[Tallahassee, FL] Now that Rick Santorum has bowed out of the Republican primary sweepstakes, GOPers already in office can throw their support toward Mitt Romney without fear of backing a late-in-the-game loser. It’s called political gamesmanship.

Enter Florida Governor Rick Scott who has heretofore been coy about his feelings on the best candidate for the job. But no more … sort of.

“Mitt Romney will be our party’s nominee and it is critical that all Republicans coalesce behind Governor Romney and focus on electing him as president so he can put the policies in place to create jobs, turn our economy around and get federal spending under control,” Scott said in a statement reported by various media outlets.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement … more of a statement of fact really. Gov. Scott did have kind words for Santorum, however.

“There is no question that Rick Santorum ran a hard fought campaign,” Scott said. “I commend his passion and his willingness to put the best interest of our party and nation first.”

By: Adam Rousso/Sunshine Slate

Image: Lance Turner/latuphoto.com/Sunshine Slate Images

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David Gore’s attorneys ask U.S. Supreme Court to block his execution (TCPalm) Rick Scott signed his death warrant Feb. 28. Gore, 58, is expected to receive a lethal injection at 6 pm Thursday for the 1983 first-degree murder of Lynn Elliott, 17, of Vero Beach. He also is serving several life prison terms after pleading guilty to …

RPOF raises $2.9 million and Dems bring in $$1.3 million for quarter (MiamiHerald.com blog) Rick Scott steered cash to his political committee. The Republican Party of Florida raised $2.9 million in the first fundraising quarter of the year, substantially down from the $7.4 million raised in the previous quarter when legislative leaders …

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[West Palm Beach, FL] With the grueling Republican primary finally over – Rick Santorum dropped out yesterday, if you haven’t heard – the jockeying for position has begun for potential running mates for Mitt Romney. So far, much of the hype-buzz surrounds South Florida Congressman Allen West (R-22/Fort Lauderdale).

First, as reported by Sunshine Slate, Sarah Palin was the first major Republican talking head to “nominate” West.

“You know who I’d like to see … Colonel Allen West,” Palin said during the interview. “Colonel Allen West, who’s been to the school of hard knocks, he should be the one who should be considered seriously for VP.”

“In this very tumultuous time across our world, someone who has served in our military or at least has intimate knowledge of the way the military works and should work, perhaps by having a close family member serve, someone like that,” said Palin, emphasizing West’s military background.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley also spoke out in favor of West as the VP nod, telling FOX News that, “You have heard Governor Palin talk about West, and he’s good.”

But Haley also said there were some other good options (including another from Florida).

“Of course, Marco Rubio is great and Chris Christie. We know he can be the fighter, and I think there are so many really great ones out there,” said Haley. “I think Romney is going to have a hard time picking.”

Photo: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate Images

Herman Cain suggested South Florida Congressman Allen West for the VP slot

Now another major player on the GOP scene has come forward with an endorsement for West for the 2012 ticket as VP: Herman Cain. During an interview on Monday on a radio show hosted by Steve Gill as reported by Talking Points Memo, Cain was asked his thoughts on who should get the VP nod.

“Colonel Allen West out of Florida,” Cain said without hesitation. “Here’s why. He is well-spoken, he is direct, people in Florida love him, he has a huge following. He is from Florida. Florida is going to be one of those key states.”

“But more importantly, Colonel Allen West is a dedicated patriot,” said Cain. “He served in the military, and he is willing to serve his country some more.”

Cain didn’t stop there – he offered West a helping hand in the inner dialogue he might have on the matter.

“Now I know that there might be some push back on his part, because he’s just in his first term as a United States Congressman,” Cain said. “But my advice to him, if he were to ask me, is, you’ve served your country well and now you have a higher calling.”

“I would strongly recommend that he consider it, depending on any personal considerations he might have,” the former campaigner-for-president said.

In other Allen West news – there’s always something – the outspoken Republican actually said that supports about “10 to 15 pages” of the embattled Affordable Care Act, which probably didn’t sit well with his Tea Party base. But it was his comment on a certain provision that caught a lot of attention.

“You want to talk about something that’s really racist? They have a tanning tax,” West said, referring to a tax on tanning salons in the Affordable Care Act’s language, as reported by the The Palm Beach Post.

“I’m not tanning.”

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Lead image: from Allen West’s official Flickr photostream

Allen West

The best fight no one is watching? The Mack vs. Lemieux battle gets personal …

While the eyes of the state have been focused on the Republican primary contest for the right to take on President Obama, the focus on the GOP primary to retire U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has mostly gone unnoticed.

That’s unfortunate. This race has been as exiting if not more, than this lagging national primary.

About this time last year, George LeMieux had already declared his candidacy. His top challenger was to be former State Majority leader Adam Hasner. The two well spoken candidates had a few noteworthy exchanges, Lemieux labeling Hasner a moderate, Hasner calling Lemieux (GOP-turned Indie Guv) Charlie Crist’s “go-to guy.”

Senate President Mike Haridopolos would briefly enter the fray before a meltdown in Tallahassee and series of campaign faux pas would lead to his early exit. Restauranteur Craig Miller and Col. Mike McCalister were also in the race but, would take the backseat to the Lemieux/Hasner battles.

A key ingredient was missing in this key primary that would nominate a candidate to take on the entrenched Democrat: enthusiasm. Nelson was polling double digits ahead of all of these guys. This had the party wondering if the solution was in the current crop of candidates.

