Crowley Political Report

As a Republican, Charlie Crist did a pretty good job convincing voters that he is just an ordinary guy who wakes up each day worrying about what is best for average Floridians. As governor, Crist seemed to worry more about the potential of becoming John McCain's running mate than the fate of Sunshine State.

His self-destructive run for U.S. Senate suggested Crist was starting to see something in the mirror that no one when else saw. There are still those who believe that had Crist stuck to being governor and, as many expected, won a second term, he would be in the current mix of potential candidates for GOP nomination for president.

Today, Crist finds himself running against a candidate - Republican Rick Scott - who has none of his charisma, none of his deep roots in the Sunshine State, and none of innate campaign ability.

Scott has succeeded in plummeling Crist's reputation while enhancing his own ever so slightly. Few believed a newcomer to Florida politics with a questionable corporate history could suddenly become the governor of Florida.

If Scott wins a second term, it will not just be a result of Scott's enormous spending on campaign ads. It will be in party because Crist failed in his attempt to go back to being the neighborly guy who became a state senator, education commission and attorney general.

The Crist campaign might find some solace in this long final campaign weekend in the fact that some Republicans in Tallahassee and Washington (including folks at the RGA) are, as one knowledgeable GOP insider put it still  "VERY concerned" about Rick Scott.

Polls are suggesting that this race is so close both campaigns should be "VERY concerned" about the election.

The National Rifle Association's new campaign ad shows a woman alone at home and when an intruder suddenly breaks into the house. The NRA concludes that Florida Governor Rick Scott is the guy who protect her.

Not long ago, NRA was in love with Charlie Crist. 

In 2006, The NRA endorsed Crist for governor: 

The National Rifle Association of America (NRA-PVF) and Unified Sportsmen of Florida are pleased to inform you that both organizations have endorsed you for Governor of Florida in the 2006 Republican Primary.

Throughout your career as a Florida legislator and statewide office holder, you have been unwavering and have stood strong in support of law-abiding gunowners and sportsmen. Your background of legislative service demonstrates your commitment to the cause of freedom and protection of constitutional rights.

No one has been stronger in support of Second Amendment, self-defense, and anti-crime issues than Charlie Crist and we sincerely appreciate your solid pro-sportsmen, pro-Second Amendment, pro-freedom record.

Marion P. Hammer
NRA Past President
Executive Director Unified Sportsmen of Florida

While Crist was governor the NRA gave him its highest rating - A+

Hammer said this about Crist as governor:

"He has always throughout his career been a strong advocate for the Second Amendment and the rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen, never voted against us, always voted with us as governor," Hammer said. "He signed every piece of legislation gun owners asked him to sign and vetoed every piece of legislation negatively impacting gun owners and sportsman that gun owners asked him to veto. He has an outstanding record of support." Read more here.

All of that makes this ad odd.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is one of several attorneys general whose relationships with law firms and lobbyists is carefully examined in this New York Times investigation.

Some brief excerpts from this must read story:

Breakfast was served on a patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean — a buffet of fresh baked goods, made-to-order eggs, lox and fruit — as the Republican attorneys general, in T-shirts and shorts, assembled at Beach Village at the Del, in Coronado, Calif.

. . .

The group had gathered at the exclusive Beach Village at the Del — where rooms go for as much as $4,500 a night and a special key card is required to enter the private compound — for the most elite event for Republican attorneys general, a gathering of the Edmund Randolph Club (named for the first United States attorney general).

. . .

The club, created by the Republican Attorneys General Association, has a $125,000 entry fee — money used to fund the campaigns of attorney general candidates with as much as $1 million, and to pay for the hotel bills, airfare and meals for the attorneys general who attend the events.

. . .

Ms. Bondi, the Florida attorney general, for example, received nearly $25,000 worth of airfare, hotels and meals in the past two years just from events sponsored by the Republican Attorneys General Association, state disclosure reports show. That money came indirectly from corporate donors.

She has charged Florida taxpayers nearly $14,000 since 2011 to take additional trips to meetings of the National Association of Attorneys General and the Conference of Western Attorneys General, including travel to Hawaii. Those events were also attended by dozens of lobbyists. Ms. Bondi, in a statement, said the support she had received — directly or through the Republican Attorneys General Association — had not had an impact on any of her actions as attorney general.

The Times story goes on to look at cases that Bondi dropped that the Times suggests were a result of undue influence. Bondi, in a statement, disagreed.

 In a new ad from Florida Republicans, viewers are reminded that Democrat Charlie Crist, then a Republican, said President Bill Clinton should resign from office. This ad comes on the heels of an ad by the former president praising Crist and urging Floridians to vote for Crist. 

