House Speaker Dean Cannon went more public Tuesday with his endorsement of Senate President Mike Haridopolos, who is among three Republican contenders looking to knock of Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

Cannon met with the Senate chief Tuesday in Orlando, calling him a “trusted friend, a valued legislative partner, and a much needed voice for conservative principles in Washington, DC.”

Cannon, R-Winter Park, and Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, were close allies during most of this spring’s legislative session, their first as leaders. The wheels came off toward the end, with Haridopolos later saying he was “embarrassed,” by the standoff between the two sides over legislation.

Among the bills that failed to win approval was one sought by Haridopolos, giving wrongly convicted William Dillon of the Senate boss’ home Brevard County $1 million in compensation for serving three decades behind bars.

On Tuesday, though, any hard feelings between the two chamber leaders seemed forgotten. Cannon said of Haridopolos, “ I am confident that he is the candidate that can finally retire Bill Nelson.”

Haridopolos heard similar comments in February. At a kick-off fundraiser, billed as a “private strategy session,” Haridopolos raised $1 million from lobbyists just before the session dawned.

Cannon was among those attending, drawing some notice for pledging his support for Haridopolos. Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner of Delray Beach and former U.S. Sen. George Lemieux of Fort Lauderdale have since joined the race.

Politico reported Tuesday that former Ruth’s Chris steak house CEO Craig Miller, who lost a congressional run last year, is also considering running for the Republican Senate nomination.

“I couldn’t ask for a better partner in the Florida Legislature and I look forward to having the speaker join me on the campaign trail,” Haridopolos said.

Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi announced today that she will join the growing field of Republican candidates for state attorney general.

“Today, it’s clear to me that our state and our families are facing unprecedented challenges, and what we need are courageous leaders who are not afraid to tell the truth, make a real difference, and stand up for you,” Bondi said in a news release. “After 18 years as a prosecutor, I am announcing my candidacy to seek the Republican nomination for attorney general.”

Bondi joins Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and former Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Holly Benson in the race for the Republican nomination. Democratic candidates include state Sens. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres and Dan Gelber of Miami Beach.

Pam Bondi for Florida Attorney General from Christopher Hanks on Vimeo.

Read Bondi’s press release here. A copy of her bio is here.

Here’s what Republican Gov. Charlie Crist said this morning when asked about the pros & cons for his party if there’s a GOP primary in the governor’s race. Crist is facing his own an primary in the U.S. Senate race.

But how committed is Crist to that idea of competition? Consider his answer to this question just 60 minutes later. Crist has declined to answer any debate requests (here and here) from his primary opponent, Marco Rubio.

Meanwhile, McCollum, a veteran of the Republican primary process, threw water on the idea that any candidate wants a primary. He didn’t say anything about potential benefits for the party. But he was pretty candid saying it wouldn’t be such a great thing for him.

State Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, is considering her own gubernatorial campaign against McCollum.

Former state House Speaker Marco Rubio appeared to pick up a little momentum last week, but the question plaguing his campaign so far is whether he can put up results. At this point in the game (and just days away from another campaign finance deadline) results = money.

Many believe Rubio needs between $3 million and $4 million to give his underdog campaign a shot in a Republican primary against fellow U.S. Senate candidate Gov. Charlie Crist. Right now, Rubio is on pace to collect about $2 million by the Aug. 24 election.

Meanwhile, Crist hauled in $4 million in less than two months during an aggressive summer fund raising schedule that he’ll carry into the fall: On Friday, Crist will be at the Manalapan home of Dr. Krishna & Nirmala Tripuraneni, asking for at least $500 a head.

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Gov. Charlie Crist added three more Florida politicians to his possible appointees to fill U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez’ soon-to-be-vacated seat.

Former U.S. Reps. Mike Bilirakis, Lou Frey and Clay Shaw are now among the candidates Crist is considering, bringing his list to ten.

Shaw, a Fort Lauderdale Republican, served in Congress for more than 25 years. His district includes part of southern Palm Beach County.