Is Connie Mack the Charlie Sheen of Florida politics? Lemieux’s Attack ad

Enter U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV (R-14/Naples), the famous name with the ties to raise money. He declared and shot to the top of the polls. (View the Connie Mack for Senate campaign website here.)

Adam Hasner checked down to run for the House in South Florida, Miller went east to campaign for the newly created Congressional District 6 House seat. McCalister remains but is invisible in the polls.

George Lemieux wasn’t going anywhere. Why should he? He was the money leader. He held major endorsements. He’d served – albeit a short time – in the Senate and wasn’t going to step aside for Mack.

LeMieux shot out releases blasting Connie Mack’s absence from the state, pointing out that the Congressman preferred working from California with his wife, fellow U.S. Representative Mary Bono Mack (R-45/Palm Desert, CA).

Mack’s ascension continued. He was only a point or two behind Bill Nelson. Was he going to walk in and take this nomination?

Shots fired. Mack largely ignored the ad instead, focusing on fundraising and stumping for GOP Prez frontrunner Mitt Romney. The questions would still come.

LeMeiux’s offensive would continue with a winning a streak of straw polls and a growing number of state legislators endorsing the former senator. He doubled down on the Charlie Sheen rhetoric releasing a fake endorsement from the “Winning” Warlock with Tiger Blood running through his veins on April Fool’s day.

Photo: Bill Nelson for Senate

Will Connie mack emerge to challenge U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson?

Yesterday, Connie Mack responded with a number. One Million. His fundraising haul for the quarter.

Mack’s message has the tone of a general election contest. Most of the time ignoring LeMieux’s accusations and focusing on Bill Nelson. As the debate season kicks off that will seem unlikely to continue as both should have plenty of cash on hand to run an effective “air war” over the television.

It’s already personal. And it’s not that Mack doesn’t have the discipline to stay silent, I believe as the primary approaches that the party is going to want to see Mack mix it up. If he doesn’t how is he going to compete with Bill Nelson sharing a ballot with President Obama?

Crist vs. Rubio? Please! Charlie Crist was too nice and took frequent beat-downs from Rubio and at times Democrat Kendrick Meek. “You don’t know what’s in my heart.” Yeah, that was Crist for you.

There will be aggression, there will be accusations and it will get even more personal.

Will you be watching?

By: Frank Torres. Original post appeared April 5 on Florida Politics With Frank Torres. Re-printed with permission

Lead image: Connie Mack for Senate campaign

Connie Mack

[Miami, FL] He was once considered a contender for the 2012 Republican nomination (some still wishes he was). Now he’s endorsed the leader of the pack.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has finally come around to endorsing a candidate, and that candidate is former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney.

“I am endorsing Mitt Romney for our party’s nomination,” Bush said in a statement, as reported by The Hill. “We face huge challenges, and we need a leader who understands the economy, recognizes more government regulation is not the answer, believes in entrepreneurial capitalism and works to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed.”

The endorsement is a big one for Romney as he tries to shore up the naysayers in his party still angling for something, anything other than what some have called “the least liked presidential contender since Bill Clinton.”

Romney easily took the Florida Republican primary back in January.

That’s actually pretty good company Mitt Romney is keeping – Clinton did alright for himself, two terms and all.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate Images

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[Tallahassee, FL] Thought you were done with former House Speaker and wannabe president Newt Gingrich after he got trounced in Florida’s Republican primary? Think again hot shot. There are three big Newt stories brewing, with the – surprise! – Sunshine State at the center of two of them.

First up: Gingrich is asking the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) to enforce its rules regarding the winner-take-all status of Florida’s 50 delegates, of which former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney handsomely pocketed all.

Apparently, when the Republican National Committee (RNC) met last year, there was a new rule added that if any state does what Florida did – move up their primary date up to take place before Feb. 1 – that the “bad” state’s delegates be allocated according to percentage of votes.

That would mean that Gingrich could be eligible to actually make a game of it when it comes to the total number of delegates in possession. Could be, if party officials change their mind. You know, like the recount in Iowa (and we know all about recounts, don’t we).

Where it stands now: Mitt Romney has 81 delegates to Newt Gingrich‘s 27. If Florida were to follow the rules (as Gingrich sees them): Romney 54,  Gingrich 43. It looks much more palatable to a possible donor, don’t you think? Also, Newt’s feelings wouldn’t be quite so hurt.

Save your tears, Mr. former Speaker. RPOF Chairman Lenny Curry isn’t playing any of your reindeer games.

Photo: RPOF

RPOF Chairman Lenny Curry

“Florida was winner take all before Election Day, we were winner take all on Election Day, we will remain winner take all,” said Curry via a Feb. 2 press release.

“On September 23, 2011, RPOF’s Executive Board – 38 people including members from around the state, members who serve on the RNC, and members who are affiliated with different campaigns – unanimously passed RPOF Rule 10,” said Curry.

Oooohhhh … Rule 10.

“Rule 10 determined Florida would be winner take all if the primary date was moved by statute and Florida was penalized by RNC for the move. All campaigns and the RNC have known since then that Florida was winner take all,” added Curry, somewhat defiantly.

Even the guy in charge of Gingrich’s campaign in Florida admitted that the ploy a last-ditch effort of a sore loser. Newt 2012 Florida Chairman Bill McCollum told Fox News that if they had won, none of this would be an issue.

“It is a shame when the loser of a contest agrees to the rules before, then cries foul after losing,” zinged Curry.