So what's going on?

In some ways, considering the Clinton ad (see it here), this GOP ad is a bit odd. After all, clearly Bill Clinton has forgiven Crist for suggesting that Clinton resign. In fact lots of Republicans were saying that after the Monica Lewinsky affair.

Clearly this ad is an attempt to muddle the Clinton ad. But could it have the opposite effect? The Bush family loves Clinton. He and former President George H.W. Bush - whom defeated - have become dear friends.

And former President George W. Bush on Fox News yesterday said Clinton is so close to the family that he is "like a brother from another mother."

Does this ad help Rick Scott's reelection chances?

The Florida GOP titled this ad - "Then or Now"

Indeed, Clinton seems to have answered that question. 

Well if you have any doubt about how important the Florida Governor's race is to the 2016 presidential campaign, you can cast that doubt aside with this ad for Charlie Crist by former President Bill Clinton.

Certainly likely presidential canidate Hillary Clinton must support this ad.

Should we expect former President George W. Bush to do an ad for Rick Scott?

Not likely. 

While these ads are clearly aimed at women voters, one wonders whether women might think these ads are bit too much. 

First, Republican Rick Scott is accusing Democrat Charlie Crist of waging a war on women because his campaign took money from a management company that - among other businesses - is involved with a strip club.

Our second ad comes from Crist accusing Scott of cutting funding to rape crisis centers. 

These ads continue the Crist/Scott campaign's plunge into the notoriety of being one of the nastiest races in the nation.

What are they really thinking? This video from Governor Rick Scott's campaign featuring Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio at today's fundraising event at the Biltmore in Coral Gables just begs for thought bubbles over their heads.

Watch it and then wonder - what are each thinking?

There are certainly no shortage of wealthy folks living in the Sunshine State. But weath has become an issue in the race to become Florida's governor with both sides claiming the other is rich and out of touch.

Here' the latest attack on private jets aimed at Republican governor Rick Scott. This ad is from Demcorat Charlie Crist who does not own a private jet but likes to ride in them.

UPDATE: The Scott campaign reached out Crowley Political Report with a lengthy response to the ad.

An excerpt from the campaign's response:

Charlie Crist’s attacks regarding the Governor’s mansion are absolutely false. No state money was used for anything other than state property repairs as provided in law.  

It’s no wonder these repairs to a public building weren’t done under Charlie Crist; he hardly spent any time working there. Charlie Crist was a part-time governor who spent more time campaigning for a newer office in Washington, DC or on personal time than being the CEO of a state. He neglected this public building just like he neglected Florida’s economy.

Miami Herald reporter Mary Ellen Klas is reporting that Florida Governor Rick Scott is not going to give a scheduled deposition Friday in a lawsuit he initiated.

From the Herald:

Gov. Rick Scott is planning to be a no-show Friday for a deposition in a lawsuit he filed in California to block the release of information about Google email accounts used by him and his executive staff. 

Attorney Steven R. Andrews was prepared to put the governor under oath in Tallahassee but Scott’s communications director, Frank Collins, said Thursday “there is not going to be a deposition tomorrow.” He could not immediately answer whether Scott's lawyers are asking the judge to have the event postponed or if they plan to ignore it entirely. 

However, if the governor is a no-show for a deposition in a case he initiated, it may not be without consequences. According to the rules of civil procedure, if Scott fails to submit to the deposition, the judge could dismiss his lawsuit, order the governor to appear at a later date, or sanction him for refusing to cooperate.

Read more from the Herald here.

Here is one reason Scott might be skipping the deposition - he has a major fundraiser tomorrow with big wigs from the sugar industry, FPL, and other major political donors.

From Tuesday's Crowley Political Report:

Some of Florida's most interesting political donors are hosting an event Friday to raise money for Governor Rick Scott's reelection campaign and the Florida Republican Party.

"You are cordially invited to an afternoon with Governor Rick Scott along with special guests Governor Jeb Bush, Senator Marco Rubio (and)  Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera."

The event is at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables - a glorious place where Bush has his private office mere steps from the golf course.

The gathering begins at 11:30 with a "lunch reception" costing $250 per person or $500 per couple.

The big money event begins at 12:45. It is the "Event Chair Luncheon" for those who have either given or raised $25,000.

The event chairs include:

Pepe Fanjul, Sr., and Pepe Fanjul Jr, owners of Florida Crystals.

Tammy Meyerson, CEO and president of Preferred Medical Plan,

Jim Robo, chairman and CEO of NextEra Energy, Inc. the parent company of FPL.

Jeffrey Soffer, owner of Turnberry Associates.

