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U.S. Sen. George LeMieux will join Rick Scott and running-mate Jennifer Carroll in West Palm Beach for some (more) barbecue at the Park Avenue BBQ and Grille around noon tomorrow.

The GOP gubernatorial candidates will also visit their campaign headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale and a school in Davie before a homecoming party in Naples Monday evening capping Scott’s weeklong tour of the state leading up to Election Day.

Scott’s campaign rented the Cambier Park Bandshell and will have a live band to greet Scott, who moved to Naples seven years ago. Scott and his wife Ann’s pals Wayne and Susan Mullican, who joined the Scott family on the bus tour Sunday, took out a full page ad in the Naples Daily News to advertise the event.

Democratic gubernatorial contender Alex Sink will be onstage with the most sought-after Democrats nationwide tomorrow evening: Former president Bill Clinton, who’ll be in the Sunshine State stumping for pal Kendrick Meek. Clinton’s visit – his twelfth for Meek’s U.S. Senate bid – comes after a shakeup over reports that Clinton tried to persuade Meek to drop out of the U.S. Senate race.

Bob Graham and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson will also campaign for Sink in Ft. Myers on Monday, but not only AFTER Scott has already left town.

The top of Florida’s GOP ticket – Rick Scott and Marco Rubio – were finally on stage together for the first time since the August primary at a rally attended by about 1,000 party faithful in Sarasota Sunday.

“Are you ready to turn the state around?” an enthusiastic Scott crowed, standing side-by-side with Tea Party favorite Rubio in an airplane hangar before launching into his campaign routine bashing President Obama, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “Are you ready to tell Tallahassee this is our state, not Obama’s state?

Scott started the day by attending church in Largo then strolled along Beach Drive in St. Petersburg shaking hands and posing for pictures along the waterfront.

Scott cooled down with some homemade passion fruit and chocolate ice cream along the way, but received a chillier reception in St. Pete with the general public than at the myriad orchestrated events throughout his sweep of the state that included rallies with Jeb Bush, Haley Barbour and Tea Party favorite Marco Rubio.

One woman refused to shake Scott’s hand because of the negative campaign ads from both Scott and Democratic opponent Alex Sink that has dominated the race that is too close to call just two days before Tuesday’s election.

Later, under sunny skies, Scott handed out candy to trick-or-treaters at a family Halloween festival in Ft. Myers as the GOP gubernatorial candidate wound down a week-long bus tour leading up to Tuesday’s election.

ELLENTON — Impromptu stops in search of votes can lead to unexpected and unwelcome reactions.

Frank Hannington, a retired state investigator who now runs his own private investigation agency, turned his chair around when independent U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Crist took the stage at Woody’s River Roo along the Intracoastal Waterway north of Sarasota this afternoon.

“It’s my silent protest,” said the registered Republican, who was wearing a T shirt supporting Republican attorney general candidate Pam Bondi, a tea party favorite.

Hannington said he supported Crist when he was running for governor four years ago. But, he said, Crist lost him when he bolted the GOP and became an independent candidate after it was clear he couldn’t beat Republican Marco Rubio.

Surprisingly, however, Hannington isn’t a Rubio fan either. He said he’s voting for Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek.

Hannington and several others in the crowd at the outdoor bar aside, about 50 supporters yelled enthusiastically as Crist described their choice as Rubio’s “extremism” vs. his  “common sense.”

It was the next to last stop of Crist’s three-day, multi-stop People’s Express bus tour that began Friday in the Panhandle and will end tonight in St. Pete Beach, near his hometown, St. Petersburg.

MIAMI — With a brown Bible in hand, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek set out Sunday morning to attract last-minute support in some of Miami-Dade and Broward County’s largest black churches.

The Miami congressman got nothing more than well wishes and hopeful chants from hundreds of supporters, who say they will stick to his campaign despite recent rumors that he’d consider an early exit.

“Don’t you quit, don’t you quit,” chanted a crowd of women at Mt. Hermon AME Church in Miami Gardens, the third in a tour of almost a half dozen churches Meek visited in South Florida.

Members of the Mt. Hermon congregation extended their hands over Meek’s head and asked for God to bless him during the final stretch of the campaign.

“You can’t get elected unless you pass by Mt. Hermon,” said Rev. John F. White II, the church’s pastor and Meek’s friend.“We call him Kendrick‘don’t quit’ Meek.” (more…)

TAMPA — As he did Saturday, Republican Senate frontrunner Marco Rubio this morning declared victory in the battle of ideas — but told supporters it won’t mean anything if they don’t get out the vote Tuesday.