But with a total of 1,144 delegates necessary to win the nomination, there is still a long way to go, and theoretically Romney will continue to create distance between the two with each successive caucus and primary victory. So it is not that big of a deal.

Unless you are the guy making fundraising calls on behalf of Newt 2012, that is.

Photo: Lance Turner/latuphoto.com/Sunshine Slate Images

Newt Gingrich points out that he’s number one in the Florida … in assault cases

OH THERE’S MORE

Newt Gingrich and his campaign are being sued for assault and battery by an Orlando-area man who claims that Newt’s security team first, physically intimidated him, then fractured his toe and then proceeded to antagonize him about it.

The security guy smashed his foot “like he was stomping out a cigarette,” says Edward Dillard of Windermere.

Dillard claims his foot was fractured by the security team after voting Tuesday in the Orlando suburb of Windermere.

And all of this unnecessary brutality because he was wearing the wrong shirt. What did the oh-so-offensive shirt say? Ron Paul 2012.

Dillard seeks $75,000 in damages.

OH THERE’S MORE TOO

Daaaant, dant-dant-dant, dant-dant-dant, dant-dant-daaaant

Rising up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I’m back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive

Newt Gingrich is the first person who comes to mind when you hear those lyrics and jam that tune, right? Not at all.

That’s probably why the rock band Survivor is suing Newt Gingrich and his campaign to make him stop using their iconic song “Eye of the Tiger” at campaign appearances.

The anthemic classic rock staple, which was used to great effect in the landmark film Rocky III starring Sylvester Stallone, was a huge hit and still has a great emotional impact on audiences. That’s why people pay big bucks to use the track to “pump up the volume” on their ad campaigns.

Apparently, Survivor hasn’t gotten any checks from Newt, who is no Rocky Balboa.

In a suit filed in a Chicago federal court, songwriter Frankie “Eye of the Tiger” Sullivan alleges that Gingrich violated copyright law by blasting the 1982 tune at stump stops. Similarly, Michele Bachmann was legally reprimanded for her use of Tom Petty’s “American Girl.”

Patsy Cline’s estate had no problem with Bachmann using “Crazy,” however.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Lead image: Lance Turner/latuphoto.com/Sunshine Slate Images

Newt Gingrich

[Florida] With slightly more than 50% of the precincts reporting in, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has won the Florida primary, making him the hands-down frontrunner for the Republican nomination for President of the United States, according to The Washington Post.

“To the people in this room and to the people all over Florida, thank you tonight for this great victory,” Romney told supporters.

The Florida primary results numbers, although not yet final, are keeping with poll predictions:

Mitt Romney 47%

Newt Gingrich 31%

Rick Santorum 13%

Ron Paul 7%

By: Adam Rousso/Sunshine Slate

Image: Fran Ruchalski/Sunshine Slate Images

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Florida primary results

[Tallahassee, FL] During tonight’s pre-taped interview with FOX Business Network (FBN), Florida Gov. Rick Scott had a verbal dose of reality for fellow Republican Newt Gingrich – the former Speaker of the House – and his bid for the presidency.

In the interview set to appear tonight at 10 p.m. EST on FBN’s Follow the Money, Scott talks openly with host Eric Bolling about tomorrow’s Florida Republican primary.

Bottom line: Scott says he thinks it will be “hard on Newt” to continue in the presidential race “if he doesn’t win Florida.”

As for former Gov. of Massachusetts Mitt Romney, Scott continued to cheer lead the fellow mega-millionaire businessman, but not endorse.

When Scott is asked about the role the Florida primary plays in determining the Republican presidential nominee, the governor almost beamed with pride over the Sunshine State’s kingmaker status.

“It looks like Florida is going to choose,” says Scott of tomorrow’s Republican primary. “It’s going to be tough, I think it will be hard on Newt, if he doesn’t win Florida, to go forward, because Governor Romney has a good campaign going from the standpoint of good organization and he’s raised a lot of money.”

Scott was also asked whether he thinks Gingrich and Romney are the clear frontrunners.

“Right now, it looks like Mitt Romney has got the lead … The latest polls show him up,” says Scott, an astute observer of polls (he must read Sunshine Slate).

He did take old Mitt to task for some of the content in his ads, whether campaign-grown or SuperPAC manned.

“I think [Romney's] gotten his message out better in Florida. I hope it has nothing to do with the negative ads,” worries Scott, whose own campaign ads were more scare tactic than “the other person is bad.”

“But somebody, one of these two, is going to go out there and really sell that they’ve got a better jobs plan than the other one,” adds Scott. “That’s who I think is going to win tomorrow.”

According to Scott during another recent interview, none of the candidates have focused enough on jobs.

Bolling does try to get Scott to say if he’s leaning toward Romney, which it certainly appears he is.

“I’m not leaning,” says Scott.

There you have it, he’s not leaning … but rooting, perhaps?

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: www.rickscottforflorida.com

Republican primary

[Tampa, FL] On Monday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will criss-cross the state in search of support ahead of Tuesday’s Republican primary.

While Gingrich’s appearances have brought out waves of supporters and type of fervor usually reserved for rock stars, a Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times/El Nuevo poll shows him to be 11 points behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

That echoes an NBC News/Marist poll that has Mitt Romney topping Newt Gingrich 42% to 27%. Clearly the candidate has his work cut out for him.

Nonplussed, Gingrich went on the attack over the weekend, hitting the Sunday news-talk circuit to paint Romney as a “pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-tax increase moderate from Massachusetts.”

The new and improved Romney shot back with equal venom.

