Voting off to a smooth start, Browning says

Secretary of State Kurt Browning, Florida's top elections official, reports a smooth start to Election Day voting. The only known glitch so far, Browning told reporters at a mid-morning briefing, was at a Palm Beach County precinct, where a clerk closed electronic voting equipment rather than opening it. New machines had to be brought in, delaying the start of voting by 75 minutes.

"Poll worker error," Browning said. Kathy Adams, a spokesman for Palm Beach County's election office, said the Delray Beach precinct opened at 8:15, and the worker who threw the wrong switch was fired.

Browning reports lots of calls on the state Voter Assistance hot line, which he said was a good sign. "We're planning for a good day," the former Pasco County elections supervisor said. "We know of no reasons why we're going to have any issues to deal with." He sent an "urgent alert" to all 67 election supervisors last week asking that he be told of any problems, and he dispatched two staff members along central Florida's I-4 corridor to deal with any possible problems.

What Browning and elections officials fear most is a razor-close finish in a race. State law requires a machine recount if two candidates are separated by less than one-half of one percent, and a manual review of undervotes and overvotes if the results are less than one-quarter of one percent.

Comments

[Dan]

Let us look at McCain’s conservative credentials:

-IMMIGRATION: he wrote the bill granting amnesty to illegal immigrants (co-sponsored by Ted Kennedy)
-SOCIAL SECURITY: he voted to give your social security money to illegal immigrants
-TAXES: he voted against the Bush tax cuts multiple times (he has since flip-flopped and has campaigned as a lifelong tax-cutter)
-ENERGY TAX: wrote a bill (co-sponsored by his buddy Lieberman) imposing a massive tax on energy which, according to the Department of Energy, would drastically raise the price of gasoline and put 300,000 Americans out of work
-GLOBAL WARMING: supports radical global warming legislation which involved him voting with every Democrat; think only America is responsible to take action, not other superpowers
-JUDGES: he joined forces with Democrats (Gang of 14) to block the Senate Republican’s attempt to confirm conservative, strict constructionist judges
-WAR ON TERROR: fought with Hillary Clinton to demand that terrorists be given a full American trial
-GAY MARRIAGE: he joined liberals to fight against a federal marriage amendment supporting the institution of traditional marriage
-CHRISTIANS: campaigning in 2000, he famously described Christian leaders as “agents of intolerance”
-PRO-LIFE: he filed an amicus brief against pro-life advocates in Wisconsin
-BI-PARTISANSHIP: he met with leading Democrats in 2004 to discuss the possibility of being John Kerry’s Vice-President
-PROFESSIONAL ETHICS: ringleader of the infamous Keating 5 ethical scandal which cost US tax payers $160 billion (Google it)
-PERSONAL ETHICS: McCain cheated on his first wife after she had a severe accident that left her partially disabled. He then divorced her and married his multi-millionaire mistress, whose daddy bought McCain a spot in the Congress

is the Boston Globe correct?

They report that GOP campaigns have aired 8,012 TV spots in the Sunshine State.

Romney bought more than half (4,475), followed by Giuliani with 3,067 and McCain 470.

I just voted NO on Amendment 1… ie: the use of our Constitution to validate the act of forced taxation upon the people.

The greatest untold story of this entire scam perpetrated by our Legislature in an effort to divert attention away from their failure to address the real problem; Insurance.

[I Heart Huckabees]

Mitt is trying to buy the election!

It as plain as can be.

I don't like saying bad things about people but Romney seems pretty cold-hearted.

He would rather say "you're fired!!" than "you're hired".

I will not vote for any candidate who accepts an endorsement from a Governor who knows not where his office is, and has spent his first year jet-setting for photo-ops and pimping $240 as a job well done.

Accepting an endorsement from “The People’s Mistake”… will be “McCain’s Big Mistake”

Best wishes to all the candidates today. I will be voting for Mitt.

Mitt is the "Hallmark" candidate...

when you care enough to SPEND the very best.

I like Hallmark.

[MITT RULES]

HEART HUCKABEE, YOURE FIRED.

SAME FOR YOU TOO, RUDY. YOUR STRATEGISTS NEED TO DIAL 911 ASAP.

AGAIN, I AM NOT PREDICTING THAT MITT WILL WIN EVEN THOUGH HE WON THE SPENDING WAR.

BUT HUCK AND THE MAYOR ARE DONE!

[Dial 911 on Mitts Spending]

10:38 - Someone needs to Dial 911 for Mitt's strategy. Clearly his message has not been effective if has to spend this much. 4,000 more ads than McCain, 20 full time staff people for a year, and Romney is in a dog fight - may not even win. To me - thats an ineffective strategy. He is only able to stay in this race because he has millionaire pockets.

[So Mitt, Where do you stand on issues today?]

Oh Dan. Last minute attempt to salvage your overspending candidates campaign.

Lets Layout Romeny's positions - plural

Immigration - supported the immigration bill calling it reasonable and not amnesty. Now he opposes it.

Taxes - As Gov. he wouldn't endorse the Bush tax cuts, and then raised taxes $700 million every year. Now, of course, tax cuts are the greatest thing he ever heard of.

Energy Tax - He was for cap and trade, and even supported a tax that increased the price of gasoline at the pump.

War on Terror - Well, lets face it, he has no real experience here.

Judges - Romney has passed over GOP lawyers for three-quarters of the 36 judicial vacancies he has faced, instead tapping registered Democrats or Independents.

Gay Marriage - Romney said he's against gay marriage but in 2003 said he "would support a Vermont-style civil union law in Massachusetts.

Abortion - Romney says he's pro-life, but in 2002 said "I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose and am devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard."

Gun Control - Romney says he's pro-gun but in 1994 said “We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts. I support them. … I believe they help protect us and provide for our safety.”

Ethics - He is trying to buy the presidential election with his own personal fortune.

[B. Active]

Rudy Giuliani's political career is finished. You can't win the Republican nomination as a conservative when you are clearly not a conservative. See "Rudy Giuliani's Conservative Remake" at YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18FJZZk1i0Q

Poor Rudy.

[ron paul for president]

I'm voting for Ron Paul today. He's the only candidate who is standing up for the Constitution. Ron Paul Revolution!

[Twigz]

I voted no on the Amendment. It really needs work. And as a Dem, I chose to not vote for anyone - if they don't need/want my vote enough to come to Florida, that's cool.

INDEPENDENTS ARE VOTING FOR MCCAIN!!!

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-129electionday,0,6968764,print.story

[Ron Paul = putz]

Just like the Tampa Tribune says, "For every serious problem, Ron Paul has a simple, silly solution: Let it solve itself."

Ron Paul wants to be President, but then he wants to do nothing and let everything fix itself.

Why do people find this buffoon so fascinating?

If he voted for McCain he is a Democrat.

[Rex]

McCain supports amnesty, regardless of how he wants to portray it. Google "Juan Hernandez", his nat'l Hispanic outreach director and a member of Vicente Fox's administration in Mexico. This bozo openly states that he wants Mexican-Americans...regardless of whether they are 1st- or 7th-generation Americans...to think Mexico first so they send money back to that corrupt country that cannot generate its own wealth. He also wants ABSOLUTE AMNESTY for illegals - no "touchback", no fine, no penalty whatsoever, just a path to citizenship with no conditions.

And McCain listens to this guy???? C'mon, people. Don't be so eager to give away the value of your citizenship. Romney may not be perfect, but he is better than McCain.