Noting that Democrats aren’t running TV ads touting the health care or stimulus bills, Rubio told about 200 supporters at a pancake breakfast that “we won that battle. Now we’ve got to win the battle of turnout.”

Rubio and his family planned to attend church privately, then go to GOP rallies in Sarasota and Cape Coral.

On Monday, Rubio will do a final pre-election fly-around with stops in Jacksonville, Clearwater, Orlando and Hialeah.

Alex Sink, who has courted moderate Republicans, says she has another Republican on her side. This time it’s Modesto Maidique, former president of Florida International University.

Sink describes Maidique as a long-time Republican who served as an education adviser to both Presidents Bush.

“At a time when scandals in business and politics are tearing apart the fiber of our nation, Alex stands as a strong and transparent breath of fresh air,” Maidique wrote in an endorsement of Sink.

Other Republicans to support Sink include former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo and former Public Service Chairwoman Nancy Argenziano, along with several Republican sheriffs and state attorneys.

Debunking the Democratic story line that angry blacks are supporting Kendrick Meek, former Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie  Greene and several other county black elected officials joined independent U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Crist this morning on his People’s Express campaign bus.

“Someone needs to stand up and say that this race is not about Kendrick Meek,” Greene said, explaining why she had climbed aboard. “This is not about blacks turning their backs on Kendrick Meek. This is about moving the president’s agenda.”

She said she decided to come out of the shadows and announce that she had voted for Crist by absentee ballot several weeks ago after the story broke this week that former President Bill Clinton talked to Meek about getting out of the race and endorsing Crist.

Greene said Meek should have stepped aside for the good of the country. “This is about moving Obama’s agenda forward. We need someone strong enough to win this seat and I believe our governor is the one who can do that.”

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Rick Scott bookended two GOP rock stars between a Tea Party rally and a private screening of the education documentary “Waiting for Superman” on Day 5 of his statewide bus tour as the clock ticks down until Election Day.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush kicked off the day with a rally for the GOP Cabinet slate and gubernatorial candidate Scott at an airport hangar in Orlando.

“There’s a cloud on our state. I think there’s a lot of pessimism in our state right now. I think we need a can-do leader that lifts the cloud,” Bush said. “I think he’s the right guy for the right time.”

Scott capped off the day-long flyaround on a chartered plane with a rally near Tampa starring Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, the head of the National Governor’s Association. (more…)

ORLANDO — Independent U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Crist’s bus tour through the state has focused on meeting average folks. But today at the UCF-Eastern Carolina game, the fifth stop of the day,  he shared the stadium with a few of his own.

He ran into Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum while soliciting votes in sky boxes at the stadium. The two, who see each other regularly at Cabinet meetings but no longer see eye-to-eye politically, exchanged pleasantries. Nothing more. Nothing less. The attorney general, who lost the Republican gubernatorial primary, has endorsed Crist’s GOP opponent Marco Rubio.

State Sen. Daniel Webster, R-Winter Garden, who is an ugly  campaign for a U.S. House seat, was in the same skybox. Their paths didn’t cross but Crist later said he wished Webster well in his campaign.

As he has throughout the day, Crist shook hands, posed for photos and talked with virtually anyone who came within his sights.

A former quarterback, he tossed a football he keeps in the People’s Express campaign bus to college students. “We love you Charlie!” one screamed.

At some points, he channeled Barack Obama. “Are you going to vote for me?” he asked a stadium attendant. “Yes I am,” she replied. “Yes, you can,” he answered.

Senate candidate Kendrick Meek says the attention focused on whether he’ll stay in the race has energized his supporters.

“This has been good for my campaign,” Meek told reporters this afternoon in Wilton Manors. “We’re seeing a surge in voter participation.”

Meek said he has been getting calls and e-mails from supporters urging him to stay in the race.

“It’s inspired them to vote,” he said. “It’s inspired them to call their family members, it’s inspired them to continue to insure that democracy reigns.”

Friday’s headlines were dominated by stories about former President Bill Clinton asking Meek to quit the race. Meek says Clinton raised the topic but didn’t encourage Meek to bow out.

However, Meek said Crist earlier this week pressed him to leave the race. One day this week, Meek said, Crist called Meek’s cell phone at 4:57 a.m. and left a message. And, Meek said, in a face-to-face conversation, Crist asked him to drop out.

“I said, ‘That’s a non-starter,’” Crist recalled.