“Mr. Speaker … Your problem in Florida is that you worked for Freddie Mac at a time that Freddie Mac was not doing the right thing for the American people,” scorched Romney. “And that you were selling influence in Washington at a time when we needed people to stand up for the truth in Washington.”

Appearing with Gingrich at all stops will be Michael Reagan, President Ronald Reagan’s eldest son. Gingrich has used Reagan references to appeal to fans of the former president, claiming that he is the nearest thing to the Gipper out of the four remaining presidential hopefuls.

Newt Gingrich‘s schedule on Monday (all times EST):

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Newt Gingrich

[Washington, D.C.] During this morning’s appearance on CNN‘s State of the Union hosted by political analyst Candy Crowley, Gov. Rick Scott chided all of the Republican presidential primary campaigns for not talking enough about jobs while giving a wink-wink to voters over who he likes in the race.

While he did stop short of fully endorsing any candidate in the race, he did mention Mitt Romney by name multiple times, seemingly giving the nod to the former Massachusetts Governor, mega-millionaire businessman and current leader of the Republican presidential primary.

“I think what’s hard is it’s not like you can have ten people saying the same thing,” said Scott. “So somebody’s going to have to be in the lead. And in this case, I mean, Mitt Romney has done a better job.”

Crowley pressed him to endorse, but Scott wisely refused. But Scott name dropped Romney yet again as the pair talked about Florida’s Republican Hispanic voters.

“Well, I mean, the – the Latino vote is – look, the Latino vote cares about family. I mean, if you look at Governor Romney’s family, he’s been very successful. He’s built a great family, very committed to his wife,” Scott said.

He wasn’t through.

“He’s somebody that’s been successful in life. So I think if they look at his background, it’s what they want. They care about their families. They care about, you know, somebody that’s been successful in business. That’s what they care about. So I think that’s part of what his attraction to the Latino vote,” added Scott.

An outright endorsement from Gov. Scott in the Republican presidential primary? No. A wink-wink, “Romney’s my man”? Absolutely.

Crowley also asked Scott about his “kind of in the basement” approval ratings and how they might affect the upcoming general election.

“You know what the chatter is out there, that there is worry by some anonymous folks that say he’s going to be a drag on the ticket in Florida. Do you worry about that?,” inquired Crowley.

Scott dodged the question, or at least steered it away from the “drag” issue.

“I’m going to have an election in three years,” said Scott. “And they’ll decide. And hopefully in my election, it’s what I get judged on every third Friday of every month. Tell me what the unemployment number is. Now down 2.1%, second biggest drop in the country. That’s how I’ll get judged.”

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Republican presidential primary

[Washington, D.C.] This week, with Florida the center of attention thanks to Tuesday’s Republican primary, Marco Rubio – the U.S. Senator from the Sunshine State by way of Miami – found himself back in Washington, D.C., joining the rest of his fellow senators to start the second session of the 112th Congress.

They are part of the least-popular Congress in history, mind you.

Rubio wasted no time, he hit the ground running, raising a ruckus over the national debt and hammering Senate Democrats for failing to pass a budget for over 1,000 days. He also blasted the president for “counterproductive” tax measures hours before Obama delivered his State of the Union Address.

It’s the kind of talk that has gained Rubio a following across the red parts of the country – that and his Hispanic heritage and made-for-the-History Channel back story. It is no wonder the charismatic son of Cuban immigrants is being bandied about as a possible vice presidential candidate to run alongside Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney.

But Rubio has always denied that there is interest in joining a ticket and has gone out of his way to keep the kingmaker wolves at bay (at least until after Florida’s contentious Republican primary).

In a recent interview with USA Today, Rubio was singing the same tune:

Q: Speaking of vice president, has any campaign vetted you for the job?

A: Not even talked to me about it… Look guys, I get all that. But we’re not really focused on that. It’s not something we’ve talked about with anybody.

Here’s the bottom line: I want to do everything I can to ensure that Barack Obama doesn’t get a second term. Nothing personal. I think the man is a good father (and) a good husband. I believe he loves his country. But I think he is a believer in a flawed ideology and I think his policies reflect it. And I want to see him defeated and I want to do anything I can and almost everything I can to help our nominee win, but I don’t believe that’s going to be in the role of vice president.

Photo: Sen. Marco Rubio's Office

Sen. Marco Rubio (shown visiting Libya) is staying out of the Republican primary

Helping his chances with either of the Republican primary frontrunners – if he does eventually change his mind, that is – is the fact that he refuses to endorse anyone before Tuesday’s primary. That’s just smart politics any way you slice it.

Plus, both Gingrich and Romney helped him win his Senate seat via endorsements and stumping, so how could he choose between the two?

“I’m not going to referee or somehow (be an) arbiter of Florida,” Rubio was quoted as saying. “Voters don’t need me in that role.”

Staff Mobile Office Hours

Rubio’s staff will be hosting Mobile Office Hours to meet with constituents and assist them with federal issues in their own communities.

All times listed below are local:

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012

Lake County
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
W.T. Bland Public Library
1995 North Donnelly Street
Mount Dora, FL 32757

Sumter County
2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Villages Public Library at Belvedere
325 Belvedere Boulevard
The Villages, FL 32162

Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012

Miami-Dade County
9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Stephen P. Clark Center
111 NW 1st Street
Miami, FL 33128

Putnam County
3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Palatka Public Library
601 College Road
Palatka, FL 32177

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

Brevard County
1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Melbourne Public Library
540 E. Fee Ave
Melbourne, FL 32901

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: Sen. Marco Rubio’s website

Republican primary

[Hamden, CT] A shocking swing in the back-and-forth battle for a victory in the Florida Republican primary: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has jumped to a nine-point lead over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the latest Quinnipiac poll, released today.

