In the News

Florida Democratic Party News Clips – July 18, 2013

NEW POLL SHOWS RICK SCOTT DOWN BY DOUBLE DIGITS TO ALL DEM CHALLENGERS

Poll: Scott “in big trouble” [Tampa Tribune] “A new subscriber-only poll done by the Kitchens Group for paying subscribers shows Gov. Rick Scott ‘in big trouble,’ according to pollster Jim Kitchens. In the poll, Florida Sen. Bill Nelson and former Gov. Charlie Crist both beat Scott by 64-35 percent, while Alex Sink of Tampa won 59-41 percent and even former state Sen. Nan Rich, the least known of the four Democrats, led by double-digits, 55-45 percent. Scott also had higher unfavorable ratings in the poll than in other recent polls, several of which have showed him edging upward in voter opinions since last spring’s legislative session.”

Subscription poll: ‘Anybody but Scott’ feeling strong in guv’s race [Orlando Sentinel] “Democrats Charlie Crist, Alex Sink, Bill Nelson and Nan Rich all lead Republican Gov. Rick Scott by double-digits in a head-to-head poll produced this month by The Kitchen Group, an Orlando-based subscription pollster that leans Democratic but is followed by politicos in all parties. ‘The governor’s not looking in great shape,’ said pollster Jim Kitchen. His poll, of 633 voters who had previously agreed to be part of research pools, found former-governor and Repub lican-turned-Democrat Crist and U.S. Sen. Nelson leading Scott 64-35 and former state chief financial officer Sink — who lost a razor-close election to Scott in 2010 — winning 59-41.”

 

TELL US SOMETHING WE DON’T KNOW…

CREW: Rick Scott is one of America’s worst governors, a “scrooge.” [Miami Herald] “Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, known as CREW, has branded Rick Scott as one of America’s 18 worst governors…You be the judge of CREW’s findings: ‘Gov. Scott is giving Scrooge a run for his money — disenfranchising Florida voters while passing legislation benefiting the financial interests of himself and his donors.'”

  

WELCOME TO RICK SCOTT’S FLORIDA: ECONOMY RANKS 38TH IN THE COUNTRY

On a favorite Rick Scott network, Florida doesn’t stack up very well [Miami Herald] “One of Gov. Rick Scott’s favorite national media outlets is CNBC, the all-business channel where Scott gets to effusively talk up his state, as he did in May when Hertz revealed plans to move its corporate headquarters from New Jersey. to Lee County. Scott is also a very big fan of Squawk Box, CNBC’s morning show, whether it’s as a market-savvy viewer or in-studio guest. But as it turns out, CNBC seems a lot more impressed with the governor than with Florida’s ability to market itself to companies building jobs…The state ranked low in the category of — ready, Rick? — the economy, at No. 38, and not much better, 35th, in the category of business friendliness. In the category of quality of life, Florida ranked 28th in CNBC’s survey, behind even gritty New Jersey at No. 23.”

 

VETERANS CONDEMN RICK SCOTT FOR TAKING DONATION FROM MAN WHO SWINDLED VETS

Veterans demand Gov. Rick Scott return donation of man who swindled troops and veterans [VoteVets.org] “The Florida Chair of the national veterans’ group, VoteVets.org, with over 360,000 supporters, today is issuing the following statement in response to news accounts that one of Governor Scott’s largest contributors has been assessed a massive fine by the FTC. These fines resulted from misrepresentations made to members and veterans of the US Military by a St. Petersburg mortgage company run by Bill Edwards, Governor Scott’s largest individual contributor outside of family members.”

 

STATE REP. CASTOR DENTEL SLAMS RPOF FOR “INAPPROPRIATE” USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDED FOOTAGE IN RECENT AD

State representative complains about Scott ad featuring teachers [Tampa Tribune] “State Rep. Karen Castor Dentel, a public school teacher, has written to Gov. Rick Scott objecting to the use of video interviews with Florida teachers of the year in a political ad for Scott without their knowledge. Castor Dentel, a Maitland Democrat, said in the letter that the teachers “‘ere attending an event paid for with public dollars and were interviewed by public employees – only to later find themselves used by your Party in a political ad to enhance your campaign for re-election.’ She noted that one of the teachers – one of only two who would discuss the subject with The Tampa Tribune – considered political use of the interviews inappropriate.”

 

CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS CONDEMNS RUBIO’S OBSTRUCTIONISM OF JUDICIAL NOMINEES

Rubio under fire for holding up black judicial nominees [Tampa Bay Times] “Sen. Marco Rubio is holding up the confirmations of two African-American judicial candidates, drawing fire from the Congressional Black Caucus, which plans a Wednesday press conference and blames the lawmaker’s ‘negligence and obstruction.’ The candidates are Brian Davis, for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District, whom Rubio glowingly introduced at his confirmation hearing, and William L. Thomas, for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District, who is openly gay. Both made it through Florida’s Federal Judicial Nominating Commission, a well-respected panel that make recommendations to the state’s senators. Both were nominated by President Barack Obama.”

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