Crowley Political Report

Dean LaVallee is drenched.  His restaurant - Park Avenue BBQ - is packed with a good chunk of the lunchtime crowd having no idea that Rick Scott is about to pull up in campaign motorhome.

LaVallee is dashing around his popular restaurant trying to make sure everything is running smoothly. Dozens have gathered outside to wait for Scott to arrive.  LaValle smiles and says there was a time when he would not allow politicians to use his restaurants for events but now he more than welcomes them.

"I think it is important that people get a chance to hear what the candidates have to say," says LaValle.

Beth Kigel, Scott's Palm Beach County chairman, organized the event.  Prominent attorney Wendy Sartory Link, developer E. Llywd Ecclestone and former congressman Mark Foley are there.

Scott steps off the bus and the crowd cheers. One man is holding a yellow "don't tread on me" flag.

Scott speaks briefly and, frankly, he doesn't do as good a job of revving up the crowd as does CFO candidate Jeff Atwater.

But the Scott folks seem confident. They appear to genuinely believe that despite polls showing the race a dead heat, Scott will eek out a victory and become Florida's next governor.

No matter what happens tomorrow the BBQ at Park Avenue is damn good.

Art by Patrick Crowley