And they were at a virtual dead heat just two days ago. What gives?

Apparently, men are making the difference. Men back Romney 36%–29%, a dramatic shift from Quinnipiac’s poll released Jan. 25. In that survey, men were favoring Gingrich 37%–33%. The poll also reveals that Romney continues to do much better with women voters.

“Speaker Newt Gingrich’s momentum from his South Carolina victory appears to have stalled and Gov. Mitt Romney seems to be pulling away in Florida,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

“Romney also has a better favorability rating from likely primary voters, which supports his lead in the horse race. Of course, with four days before Election Day, there is time for another reversal. Three in 10 voters say they might change their mind,” adds Brown.

And the poll was conducted before last night’s Romneyfest.

The numbers are even more dire for Gingrich when it comes to favorability, always his Achilles heal. Romney rocks a 61%–28% rating from likely primary voters while Newt is at 50%–38%. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum actually beats Gingrich in this department, scoring a 53%–19% favorable.

Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul continues to poll negatively when it comes to favorability.

Overall, Paul has 14% of likely primary voters today and Santorum sits at 12%. Only 6% are undecided, 32% say they might “change their mind” by Tuesday’s election.

It is just four fun-filled days until Florida’s Republican primary, the first “big-state” contest in the nation. And it looking more and more like Romney’s got it in the bag.

From Jan. 24–26, Quinnipiac University surveyed 580 Republican likely primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.1%. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: Fran Ruchalski/Sunshine Slate Images

Republican primary

[Jacksonville, FL] In the highly anticipated Republican debate between the four remaining presidential hopefuls held Thursday night in Jacksonville, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney stopped playing Mr. Nice Guy. And he will probably win Florida as a result.

“The idea I’m anti-immigrant is repulsive,” said Romney, taking a page out of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich‘s playbook and shoving it in his face. “That’s inexcusable. Mr. Speaker, I’m not anti-immigrant. My father was born in Mexico.”

The debate, hosted by CNN and held on the campus of the University of North Florida, turned into the Mitt Romney show, as the former Wall Street wizard took heat from all sides, brushing of all comers with a fire heretofore unseen from the unapologetic mega-millionaire.

With pre-debate polls showing Gingrich and Romney at a dead heat, Romney had to come out with all guns blazing and show like primary voters that he was tough enough to handle Gingrich – let alone President Obama – in a debate setting.

By and large, the strategy worked, toughening up the image of Romney, who had been coasting along until Gingrich won South Carolina and surged in the polls. He will likely keep his lead in Florida going into Tuesday’s Florida primary vote (the post-debate swell seems to be already headed in that direction).

Photo: Fran Ruchalski/Sunshine Slate Images

Mitt Romney showed more fight and confidence during the Republican debate

The immigration issue – a divisive one for the GOP frontrunners – was front and center to start, before moderator Wolf Blitzer worked his way through personal investments and mini-scandals involving mortgage behemoth Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. Both Gingrich and Romney lobbed bombs at each other.

Gingrich had been gaining traction in the race hammering away at Romney over his investments in Freddy and Frannie. Romney was ready this time.

“Have you checked your own investments,” Romney asked. “You also have investments in mutual funds that also invest in Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac.”

Gingrich came back at Romney in a way that we have come to expect from the former Speaker: he said comparing his investments in Freddy and Fannie to Romney’s was like comparing a “tiny mouse” to a “giant elephant.”

The elephant in the room was actually former U.S. Sen. from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum, who has enough support in Florida to swing the primary to either of the big dogs in the race. He had a strong performance – probably his best yet – but he knows that his chances are slim going forward without a win in Florida.

And he is not going to get it. But Santorum presses on, hoping for another miracle like the one he pulled out in Iowa. Or maybe a cushy Vice President gig.

“Can we set aside that Newt was a member of Congress and used the skills that he developed as a member of Congress to go out and advise companies – and that’s not the worst thing in the world – and that Mitt Romney is a wealthy guy because he worked hard and he’s going out and working hard?” Santorum said.

Photo: Fran Ruchalski/Sunshine Slate Images

Republican debate moderator Wolf Blitzer conducts business

Mister “man on dog” sex sounding reasonable? The guy who’s public comments about homosexuals were so offensive to gays that they literally turned his last name into something synonymous with the aftermath of an anal sex act?

Maybe he should moderate the next event. Google could host.

As for U.S. Rep. from Texas Ron Paul, he’s still the comic relief of the quartet. You never know what will come out of his mouth. When Blitzer asked Paul if he believed that any profits earned from investing in Freddy and Fannie should be returned, his response drew howls.

“That subject doesn’t really interest me,” said Paul.

But not everyone is laughing. For Gingrich, the ride may be all but over now – and he was so close. Romney stole his debate thunder and now he’s also got a seemingly healthy lead in Florida. The wild swings of the race may die down now that Republicans realize that for better or worse, Romney is their man.

A Quinnipiac poll released just this morning shows Romney with an almost double-digit lead (9 points) over Gingrich. The poll was conducted earlier this week before the debate.

