Making Democratic Waves

Luis Garcia, a Miami Beach commissioner seeking to replace term-limited Rep. Gus Barreiro in the state House, was tapped to deliver the Democratic Hispanic Caucus radio address Saturday. Garcia covered a range of topics, from national security to immigration.

"After two years of attacking immigrants as a threat, Republicans once again delayed real and comprehensive immigration reform including border security measures that could have passed months ago. So what's next on the agenda, raising the minimum wage to help out 7-million Americans including 3-million Hispanics?" Audio here.

Tune in for Harris

Katherine Harris will appear in a live television interview with Herman and Sharon Bailey of the "It's Time for Herman and Sharon Show" on the Christian Television Network.

The interview airs Monday at 10:00 a.m. across Florida: Tampa (Channel 22),  Pensacola (Channel 33),  Tallahassee (Channel 22 & 45),  Ft. Myers (Channel 49) and Palm Beach (Channel 61).

Crist, the saviour

A typo in President Bush's schedule elevated the Republican nominee to lofty status:

It says Bush will attend a reception for "Charlie Christ."

-- Bill Adair

Davis' hurdles and presidential pals

Almost every aspiring Democratic presidential candidate called Jim Davis after the primary to offer congratulations and help. But it's no surprise that John Edwards on Friday became the first one to campaign side by side with the Tampa congressman. After all, the Davis campaign looks in some ways like an Edwards-for-president practice session to get the former North Carolina senator's troops battle-ready for the big show in 2008. ...

But Davis needs a lot more than Edwards' kind words to give Republican Crist a tough race. Nationally, many Democrats have all but written off the governor's race in Florida, and traditionally cash-strapped Florida Democrats face even bigger hurdles this year. The state teachers union, which poured millions into the 2002 governor's race, is investing little this year. Trial lawyers have long been a key source of Democratic money, but that's not certain this election.

More here.

Tax revolt time?

Steve Bousquet: "Floridians are in a foul mood over rising property taxes, and soon they will elect a new governor. An election framed around taxes often means trouble for Democrats in Florida. If Republican Charlie Crist's mantra of "less taxes, less spending" ever were to find a rabid following, that time is now. This is the year of canceled homeowner insurance policies and double-digit property tax hikes by county commissioners across the state.

But the antitax fervor might work to Democrat Jim Davis' advantage. He's the self-proclaimed outsider who wants to shake up the status quo, and he says the property tax mess was created by Republicans." More here.

President Bush to visit Tampa and Orlando

The White House announced some details about President Bush's trip to Florida on Thursday, Sept. 21. As previously reported in the Buzz, he'll make a stop in the Tampa Bay area at a reception for Gus Bilirakis. The White House now says that event will be at Raymond James Stadium.

The president then will visit Orlando, where he will attend a reception for Charlie Crist (actually, the White House schedule says "Charlie Christ") and the Republican Party of Florida at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando. He will return to Washington Thursday night.

-- Bill Adair

Where Tom Lee's 527 Money Went

Senate President Tom Lee has finally shifted $1-million from his 527 soft-money committee to another 527 controlled by his designated successor, Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie.

The transfer took place Sept. 1, the day after the contribution deadline for the recent Republican primary for chief financial officer in which Lee beat Rep. Randy Johnson. The website of Lee's committee, www.flust.com, shows a shift of $1,030,000 from Floridians United for a Stronger Tomorrow to a group called the Partnership for Economic Freedom, a Senate 527 whose officers are Pruitt and (get this) Sen. Alex Villalobos of Miami, dating to a time when he was the favorite to succeed Pruitt as Senate president.

Lee said he would not use the $1-million to boost his CFO campaign, and he didn't. But by letting that heaping pile of soft money sit there on the Internet until he defeated Johnson, itappears that Lee wanted to position the money as a way of intimidating Johnson (Lee had raised the money to protect GOP senators from attacks in the 2004 cycle). But now, Lee says in a statement, the balance can "be used at his (Pruitt's) direction." Pruitt said he plans to use the money to support the campaigns of Republican senators.

The most competitive races appear to be in Pinellas-Hillsborough (Republican Kim Berfield and Democrat Charlie Justice) and in the Gainesville area (Republican Steve Oelrich and Democrat Ed Jennings). A million bucks can purchase a lot of 30-second ads in either of those two TV markets.

Strange Bedfellows: No on Amendment 3

It's not often you'd see former Democratic Florida Governor and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham on the same political stage as Panama City businessman and prominent Republican donor Charlie Hilton. But there they were Friday, in the Florida Press Center in Tallahassee, with No Casinos Chairman and former state Rep. Bill Sublette, R-Orlando.

The allegiance promises to add some spice to what otherwise is always a hard sell during an election year: public discourse on proposed constitutional amendments.

The trio oppose Amendment 3, which would require future amendments to the state Constitution (but not No. 3 itself) to be approved by 60-percent of voters.

Hilton, a self-made millionaire, said the group, calling itself "Trust the Voters," will raise as much money as needed to challenge the powerful business interests backing the legislatively-approved proposal. He hasn't made a contribution yet himself, however. And he acknowledges his opposition to the measure has put him at odds with many of his business buddies,including House Speaker Allan Bense.

"We decided the leader of the free world with 537 votes in Florida," Hilton said. "We shouldn't need 1.5-million for a citizens initiative" to amend the Constitution.

Where does Bill Nelson rank?

Sen. Bill Nelson ranked #27 on a new poll that ranks U.S. senators on intergity, honor, dignity and character by a new political Website. Sen. Mel Martinez came in #48.

We have to admit we don't know exactly who is behind this organiztion called NewPoliticalReview.com. Check out the group and all the rankings (John Kerry is #1) and vote for next year's top senators here.

UPDATE: So did you notice what we did? It looks like the rankings are constantly changing as people vote. Now, Bill Nelson is coming in at #17. Not exactly scientific.

Bipartisan Joementum

Independent Senate candidate in Connecticut Joe Lieberman's loss in the Democratic primary is opening up some Republican checkbooks in Florida for him. Uber GOP fundraisers Mel and Betty Sembler are chairing a Lieberman fundraiser Sept. 20 in St. Petersburg along with Democrats Craig and Jan Sher.