Last week, Crist asked conservative favorite former House Speaker who later became a powerful state senator Daniel Webster to apply for the post. Crist is also considering former chief of staff George LeMieux, who ran Crist’s gubernatorial campaign and remains a close ally.

Crist said this weekend that he wants to fill the post by Sept. 8, the day when Congress reconvenes after a summer break.

Tomorrow, Crist will interview Shaw in South Florida, Bilirakis and former U.S. Rep. Bill Young in Tampa. He’ll also meet with Frey and former Florida Cabinet member Jim Smith, a Tallahassee lobbyist who served as both attorney general and secretary of state, in Tallahassee tomorrow, according to Crist spokeswoman Erin Isaac.

Crist, who is running in a GOP primary against former House Speaker Marco Rubio to replace Martinez, said previously “it is understood” that he’ll appoint someone who will not run against him next year.

Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to request more candidates to apply to replace U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez after initially asking three GOP allies to apply.

U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart withdrew his name from the list late last evening, the day before Crist is scheduled to meet with another Hispanic potential replacement, former U.S. prosecutor Bobby Martinez.

Crist will meet with Martinez at the Miami airport at 1 p.m. today.

Crist hasn’t scheduled an interview yet with former secretary of state and attorney general Jim Smith – now a Tallahassee lobbyist – the last of the three candidates the governor asked last week to apply for the job.

But he said today the “short list” isn’t limited to just Smith and Martinez.

Crist called Bobby Martinez a “brilliant man” and “a dear friend and a loyal ally.”

But, he added, “There are others who we’ll be interviewing, too. And I look forward to the process.”

Crist, who is running against former House Speaker Marco Rubio in a GOP primary in November to replace Martinez, cited integrity rather than someone who would mirror his own votes Congress as his top priority in making the selection.

“I have to appoint somebody who in my belief number one has great integrity, will serve our fellow Floridians with honor and will do an incredible job of making sure that we continue to be well represented in both seats in the United States Senate,” Crist told reporters after a morning meeting with educators at the governor’s mansion. “Those are my primary considerations.”

Fueled by a recent Orlando Sentinel column advising that the state GOP wise up or continue to lose its domination of Florida politics, the RPOF is striking back.

National committeeman Paul Senft penned a rebuttal to Jane Healy’s column asserting that the Republican Party of Florida is just fine, thanks very much.

Despite Barack Obama’s Florida win in last year’s presidential election, Republicans held on to down-ticket seats and picked up a Congressional seat, ousting former Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney from Palm Beach County, Senft pointed out.

And while it’s true that GOP voter registration is slipping, that’s nothing new in Florida, Senft wrote.

So what if the Dems have also reversed their years-long fundraising slump.

Not to worry, according to Senft.

“If Democrats couldn’t produce down-ticket results in a year with more money, resources and momentum than they have ever had, I don’t see how they’ll do it in 2010,” he wrote.

But Senft’s op-ed may do little to quell dissension in a party whose dirty laundry is increasingly being aired in public.

RPOF Chairman Jim Greer has earned the wrath of the right-wing “Liberty Caucus,” a conservative group of libertarians whose leaders are being targeted by Greer for ouster at the upcoming convention.

Like many other conservatives, Greer ticked off the caucus by his early endorsement of pal Gov. Charlie Crist in the U.S. Senate race and his efforts to quash a GOP primary with former House Speaker Marco Rubio.

Meanwhile the St. Johns County GOP are trying to oust the Liberty Caucus’ state chairman, Will Pitts, from the party and remove other critics from their committee posts.

Greer’s strong-arm tactics and dismissal of right-wing darling Rubio coupled with growing dissatisfaction among die-hard Republicans with Crist’s moderate stance have left the party in disarray, critics within the party charge.

They say the party leadership is out of touch with the base and this could hurt them in next year’s elections.

The grievances against the rogue Republicans will be heard this weekend.

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio announced an endorsement this morning from former U.S. House Speaker Dick Armey. Rubio is trying to upset Gov. Charlie Crist in a Republican U.S. Senate primary. From Armey:

“Marco Rubio is a champion of freedom and an inspiring leader for the next generation of the conservative movement. His track record and conservative convictions are a breath of fresh air in a party looking for new leaders to advance the principles of limited government, lower taxes and economic liberty.”

