This afternoon’s key word: “monitoring.”

Chief Financial Officer and 2010 Democratic governor candidate Alex Sink’s campaign announced she’s returning at least $2,000 in Rothstein-related contributions. The campaign has pledged to return more money if other contributors are determined to be tainted.

The Florida Democratic Party, which got a $200,000 check from Rothstein’s law firm in September, says it is “monitoring” the accusations against Rothstein and will return the money if it turns out to be tainted. The Republican Party of Florida, which has received about $500,000 from Rothstein and his law firm since 2002, also says it is “monitoring” the case.

And Gov. Charlie Crist, whose 2010 U.S. Senate campaign got $4,800 apiece from Rothstein and his wife? You guessed it: “monitoring” the allegations.

Read detailed statements after the jump…..

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Sink

Closer to home, our Alexandra Clough reports that Palm Beach County Commissioner Steven Abrams is resigning from the Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler law firm because of the controversy surrounding Rothstein.

“I think it’s best that a public official not be associated with the firm as it seeks to determine what happened,” Abrams said today.

Rothstein has been a major Republican contributor and money-raiser who raised big bucks for John McCain’s presidential bid and Gov. Charlie Crist’s 2010 Senate campaign.

He is also a big supporter of Democrat Sink and hosted a fund-raiser for her in August that he said raised about $240,000. Rothstein, his wife, his law firm and a software company Rothstein manages called AAMM Holdings gave $500 apiece to Sink in September.

Crist’s campaign didn’t have anyone immediately available to comment. Rothstein and his wife have given $4,800 apiece to Crist’s campaign.

Sink’s campaign released this statement today: “These are very serious allegations. The campaign is returning or donating to charity Mr. Rothstein’s and his wife’s personal contributions, as well as contributions from the account of his law firm and AAMM Holdings, LLC. If it becomes clear that others were involved in this matter, it’s our intention to return those contributions as well.”

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