George Zoley, founder of the private prison company GEO Group.

We suspect this gathering will be closed to the media.

Wouldn't it be fun if former Republican Charlie Crist dropped by to his old friends?

One of the silliest but perhaps most effective charges level at Democrat Charlie Crist by Republican Rick Scott is that Crist lost 1 million jobs while he was governor, caused the housing crisis, and single handily destroyed Florida's economy.

Not of that is true. But you can doubt whether Crist was fully engaged in trying to ease the crisis. It is clear that Crist spent little time in the office, worried a lot about becoming a vice presidential candidate, and was more than happy to jump to the U.S. Senate after a mere two years as governor.

Still, this Republican Party of Florida ad continues a campaign fib that suggests Scott's internal polls are showing - it's working.

The closing line is interesting: We don't need a governor like Charlie who runs away and admits he's helpless in tough times. 

Cleary Rudy Giuliani has no intention of forgiving Charlie Crist for endorsing John McCain over him just before the Florida presidential primary in January 2008.

It was a time when every Republican presidential candidate was trooping into Crist's office hoping to win the Republican governor's endorsement. At the last minute, Crist endorsed Arizona Sen. John McCain. 

Giuliani insisted that he was promised Crist's endorsement and that Crist betrayed him. Crist insiders said at the time that Crist never gave a final nod to Giuliani and that it was all a misunderstanding.

At the same time, Crist was hoping to become the GOP nominee's running mate and he thought his best chance was with McCain. In fact, McCain's VEEP search team asked for comprehensive background material from Crist.

McCain chose Sarah Palin. 

In the months leading up to the Florida primary, Giuliani's frontrunner status began eroding after stories about his business dealing and long time love affair while mayor of New York. In addition, some social conservatives threatened to form a third party if a candidate like Giuliani, who was pro-choice and pro gay rights, got the nomination.

Giuliani began slipping in the polls and he bet all his chips on a Florida victory to revive his campaign.

Giuliani came in third in the Florida primary and days later dropped out of the race.

Now Crist is a Democrat trying to defeat Republican Rick Scott and return to the governor's mansion. 

Here's what Giuliani had to say about Crist during a campaign appearance today with Scott: 

 The lastest ad from billionaire Tom Steyer and his Next Gen Climate Action Committee says the Koch Brothers owned Georgia Pacific was stopped from polluting the St. Johns River by Charlie Crist. 

The ad then says the Governor Rick Scott allowed GP to pollute suggesting it was in exchange for $6 million in campaign contributions himself and others from the Koch Brothers.

From the ad:

Narrator: The St. Johns River. Georgia Pacific tried to dump cancer causing chemicals into it and Charlie Crist fought them to protect Florida families.

Then Rick Scott took over. Now Georgia Pacific is polluting the river. 

Who owns Georgia Pacific? The Koch Brothers - spending $6 million on Scott and his allies. 

Rick Scott - for the powerful few. And sometimes, just the powerful two.

With nearly every poll showing the race between Crist and Scott tied, Steyer and the Koch brothers must be sweating the outcome.  

One of the issues that has been largely ignored during the election is the status of Florida's death penalty. There are serious questions about whether the death penalty is effective, whether it is being used properly, and whether delaying executions for decades does more emotional harm than good for the families of victims.

Republican Governor Rick Scott and Democrat Charlie Crist could have touched on those and other death penalty issues but instead got into a squabble about Attorney General Pam Bondi's request toScott asking for to delay an execution so she could host a - wait for it - campaign fundraiser.

Yes, in Florida raising rasing campaign cash is overwhelming solemn event that brooks no delay.

Bondi eventually apologized.

Here is what Scott and Crist had to say about it at the debate.

It is a shame that such an important issue dissolved into this:

Some of Florida's most interesting political donors are hosting an event Friday to raise money for Governor Rick Scott's reelection campaign and the Florida Republican Party.

"You are cordially invited to an afternoon with Governor Rick Scott along with special guests Governor Jeb Bush, Senator Marco Rubio (and)  Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera."

The event is at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables - a glorious place where Bush has his private office mere steps from the golf course.

The gathering begins at 11:30 with a "lunch reception" costing $250 per person or $500 per couple.

The big money event begins at 12:45. It is the "Event Chair Luncheon" for those who have either given or raised $25,000.

The event chairs include:

Pepe Fanjul, Sr., and Pepe Fanjul Jr, owners of Florida Crystals.

Tammy Meyerson, CEO and president of Preferred Medical Plan,

Jim Robo, chairman and CEO of NextEra Energy, Inc. the parent company of FPL.

Jeffrey Soffer, owner of Turnberry Associates.