Crist, meanwhile, has picked up several endorsements from Rubio’s backyard in Miami. Last week the brothers Diaz-Balart (U.S. Reps. Lincoln and Mario) announced their support for Crist and Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez made his announcement yesterday. From Alvarez:

“Governor Crist has demonstrated his commitment to conservative values that hold government accountable and keep more money in the pockets of hardworking Floridians. He is the common-sense conservative leader we need in Washington, and I am proud to lend my help to his campaign.”

Republican Gov. Charlie Crist said he will indeed attend the Florida Press Association/Florida Society of Newspaper Editors convention tomorrow in Palm Beach – but only for the awards luncheon. (His special counsel on open government, Pat Gleason, is being honored.)

Crist, however, will not stick around for the afternoon to appear with his U.S. Senate primary opponent Marco Rubio at the groups’ afternoon Q&A for statewide candidates.

Asked when he would debate Rubio, Crist today said, “I have no idea.”

The third campaign finance announcement in minutes: Senate President Jeff Atwaters’s state CFO campaign. Atwater is facing state Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, in a primary.

Gov. Charlie Crist announced today that he raised $4.3 million in 50 days for his U.S. Senate campaign. That’s more than U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the Democratic frontrunner has in six months and dwarfs the $340,000 collected by Crist’s primary opponent, former House Speaker Marco Rubio.

The campaign says it hasn’t figured out how much is for the primary campaign and how much is for the general. But what is clear is this shatters Republican Mel Martinez’s Florida fundraising record in Florida of $1.75 million $2.3 million for a U.S. Senate race in a single quarter.

Delray Beach activist Nick Loeb said today he raised $225,955 in his bid to replace state Sen. Jeff Atwater, a North Palm Beach Republican (and sitting Senate president) who is leaving office to run for state chief financial officer.

Loeb is in a GOP primary against state Reps. Carl Domino of Jupiter and Ellyn Bogdanoff of Fort Lauderdale. State campaign finance reports are due on Friday.

Loeb also said he refunded a total of $2,500 to six people who requested their money when he changed races. Loeb initially announced his candidacy for House District 87 to replace term-limited Rep. Adam Hasner, but changed his mind when Atwater announced he would be vacating seat.

Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Marco Rubio announced today he collected $340,000 in contributions during the second quarter. More than 40 percent of that total came from online contributions. Rubio said he received a donation from each of the 50 states.

A quick note on that total: it’s more than the $255,000 he raised in the exploratory phase of his campaign in the first quarter, but less than the $363,000 that Democrat Dan Gelber raised for his U.S. Senate campaign during the first three months of the year. Gelber, who was in the state legislative session for a month of that time, was competing for dollars against U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek. Meek reported $1.5 million during the same time and Gelber later stepped away from the race and is now running for state attorney general. (Meek told us last night he’ll report about $1.2 million for the second quarter)

Of course, Rubio is running against a popular sitting governor, which makes his task considerably more difficult. (more…)

Republican state Rep. Pat Patterson kicked off his campaign Wednesday for state chief financial officer from his hometown of DeLand (pictured below). But to win the office, the 10-year House veteran must first get through Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach.

One reason to watch Patterson’s campaign is to see who supports him in favor of the sitting Senate president. Not that Atwater necessarily would let a state political race control his chamber’s agenda, but if you’ve got an issue in the legislature (and folks with money do) then its generally best to make friends with the man in charge of half of it.

Another reason to watch Patterson: he’s from Central Florida and right now that seems to be the key to Florida politics: Every statewide office holder right now is from the I-4 corridor (Nelson, Martinez, Crist, Sink, McCollum and Bronson). The last politician not from Central Florida to win a state election was President Barack Obama, a Chicagoan who, it could be argued, still lived closer to the I-4 corridor than Republican nominee John McCain, R-Ariz.

And that geography could play on property insurance issues: Patterson in an interview earlier this summer was quick to point out that 65 percent of Citizens policies are from five counties (including four from South Florida).

