the Medicare fraud that took place at Scott’s former hospital company.

Democrats hope they can avoid the wave of conservatism in nearly every state in the country by turning the Republicans' troubles into a motivation tool for their grassroots base. Of course, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bill McCollum wrongly thought his grassroots effort would make him the outlier in the trend of establishment candidates losing to political outsiders.

Says the Scott campaign: “Of course the Sink campaign is downplaying her role in the SBA debacle and how much was lost; this is a typical insider who knows she has failed but refuses to accept the her failure. As a former banker and current Chief Financial Officer, Alex Sink’s oversight of the SBA raises serious questions on integrity and competence.”

Public financing winners: McCollum, Atwater, Gelber

The public financing totals are out. Here are the big ones: Bill McCollum got $1.26 million, Jeff Atwater got $492,000 and Dan Gelber got $353,000. There are also some big names with $0 listed, including Alex Sink, who has said she is still deciding whether to accept public funds.

Other candidates with no public money listed who would otherwise be eligible include: Dave Aronberg, Loranne Ausley and Scott Maddox. Common thread? All Democrats. We're on the case to find out why.