Meek said Crist then offered a small cross and asked Meek to keep it while he mulled over his decision. Meek, a Democratic Congressman, is running a distant third in the polls behind Republican Marco Rubio and independent Charlie Crist.

JACKSONVILLE — When a politican steps into a crowd of football crazed nuts, who have been drinking all day he has no idea what might happen.

While supporters cheered when Crist got of his People’s Express campaign bus this afternoon, there were ocassional nay-sayers among the thousands waiting to go into the Florida-Georgia game.

“Back on the bus flip-flopper,” shouted one Bud-carrying Gator fan as the Republican-turned-independent was swallowed into a crowd of supporters.

More, however, seemed impressed that a U.S. Senate candidate would make an impromptu stop at a football game.

“Anyone who supports the Gators, I’ll vote for,” laughed Plantation resident Bryan Gold after he shook Crist’s hand. A registered Republican, Gold said it is likely he will vote for Crist if he votes at all on Tuesday.

Zack Tucker, a law student at Florida Coastal University, beamed after getting his picture snapped with Crist. “I’m glad he moved to an independent,” the registered Republican said. “It’s a tough way to go, but it’s good. I hope he dominates (GOP candidate Marco) Rubio.”

Chris Floyd, 38, who is running for a seat on the Leesburg City Council, was captivated by Crist’s ability to work the crowd  – posing for photos with pretty coeds, holding up dogs and dealing with drunken frat boys.

A registered Republican, Floyd applauded Crist’s decision to mingle with regular people, noting that Crist has no choice because he no longer has a political party. “This is where the real people of Florida are – at a football game,” he said. “These are the voters.”

He said Crist’s new political identity could help him at the polls. “The NPA designation is where people are these days,” he said, refering to the official independent category – no party affiliation. “I think fewer people are identifying with the major parties.”

UPDATED with Charlie Crist reaction

Former President Bill Clinton, whose last visit to Florida included talks with Kendrick Meek about dropping out of the Senate race, will return Monday night for an election-eve rally in Orlando with Meek and Democratic governor candidate Alex Sink, Meek’s campaign just announced.

The Clinton visit saves face for Meek and probably helps Sink with black voter turnout she’ll need in her tight governor’s race with Republican Rick Scott.

The big loser: independent Charlie Crist, who hoped a Meek dropout would allow him to scoop up Democratic votes and defeat Republican Marco Rubio in the Senate race. Even if Meek didn’t quit, Crist stood to benefit from dispirited Democratic voters who might see the Clinton-Meek talks as a signal it was OK to vote for Crist.

Now Clinton, who denied he had urged Meek to drop out, is explicitly backing the Democrat.

Our Jane Musgrave asked Crist in Jacksonville today if he cared about Clinton’s visit:

“I care about the people of Florida,” Crist said.

MAXVILLE – Rick Scott urged Tea Partiers at a “Taxed Enough Already Meeting” to vote for him to send a message to Washington Democrats on a sunny afternoon in a field outside Jacksonville.

“It’s over,” the GOP gubernatorial candidate said to a crowd of at least 500.
Standing on a replica of the U.S.S. Dartmouth beside a stack of crates labeled “TEA,” Scott lumped his Democratic opponent Alex Sink in with the Washington officials.

“Who wants to tell Barack Obama that it’s our country, not his?” Scott shouted. “Who wants to tell Nancy Pelosi she’s fired? Who wants to tell Alex Sink to follow the rules?”

Dick Kearley, a plant nursery owner from Hawthorne, said he voted for Scott but still has doubts about the self-funded candidate who has spent at least $60 million of his own fortune funding his campaign.

“I’m trying to make the best of a bad lot,” Kearley, who said is identifies with the Tea Party and participates in some rallies but does not consider himself an official member, said. “Why would you spend so much of your own money to become governor of the state of Florida?

Kearley said he’s not alone in his lack of enthusiasm for the GOP ticket this year.

But, he added, “How bad can it be? Let’s try somebody new. It couldn’t be any worse.”

Scott’s later campaign stops include a rally in Tampa with Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who supported Scott’s opponent Attorney General Bill McCollum in the primary, as did Kearley.

LIVE OAK — Melissa Ray was on her way to vote today when she spotted U.S. Senate candidate Charle Crist’s People’s Express campaign bus and the telltale white hair of the governor in the window.

The 30-year-old followed the bus until it stopped several blocks later and when Crist emerged, she approached him to shake his hand.

“Thank you for vetoing Senate Bill 6,” the second-year high school teacher said. Had the measure that would have tied teacher pay to student performance passed, she feared she would lose her job.