Those five counties, he says, pay just 35 percent of the Citizens’ assessment.

(more…)

Jeb Bush Jr. sent a fundraising note out this morning asking for people to support Republican Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate and included this dig at Rubio’s primary oppoonent, Gov. Charlie Crist:

Governor Crist has been crisscrossing his way across Florida one $2,000-a-plate dinner at a time, taking money from people who don’t care if this election is won by Republicans or Democrats as long their interests are protected.

GOP U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio received an endorsement this morning from U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Pensacola. Rubio, who is challenging Gov. Charlie Crist for the Republican nomination, has alse been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.

Miller’s endorsement:

“This race has tremendous implications for the future of Florida and the very foundation of conservatism in America. Marco Rubio possesses an impressive combination of idea-driven, principled leadership and the ability to communicate conservative values in ways that resonate at the kitchen table. Americans deserve better than the current big government, borrow-and-spend road we are on, and I believe Marco Rubio will be a compelling voice to lead us to a stronger and more prosperous America.”

Republican Marco Rubio this morning challenged Gov. Charlie Crist to a series of at least 10 debates before their GOP primary contest on Aug. 24, 2010.

From Rubio’s letter to Crist (which you can read here):

As you approach your third decade in elected office, you have fostered a reputation as a formidable fundraiser who has broken many of Florida’s fundraising records. I am sure this campaign will be no different and fully expect that I will have to work twice as hard as you to remain competitive. While we are opponents for the same office, I am also confident we can maintain a cordial and respectful debate that will help our campaigns rise above the typical 30-second commercials, slick slogans and bumper stickers that define too many of our country’s political contests.

The Republican scramble for the Palm Beach-Broward seat of Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, puts GOP heavyweights and business partners Scott Rothstein and Roger Stone in rival camps.

Attorney Rothstein – who’s raised money for the likes of Charlie Crist, John McCain and George W. Bush – is backing state Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, in the Senate District 25 race.
Legendarily dapper bad boy and unabashed Nixon admirer Stone, a partner with Rothstein in a Fort Lauderdale-based consulting biz, is behind Delray Beach businessman Nick Loeb.

Stone said he’s friends with Bogdanoff but has an “antecedent” relationship with Loeb’s family, going back to the days when he and Loeb’s father were early Ronald Reagan supporters. Though he’s known as a creative hitman, Stone says that, in this race, “I’m not here to engage in negative politics.”

Bogdanoff, Loeb and state Rep. Carl Domino, R-Jupiter, are in the GOP primary to replace Atwater, who’s running for chief financial officer

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn explains his endorsement of Crist in a column today published by Red State:

The NRSC’s endorsement is not a reflection on Marco Rubio; it is a realistic assessment of both the 2010 Florida Senate race and the national map. With the Democrats standing on the precipice of a filibuster-proof majority, we cannot afford to lose this seat in 2010. Endorsing Charlie Crist will save the NRSC precious resources that can be used to fight in other states. It will also ensure that the strongest Republican candidate maintains control of this seat, and build our numbers with the resulting opportunity to shape policy.

While Rubio is certainly an up-and-comer in Florida, a recent Mason Dixon poll showed that he only has a 44 percent name ID among Republicans, which will ultimately force him to spend a lot more money introducing himself to Floridians. Govenor Crist, in contrast, has a 100 percent name ID among Republicans, according to the same poll. In a general election match-up with Democrat Congressman Kendrick Meek, Charlie Crist wins handily 55 percent to 24 percent.

Art Argenio, the self-described “most conservative person in the world,” said party leaders talked him out of running against Joe Negron in a Republican state Senate primary.

From former Palm Beach Post Martin County bureau chief Glenn Henderson’s blog:

Argenio said party leaders had encouraged him to drop out from next month’s primary.

“Joe’s been in the race for more than a year. He had deeper resources than I,” he said.

He said he was never really looking forward to “mixing it up” with Negron, who has been endorsed by Pruitt and former Gov. Jeb Bush. Without a divisive primary, Argenio said, the party has a much better chance of beating the Democrats in the August general election.