Crowley Political Report

In an interview with the Associate Press, Democrat Alex Sink, who narrowly lost to Republican Rick Scott in 2010, said she is not going to seek a rematch.

Recently, Sink said she would make up her mind by Oct. 25. At this moment it is not clear what prompted her to make the decision today.

Sink's husband, Bill McBride, was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2002. He died suddenly in December and his death has weighed heavily on Sink's decision making about her future as a candidate.

In addition, the potential of a Sink candidacy was met with less excitement among Democrats who supported her in 2010.  Many Democrats have said publicly and privately that they were lukewarm about her taking another shot at Scott. Supporters noted that it was close race, she is widely known, and a practiced campaigner.

In the wings is former Florida Governor Charlie Crist. The Republican turned independent and now Democratic is expected to announced in the coming weeks.

Today we get two versions of Jeb Bush. The Rachel Maddow blog version is a guy who is "quite limited" in his understanding of immigration and education while ruining his reputation by hanging out with "the ridiculous wing of the GOP."

Writes Steve Benen for Maddow:  "Among Republicans, he tends to be seen as a relatively moderate wonk, with a specific policy focus on immigration and education. Whether Bush deserves that reputation is another matter . . ."

Maddow blog notes that Bush was the "star attraction" at a fundraiser yesterday for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli, and. . .

"Over the summer, Bush helped raise campaign cash for far-right Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R), generally considered one of the bigger buffoons to hold statewide office in recent memory.

Around the same time, Bush cozied up to the increasingly controversial American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), speaking at the group's annual conference, and appeared at the Faith And Freedom Coalition event organized by disgraced former lobbyist Ralph Reed."

Maddow and company, would be hard pressed to say anything kind about someone named Bush. The blog concludes with:

"I realize the former governor is considering a 2016 presidential campaign, but is all of this outreach to the ridiculous wing of the GOP really necessary? Has Bush decided to completely abandon his so-called "brand" as a mainstream, substantive Republican?"

Meanwhile, Bush gave us his version of Bush today while speaking at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. where he took on the conservative uproar over Common Core.

According to Alex Leary at the Tampa Bay Times, Bush called opposition to Common Core "purely political."

"If you're comfortable with mediocrity, fine," Bush snapped.

So on the one hand, Maddow offers you a version of Bush who is deeply entrenched with some of the more strident members of the Republican Party. On the other Bush today goes bare knuckles with the strident members who oppose Common Cause.

Who is the real Bush? It is both versions.

And he is not preparing for 2016. He is not going to run for president.

Read more of Maddow here.

Read more of Leary here.

Related articles

Miami-Dade's GOP slaps down Common Core (takes stand against past chair, Jeb Bush)

The price Jeb Bush is willing to pay

Common Core trouble may be deepening; Bush allies seek help from media

Jeb Bush honors potential 2016 rival

Reaction to the death of former Congressman Clay Shaw.

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel - We have lost a great statesman for South Florida. I will always fondly remember Clay Shaw from my time as Mayor of West Palm Beach, as someone who you could work with in a bipartisan manner and as a true gentleman. My heart goes out to his family at this difficult time.

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart -  For over 30 years, Clay Shaw dedicated his life to public service. He was an honorable man who believed in the power of servant leadership and helping others. Clay was a true family man and his relationship with his wife, Emilie, was inspirational. His service as the dean of Florida’s Congressional delegation went beyond that – he was a mentor and friend to all. My wife Tia and I send our thoughts and prayers to Emilie, his children, and his grandchildren. He will always be remembered as a class act who loved his country.

Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam - Florida lost a great advocate and public servant when Clay Shaw was called home last night. I had an opportunity to work on a number of issues with Clay, but his greatest love was always his family. Mdelissa and I send our prayers to Emilie and the Shaw family.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) - He was a principled Chairman, a sharp legislative mind and passionate about expanding opportunities for American families. Clay Shaw will be deeply missed by all of us at the Ways and Means Committee. He was one of the finest individuals I have known as well as one of the Committee's best leaders.

Sen. Marco Rubio - For over a quarter century, Clay Shaw epitomized everything a public servant should be and made South Floridians proud.  I was always impressed by Clay’s work on the causes he was most passionate about.  Clay’s impact on America will forever be felt through the important reforms he championed on welfare reform, Social Security reform and Everglades restoration.

Former Sen. George LeMieux - Clay Shaw spent a long career in Congress trying to accomplish, without partisanship or rancor, what was best for the people in his congressional district.

Chris Clark is a lucky man. Not just because his buddy, Senate President Don Gaetz, is allowing him to make a lot of money in ways that deserve serious scrutiny, but because a powerful story by the Miami Herald appeared over the Labor Day weekend.

This is a must-read story by veteran Tallahassee reporter Mary Ellen Klas. She is at her best both in the reporting and writing of this story about how Chris Clark, chief of staff to Gaetz, has not only been generously paid by Gaetz but allowed to slip in and out of being a state employee so that Clark can reap cash from folks doing business with the Senate.

Some excerpts from the Herald story:

Senate President Don Gaetz’s right-hand man has been running his own political consulting firm, allowing him indirectly to rake in more than $400,000 from the some of the same special interests that have a stake in influencing legislation.

For three years ending in 2012, Chris Clark, 41, took a leave of absence from his state job after the legislative session ended in May and went to work as Gaetz’s campaign manager. Clark formed the company in 2009.

The lucrative arrangement Clark has carved out for himself underscores the web of financial ties special interests have with the Florida Legislature as staff often cycle in and out of government and the private sector, developing relationships with the very lobbyists who have a financial stake in influencing them.

. . .

...Clark’s consulting deals stand out for two reasons: the sheer size of the raw dollar amounts and the fact that Gaetz made a show of standing against special interest money by leading a charge to abolish some of the very political committees that helped fund his chief of staff.