And with Romney’s Oscar-worthy performance in Jacksonville, it is generally assumed that his lead will widen over the weekend before Floridians head to the polls.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Images: Fran Ruchalski/Sunshine Slate Images

Republican debate

[Hamden, CT] Earlier this month, Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had a 12-point lead over Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in Florida Republican primary polling. But that was before Gingrich’s somewhat stunning win in South Carolina and several recent spot-on debate performances.

Now Romney and Gingrich are tied, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. And voters (who haven’t cast ballots already) head to the booths on Tuesday (Jan. 31).

“Florida is essentially a dead heat and a two-man race between Gov. Mitt Romney and Speaker Newt Gingrich entering the last week of the campaign,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

The numbers are actually 36% for Romney and 34% for Gingrich among likely voters in the Florida Republican primary for president. The 2% falls within the poll’s margin of error, so essentially they are tied.

“Gingrich’s South Carolina victory clearly gives him a boost in Florida. The question is whether there is more of that to come, or whether any bump from a previous victory will dissipate as happened to Rick Santorum in New Hampshire after winning Iowa and Romney in South Carolina after taking New Hampshire,” Brown added.

What should really worry Romney is that Gingrich gets 40% to his 34% among likely voters surveyed after the South Carolina primary. People do like a winner, and folks in Florida relate much more to people in South Carolina than they do in Iowa or New Hampshire. Drop-out Rick Perry also endorsed Gingrich six days ago.

Photo: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate Images

Mitt Romney can’t believe he’s tied with Newt Gingrich in the latest Republican primary poll

And don’t forget that there are two other candidates in the race, although it is clear neither of them have a shot of winning Florida. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum sits at 13% while Texas Congressman Ron Paul polls last at 10%.

Romney should feel some measure of satisfaction as his 36% is the same 36% he had earlier this month (Jan. 9), so he isn’t losing anybody’s support just yet. But Gingrich certainly is surging gaining twelve points in two weeks.

Still, there are some wild cards out there as 38% say they might change their mind. Maybe that’s what Paul and Santorum are banking on. Mostly Santorum, Paul doesn’t really have a chance as he has yet to win anything.

The polling shows that Romney is viewed “as best able to handle the economy and most sharing voters’ values” while Gingrich is seen “as having the knowledge and experience to be president, being a strong leader and better at handling foreign policy.”

Gingrich is favored by men and Romney is favored by women (not a surprise there). Gingrich has strong leads with white evangelical Christians (43%–30%) and tea party supporters (43%– 28%).

Photo: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate Images

Can Rick Santorum come from behind in the Florida Republican primary?

But what makes this match-up so interesting and complex is that Romney is viewed more favorably than Gingrich. Santorum is also rated high when it comes to favorability, while Paul is actually in the negative.

“Newt Gingrich’s edge is that he is the candidate with momentum and the one viewed as best on a host of issues and characteristics important to voters. Romney, however, holds the potential trump card that on the question most important to voters – who can best fix the economy – he is seen as the best candidate,” said Brown.

Romney is also seen as the candidate best able to defeat President Obama, the poll shows. And voters say they prefer “a candidate who can defeat President Obama over one who shares their values,” which should help Romney ultimately nudge out Gingrich.

Should? Yes. Will he? There’s nothing predictable about this race for the hearts and minds of Florida’s Republican primary voters.

From Jan. 19–23, Quinnipiac University surveyed 601 Republican likely primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 4%. The survey includes 254 voters surveyed Jan. 19–21, before South Carolina results were announced, with a margin of error of +/- 6.2%, and 347 voters surveyed Jan. 22–23, after the South Carolina results, with a margin of error of +/- 5.3%.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Images: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate Images

Republican primary

[Tampa, FL] The Republican primary candidates moved to Florida in full force Monday night, with the four remaining candidates clashing on electability, the housing market and space issues in a debate in Tampa with the state’s vote a little more than a week away.

The candidates largely agreed on a slate of Florida-specific issues they were asked about, but only after a sharp exchange at the beginning of the debate about who would be best to take on President Barack Obama in the general election.

In the most-anticipated clash of the night, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia fought over whose lingering issues might hurt him most against Obama.

Romney tried once again to deflect questions about his decision to wait until Tuesday to release his tax return for 2011. Romney has not specified how many earlier years he might release or when he might do so. Romney promised there would be no surprises when the documents were release.

“The real question is not so much my taxes, but the taxes of the American people,” Romney said.

Gingrich, meanwhile, brushed off Romney’s attacks on his work for government-sponsored mortgage giant Freddie Mac – with Romney having suggested that Gingrich was involved in influence-peddling, claims Gingrich said were false.

Image: DonkeyHotey

Newt Gingrich (left) and Mitt Romney (right) lead the Republican primary field

“You have been walking around this state saying things that are not true,” Gingrich said.

But Romney mocked Gingrich’s claim that he was working for Freddie Mac as an historian.

“They don’t pay people $25,000 a month for six years as an historian,” Romney said.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania tried to explain why he would remain a strong Republican primary candidate in spite of soundly losing a re-election bid in 2006 – noting that the national and state climates were hostile to the GOP that year and suggesting he would be a stronger conservative than either of the front-runners.

“There’s one thing worse than losing an election and that’s not standing for the principles you hold,” Santorum said.

Aside from Freddie Mac, most of the housing talk at the debate focused on how involved the government should be in trying to stabilize the market. Romney, who had argued last year that the government should “let [the foreclosure process] run its course and hit the bottom” emphasized trying to help homeowners on Monday night.

But Romney also stood by his largely non-interventionist message.

“You have to get government out of the mess,” Romney said. “It created the mess.”