She immediately changed her voter registration from Democrat to Republican so she could vote for him. Since Crist bolted the GOP when it became clear he couldn’t beat Republican Marco Rubio, Ray can still vote for him. And, she said she planned to.

So it went this morning as Crist engaged in classic retail politics, shaking hands with voters, posing for photos with children and working his cell phone in between stops trying to drum up votes. With polls showing him at least 7 points behind Rubio and three days until election, time is running out. Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek is trailing both.

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ORLANDO — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink said Saturday morning that rumors about former President Clinton persuading Kendrick Meek to drop out of Florida’s Senate race are only pushing more Democrats to vote for the Miami congressman.

“What I’m picking up is that people like me are even stronger supporting Kendrick and are going to make their voices heard loud and clear,” Sink told reporters after speaking at the Florida Education Association’s annual conference. “That they are voting for Kendrick on Tuesday morning, as I will be.”

Doubts over whether black voters could react angrily to the Meek-Clinton controversy has some questioning whether Sink, who is running a tight race against Rep. Rick Scott, could lose some of that minority support on Tuesday. (more…)

In the last two weeks, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Rick Scott invested another $13.1 million of his fortune on his campaign.

That amount is almost $2 million more than what Democratic opponent Alex Sink has raised altogether. Sink has raised about $11.4 million since January 2009.

Scott has now spent $73.2 million on the race.

The latest spending includes $11.6 million given directly to Scott¹s campaign, reported in Friday¹s campaign finance reports, and $1.5 million to Scott¹s nonprofit campaign committee from his wife Annette¹s trust fund.

In that time, Sink raised almost $792,000 and spent nearly $1.4 million, leaving her with $842,000 in the bank.

Independent U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Crist had barely stepped into the small lobby of the Madison County Senior Center when Deloris Jones started screaming.

“We love Crist! We love Crist!” the 75-year-old lifelong Democrat screamed.

Others in the small, but enthusiastic, crowd of about 50 joined the chant. Later, Jones asked to speak to her friends who gathered to support Crist who is criss-crossing the state in the final days of the campaign on the People’s Express.

“I would be morally wrong. God would not be pleased if I did not thank you for standing with Obama with that stimulus,” she said, referring to a 2009 meeting  Crist had with the president that caused the governor endless grief among his then Republican friends.

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LAKELAND — Republican Senate nominee Marco Rubio began the final Saturday of the campaign urging about 150 supporters who packed into a GOP call center here to ignore polls forecasting big Republican gains and work hard through election day.

“We’ve won the battle of the ideas. We’ve won the battle of public policy. We won that weeks ago,” Rubio said. “You know how you know we won it? Because our opponents stopped talking about those things. They’re not bragging about Obamacare anymore. They’re not campaigning on how well they think the stimulus worked.”

He added: “We have won the battle of the ideas. Now we have to win the battle of the vote, which means turnout. That’s what this is about at this point. I don’t care how far up we are in the polls…People have made up their minds. The only difference between the winners and losers now is who can get their people to vote.”

Rubio has stops in Tampa, Pinellas Park and Pasco County on his schedule today.

ORLANDO _ Florida GOP political icon Jeb Bush pumped up support for the Republican statewide candidates at a rally in Orlando this morning.

About 150 supporters crowded into a hangar at a private airport in Orlando to cheer on gubernatorial candidate, who made the Orlando event his first on the fifth day of his week-long statewide bus tour.

“There’s a cloud on our state. I think there’s a lot of pessimism in our state right now. I think we need a can-do leader that lifts the cloud,” Bush said in his introduction of Rick Scott. “I want a tax cutting, budget cutting, job creating governor and Rick Scott is the one.”

The rally was the first event on the fifth day of Scott’s week-long statewide sweep leading up to Election Day.

Bush and his lieutenant governor pumped up the crowd for the GOP Cabinet slate, who also joined Scott on the platform with Bush and his former lieutenant governor Toni Jennins.

Scott kept to his jobs, jobs, jobs theme in a brief speech before heading to a Tea Party rally in Jacksonville.

“All of us up here know we create jobs by getting government out of your life…and an attitude that business people are the lifeblood of the country,” he said.

Bush praised Scott to reporters after the brief event.

“I think he’s the right guy for the right time,” he said.

Bush said he was disappointed in Gov. Charlie Crist, who abandoned the GOP to run as an independent in the U.S. Senate race against Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Kendrick Meek.

“He responds to heat and light” rather than being true to his core convictions, Bush said.

Scott’s Democratic opponent Alex Sink is slated to be in Orlando later this morning.