George Zoley, founder of the private prison company GEO Group.

We suspect this gathering will be closed to the media.

Wouldn't it be fun if former Republican Charlie Crist dropped by to his old friends?

Last week, Crowley Political Report told you that Florida Gov. Rick Scott may be ready to dump up to $22 million of his own money into his campaign for reelection.

Yesterday, the Miami Herald came close to getting Scott to admit it.

From the Herald:

Asked if he (Scott) might therefore put his own money into the race, Scott only said: "we’ll see.”

Question: “You haven’t yet though?”

Scott: “We’ll see.”

Scott could be plowing money into the Republican Party of Florida, which doesn’t have to report its finances until the end of the month. Scott signed an election bill that required more disclosure, but it omitted disclosing these types of transactions.

Here is our original report:

Both Rick Scott's campaign and the Florida Republican Party have offered "no comment" to a Crowley Political Report question about whether the Governor is about to dip into his bank account to the tune of $20 million to spend on his effort to defeat Democrat Charlie Crist.

A Republican source confirms the $20 million, while a Democratic source says the word last week was that Scott would spend $22 million.

Scott campaign spokesman Greg Blair replied to a Crowley Political Report email with: "No comment here." And Florida GOP spokeswoman Susan Hepworth replied, "no comment."

Neither of those replies suggest that the Scott rumor is true.

Throughout the campaign, despite prodigious fundraising, it has been expected that Scott, who spent more than $70 million of his own money to win in 2010, would again dip into his coffers to boost his campaign in the final weeks.

It will be interesting to hear what Scott says the next time he is asked about using his own money for the campaign. Even if he says he is not using his money, the rumor is not likely to be put to rest until all the campaign finance disclosures are completed.

Meanwhile, both Republicans and Democrats continue to speculate about the cash. Is it real, or just an effort to spook the Crist campaign?

Few people were as quotable at Tom Slade. Few laughed as readily. Few fought as hard. Few did more to build the Florida Republican Party.

Tom Slade died today of heart failure. He was 78.

Mr. Slade was party chairman from 1993 to 1999. During that time he took a moribound political party infused it dollars, staff and technology to make it a formidable challenger to the Democratic Party. The apparatus he put in place helped elect Jeb Bush governor in 1998, and helped lead to the GOP taking over the state Cabinet, and the Florida legislature.

Reporters loved him for willingness to call at he saw it - even if it ticked off his fellow Republicans.

Asked about Florida Governor Rick Scott's job performance, Mr. Slade said. "Rick Scott doesn't seem to have any political skills at all. I'd give him a 'B' for governing. I'd give him an 'A' for strangeness." 

When former Florida Governor Charlie Crist left the Republican Party and became a Democrat Mr. Slade said, "He's deader than the day before yesterday." 

Mr. Slade also was troubled about today's politics.

"It is both disgusting and heartbreaking to see our guys on our side of the aisle conducting themselves in a dishonorable fashion. We've reached the point where both parties are chasing the dollar bill so damned hard, they don't let their constituents get in the way of the search." 

One of the most important Florida Senate races is a rematch between Democratic state Sen. Maria Sachs and Republican Ellyn Bogdanoff who lost a bitter race to Sachs in 2012.

Much is at stake. If Bogdanoff wins she is expected to support state Sen. Jack Latvala in his bare knuckles brawl with Sen. Joe Negron to become the 2016 senate president. Plus, a Bogdanoff victory would give the Senate a veto proof edge that could make Florida's next governor - Republcian Rick Scott or Democrat Charlie Crist - miserable.

Former Republican Congressman Mark Foley is hosting a fundraiser tonight for Bogdanoff as his West Palm Beach home.  

Senate district 34 includes parts of Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

The invitation to tonight's fundraiser is below.

This may be one of the more interestng ads that Florida Governor Rick Scott's campaign has produced. It is factual. It is accurate. And it hits Democrat Charlie Crist for being absent from Tallahassee during his campaign for the U.S. Senate.

The irony, of course, is that a close look at Scott's schedule would problaby find he's been away from the job a bit. After all, that's the nature of campaigning.

 Next Gen goes for laughs in this video as it continues its efforts to make sure that Republican Rick Scott does not get a second term as Florida governor.

The ad is goofy. The real question - is it effective? 

Planned Parenthood PAC has a new ad telling Florida women that "if you want to make your own decisions you need to go to the polls on November 4th."

As a so-called "electioneering committee" the Planned Parenthood PAC cannot direct tell people how to vote. This ad, however, will viewers with little doubt that they should oppose Governor Scott for reelection and perhaps even vote for Democrat Charlie Crist.