Image: DonkeyHotey

Republican primary: Rick Santorum (left) and Ron Paul (right) are still in the race

Romney and Gingrich agreed on what they said was the need to repeal the financial reform bill signed by Obama in 2010. Santorum said homeowners should be allowed to claim the losses on the sale of a home as a tax deduction.

Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, whose strongly libertarian campaign has outlasted several more conventional candidates, pushed to allow the markets to work toward spurring home sales.

“You want the prices to go down so that people will start buying them again,” Paul said.

Romney, who spent part of his time hammering Obama for having failed Florida as the state’s unemployment rate spiked above 10% and its housing market continued to sink, also knocked the president on his policies regarding space exploration, a vital industry for the state.

“What we have right now is a president who does not have a vision or a mission for NASA,” Romney said.

Gingrich, whose interest in space often draws derision from his critics, pushed for government to focus on giving incentives or prizes to private companies who reach certain goals.

“There’s a whole series of things you can do that are dynamic that are better than just more government bureaucracy,” he said.

The Republican primary candidates also largely agreed on trying to roll back sugar subsidies, pushing English as the official language and abhorring the Communist regime in Cuba.

Democrats, watching from the sidelines, knocked the debate as little more than an extended bout of pandering.

“This isn’t a race to the White House, it’s a race to the right. … This field has made clear they want to continue with giveaways to millionaires and billionaires at the expense of Florida’s middle class families,” Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith said in a statement issued moments after the forum ended.

The candidates will meet again Thursday in Jacksonville in the final debate before the Florida Republican primary January 31st.

By: Brandon Larrabee/The News Service of Florida

Images: Donkey Hotey

Republican primary

[Tallahassee, FL] With the Republican primary race still a tossup and all eyes turned to Florida, State Senate President Mike Haridopolos said state Republican leaders are benefiting now for holding their ground on an early presidential preference primary in Florida.

“Every once in a while it feels good to be right,” Haridopolos said. “It was a risk, don’t get me wrong, but it was a good risk. They eyes of the nation and the eyes of the world are on us. ”

Beyond the PR boost, the Merritt Island Republican (district 26) told reporters Tuesday that having the Republican primary on Jan. 31 puts the state in the proper position in the electoral process, taking a seat of influence that the fourth largest state deserves.

“We are the ultimate bellwether state in the general election why shouldn’t we be the bellwether in the primaries, but only after some of the lesser candidates get their shots in Iowa and New Hampshire,” said Haridopolos.

By: The News Service of Florida

Image: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate Images

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Money talk dominating Romney, Gingrich contest (The Daily Citizen) The specter of well-off Gingrich and wealthier Romney feuding over money matters pleased Rick Santorum, who lags in polls for next Tuesday’s Florida primary but hopes to benefit from the dust-up as the race moves on. He told MSNBC: “The other two …

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Republican primary

[Washington, D.C.] There is a media feeding frenzy under way and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, the junior Republican Senator from Florida, is the chum.

The Miami politician was recently the focus of the “birther” contingent due to the fact that they questioned his citizenship (both of his parents were from Cuba) and that could become a big deal because Rubio is being eyed as a Vice presidential candidate for the 2012 election cycle.

You will remember that it was the birthers who cried so loudly – with Donald Trump’s help – that forced President Obama to re-release his birth certificate.

Well this time, they actually found something. While digging around, it was discovered that some parts of Rubio’s famous background story is not true. Records show that his parents were not Cuban exiles who fled the communist Cuban regime of Fidel Castro, as has been told and reported numerous times over the years.

They actually left Cuba on their own terms several years before Castro came into power, simply seeking a better life for themselves.

Of course, the Cuban exile thing sounded better, which is why Rubio is taking so much heat – did he deliberately fabricate the story to win the hearts and minds of voters all these years? And why didn’t he know the dates of his family’s biggest moments, especially if he was going to keep referencing them?

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio speaking to constituents at Miami office opening

Rubio claims it was an error, that he simply did not know the date facts until recently. He did change his bio to reflect the new-found facts and admitted to the mistake, but Rubio is aggressively attacking the media who is simply reporting that a sitting Senator’s background is not what it seems.

There is another part of his story that has now been pointed out as false as well, this time by National Public Radio, who merely compared a previous interview with his own recent words. That inconsistency deals with his mother’s trip from the United States to Cuba to see her father who was hospitalized at the time.

Rubio had made a big deal about the fact that his mother was forced to stay in Cuba for nine months by the communist Castro regime. Too bad it wasn’t true, this according to Rubio himself. His latest version says that she went there with the intention of staying forever, but left after a month or so without any difficulty.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio would prefer to just move on from all this and just talk about updating the tax code and attacking the deficit. Instead, he may just end up answering questions about his background for the rest of his political life.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Images: Lead photo Florida House of Representatives photo (2008), Sen. Rubio at Miami office opening U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio website

[Orlando, FL] With the quiet clang of silverware hitting dinner plates still echoing inside the convention hall, U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann took to the podium Saturday night, still looking sharp and sounding energetic after a long day of Central Florida stumping.

The presidential candidate addressed a roomful of hand-picked, ultra-conservative supporters eager to partake in the invite-only appearance by the Tea Party favorite over drinks, dinner and Christian rallying cries at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando.

She spent most of her time talking up the efforts of her hosts and highlighting her background bullet points, including the big family move from Iowa to Minnesota and her finding of Jesus at age 16. Bachmann was also candid about her parent’s divorce, calling it a “difficult time for our family.”

