Atwater's campaign riches

There are few or no obviously competitive state senate races coming up in 08, but that's not stopping upcoming state senate president Jeff Atwater from thinking big. The word he's putting out to the lobbying/donor corps is that GOP senate campaign operation wants to raise a whopping $10.5-million at least. Some lobbyists report being invited to meet with Atwater at RPOF headquarters in recent weeks, wheere they were reminded how much their clients gave in recent cycles.

Comments

You got to love atwater -- what a class act.

Sure looks like a street gang to me.

[poor lobbyist]

$10 Million, are you kidding me

[calfloridia]

Go Jeff!

Its actually 12.5 million. Not 10. And they are going to need every dime of it to protect the members in trouble. Dennis Jones is going to need half of that if he gets a strong Democrat.

Chiroquacker/Senator Dennis Jones is going to get sunsetted just like PIP.

[Bill]

Nothing like announcing to the world that you are in bed with the lobbyists.

[Bill]

I was going to use the word
W H O R E in my previous comment in reference to Atwater and the lobbyists; apparently that triggers a spam response....

repiggies are selling out our state to insurance companies and their lobbyist-flunkies. atwater is corrupt.

[Cynical Idealist]

Atwater's a decent guy. Hard working, studious about the issues and will admit it to your face when he's coming after your interests.

That said, he's trying to raise a whole lot of money in a presidential election year when there aren't many, if any, senate races that will be very competitive.

Every putative senate president has attempted to outraise the president before them, so he's not doing anything unusual there.

12:09 - because i'm sure that Senator Geller, the stereotypical fat cat politician, got elected from $25 paypal donations. Get real

Atwater is totally ineffective at anything BUT raising money. Get him out of the Senate and make RNC Fundraising Chair.

Atwaters has the best looking staff in the legislature!

Just don't turn your back on him.

At least he's not lurking in park restrooms pearing over stalls trying to "blow" 20 bucks.

I agree on Dennis Jones. Jones is in big trouble politically down there along St Pete.

Just throw the same stuff at him that was thrown at Farkas and its light out.

Atwater had better be watching the home front. Broward and Palm Beach arent particularly friendly to Republicans right now.

[terminator]

did Atwater finally get the pledges he needs to be Senate Prez?
I didn't think so.

Atwater has the votes otherwise he wouldn't be the one raising the money.

Atwater will be Senate President bottom line anyone who says otherwise is living in fairyland.

Repubicans dominate the state senate 26-14 so its no wonder they have the ability to raise money.

Anyone seeking to impugn the character of Jeff Atwater obvioulsy have never met the man. There is not a more honorable and upstanding member of the Legislature. He is an honest man who actually has a real job and works it as well as being an active and responsive elected official.

The last two Democratic leaders have been employed by firms who do lobbying. Talk about character defects.

Geller=lobbyist
Klein=lobbyist

I guess the Democrats can't actually beat Jeff Atwater or the campaign team at the Republican Party so they use the blogs to hurl baseless insults.

Atwater is a good man.

those of you praising atwater must be dizzy from slurping his cream. he's a hollow man, a milquetoast at best

and his campaign staff is by no means beauty queen! Must keep the good looking ones for show in the leg. office!

[Paul D. Harvill]

Sounds like legalized extortion and legalized bribery to me.

Paul - the key word is LEGAL. Your people do the same thing...and they are even better at it. Hillary and Obabma come to mind.

I don't believe that Harvill was excluding Democrats.

The article is about Republicans.

Duh.

at tne end of the day, I think he'd rather be at home with his family, really, no joke, no bs... geez, they aren't all evil and vile.

[Paul D. Harvill]

Which Atwater?

[I love the GOP]

Lets see Atwater can raise Money, Crist can Raise money , Greer can raise money , all three like each other and are nice men , Oh the poor Dems, Its over for you !!!!! I love the GOP

Hey GOP lover, do you love GOPers Bob Allen and Mark Foley?

GOP = Greer's Odd Perverts