Speaking of family, she reminded the crowd of her and her husband’s (also in attendance) foster care efforts over the years (23 teenage girls mostly with eating disorders) as well as the raising of their own five children. Setting herself up for the big laugh, she mentioned that her youngest biological was off to college.

“After 29 years of parenting, an empty nest feels pretty good … So we thought, what the heck, run for President of the United States,” she punchlined. The crowd ate it up.

Bachmann delivered her speech on a darkened stage

She did delve into politics occasionally – in between establishing (and re-establishing) herself as a Christian and as a die-hard conservative, that is – by railing against “devastating high taxes” and calling Gov. Rick Scott an “absolutely wonderful governor,” which was greeted with warm-ish applause (not sure everyone is on board with him yet).

Bachmann does have some shortcomings as a speaker, most of which don’t come across through sound bites. Her delivery is quite monotone and often falls into repeating patterns of emphasis. She also talks very fast at times causing some of her points to lose a bit of their punch. [LISTEN TO A SAMPLE (MP3)]

She does pepper her material with just the right amount of that aforementioned humor to keep the crowd engaged and scored many big laughs throughout her 30-minute workout.

The event was an annual fundraiser for the Florida Family Policy Council, a multi-pronged attack dog of a Christian ministry that wields a mighty sword in Sunshine State politics. It was part of a three-day swing through Florida for Bachmann, who is to shoring up some much-needed support for her campaign in the Sunshine State.

On Friday, Bachmann was at a sub shop in Jacksonville Beach. On Saturday morning, it was a private event in Poinciana before heading to the Rosen in Orlando. On Sunday (the day of this post), she was due in Lutz (near Tampa), to attend a morning church service at Idlewild Baptist and, later, an evening GOP rally in Sarasota.

While Bachmann’s campaign got a huge boost topping the Ames Straw Poll more than a week ago, recent polls in Florida show the Congresswoman from Minnesota lagging behind frontrunner Mitt Romney by 15 points and Rick Perry by nearly as much.

Even pizza empire CEO Herman Cain has a point or two on Bachmann. Clearly, she has a lot of work to do. Expect to see lots of her in Florida before the primary.

The crowd was noticeably white, like 95% – in stark contrast to Orange County’s racial demographics which shows Hispanics alone at 35% of the population. And everyone was wearing their Sunday best. This was a play to reach out to her Judeo-conservative base, after all. (In fact, when I pulled into the parking lot with my photographer, we were asked if we were protestors, which made no sense for a variety of reasons, but we were asked).

Bachmann was introduced by John Stemberger, the ever-present TV talking head and leader of the Florida Family Policy Council, who was almost giddy with excitement for scoring Bachmann for his fundraiser. We’ll take a moment and wait for you to fill out those credit card forms on the table.

A nice surprise was Bachmann’s U.S. House-mate, Congressman Daniel Webster, who took to the stage early in the evening to recognize military veterans and introduce the pledge of allegiance. He said very little about the evening’s guest of honor before he walked off, somewhat abruptly.

This is Webster’s home turf, inhabited by the Tea Party types who carried him into office on their glorious shoulders past hated liberal icon Alan Grayson in 2010. Need proof? They gave out the “Daniel Webster Award” to the couple responsible for the “choose life” license plates. It was the sixth such Webbie, an annual distinction.

Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos was another conservative Republican who was paraded across the stage like show pony to receive his due – in the form of a plaque – for tireless efforts in furthering the Council’s cause. Haridopolos was joined by a host of other former and current State Reps, Senate members and a sitting circuit court judge, all who were either plaqued or name-dropped and thanked for their service.

Bachmann’s campaign website: http://www.michelebachmann.com/

Florida Family Policy Council website: http://flfamily.org/

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Images: Jim Brouhill for Sunshine Slate

She did rail against “devastating high taxes”

A recent state-wide poll conducted by Public Policy Polling shows the race for the Republican primary for President in Florida “completely up in the air.”

18% – Mitt Romney

18% – Mike Huckabee

18% – Newt Gingrich

15% – Sarah Palin

07% – Michele Bachmann

06% – Ron Paul

06% – Tim Pawlenty

03% -  Haley Barbour

Romney, who received 31% of the vote in the 2008 Florida primary, has lost a lot of ground which may prove difficult to recapture for the former governor of Massachusetts.

The PPP poll also sampled for the candidates’ favor-ability rating in The Sunshine State:

81% – Mike Huckabee

73% – Newt Gingrich

71% – Sarah Palin

60% – Ron Paul

59% – Mitt Romney

Floridians like Huckabee. A lot. They just don’t want him to be their president.

But the biggest surprise – or perhaps not – is that one version of the poll showed some actual clarity, while at the same time revealing just how weak the current field of Republican dreamers really are. Apparently, when PPP added former Florida governor Jeb Bush into the mix of possible candidates, a whopping 30% said they would choose Jeb over the rest of the field by at least a 2-to-1 margin.

That says a lot about staying power of the popularity of Jeb, widely considered to be the smartest of the Bush boys. It also says even more about Republican’s chances of reclaiming the White House in 2012: they don’t have one. Especially if their best chance is to try to sell America on a third installment of the Bush family dynasty to a population still reeling from the fall-out of Dubya’s leadership (or lack thereof, depending on your perspective).

But Bush has repeatedly squashed any rumors of a possible run for the Oval Office, so this particular part of the poll, while entertaining as heck, is irrelevant.

Much like Mitt Romney, apparently.

- Mark Christopher