Charlie's tan and McCain's daughter

So Meghan McCain apparently hasn't gotten the memo that Charlie Crist doesn't  "tan" per se, he's naturally got a Mediterranean complexion thanks to his dad's Greek heritage.

A post on Meghan's blog Tuesday features several photos from Miami campaign events Sunday. Under a picture of her dad, Republican presidential presumed nominee John McCain, his wife Cindy McCain, Charlie Crist and his girlfriend Carol Rome, Meghan writes the caption, "I wish I was as tan as Charlie Crist."

Loyal Buzz readers may remember the gov's complexion was the topic of some speculation during his 2006 gubernatorial race. For a trip down memory lane, click here.

Enviros dig Nelson

The League of Conservation Voters released its 2007 scorecard today, and Bill Nelson was one of three senators to get a 100% rating on votes deemed key to the LCV. Mel Martinez got 13%.

Here are the scores of Florida members of Congress: Jeff Miller, (R)   10; Allen Boyd (D)  65; Corrine Brown (D) 85; Ander Crenshaw (R) 5; Ginny Brown-Waite (R)   20; Cliff Stearns (R)   15; John Mica (R)  5; Ric Keller (R) 15; Gus Bilirakis (R) 15; CW Bill Young, B. (R)  35; Kathy Castor (D)  95; Adam Putnam (R)  5; Vern Buchanan (R) 25; Connie Mack (R)   5; Dave Weldon, D. (R)  5; Tim Mahoney (D) 75; Kendrick Meek, K. (D) 85; Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) 30; Robert Wexler (D)  85;  Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) 90; Lincoln Diaz-Balart, (R)  20; Ron Klein (D) 75; Alcee Hastings, (D)  90; Tom Feeney (R)  5; Mario Diaz-Balart,(R)  15. 

Putnam joins the McCain train

Calling him a common-sense conservative, U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow joined the other members of the House Republican leadership in endorsing Sen. John McCain for president.

Putnam, the third-ranking Republican in the House, had backed former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, whose campaign fizzled last month. He joined House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri in endorsing McCain after McCain addressed House Republicans earlier today.

"Senator John McCain is a man of great character and conviction who has done much for this country," Putnam said in a statement. "There is no candidate better qualified to serve as our nation's next commander in chief."

Putnam returns to familiar ground

U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam will be in Tallahassee tomorrow for a House Republican Conference dinner at the Governor's Club. The visit is sure to stir talk about Putnam's next political move, possibly a run for U.S. Senate.

Hillary struggling in Fl's general election

Mason-Dixon has Giuliani beating Clinton in Florida 50% to 43%, and while 57 percent of voters said they would consider voting for the former New York mayor only 49 percent said they would consider voting for the New York senator. Thompson beats her 48-44, and Romney 46-45.

About one in five voters said they would be less likely to vote Democrat because the of DNC penalties and candidate boycott over Flordida's early primary.

Portability's got a big bull's-eye

A House analysis released Monday morning contains a caveat to portability that shouldn't be too surprising to those closely following the property tax debate.

"The key findings of the report were that portability may provide opportunities for legal challenge based on the Commerce Clause, the 'Interstate' Privileges and the Immunities Clause, and the Right to Travel," according to the House analysis prepared for the Government Efficiency & Accountability Council.

Poll: Rudy pulling away from Fred

InsiderAdvantage ( Oct. 2-3, 725 likely voters ), has Giuliani leading by 10 points, while the same poll had them tied in September:

Rudy Giuliani        29%
Fred Thompson     19%
Mitt Romney          16%
John McCain          10%

"Right now it still looks like a fight between Thompson and Romney as the challenger to Giuliani,'' says the Florida Insider site. "The trend to watch is Romney’s rise. If he can put some distance between himself and Thompson in Florida, he might be able to leverage off of expected strong showings in Iowa and New Hampshire before coming here."

Thompson can win

George Will likens the former Tennessee senator to overhyped New Coke; Robert Novak suggests the late-announcing candidate may have crashed and burned before takeoff; Dick Morris declares him clearly over his head on the campaign trail.  These guys need get out of the Beltway for a few days and see what's happening on the ground in places like Florida. They're underestimating hunger among Republicans for an alternative to the current field.

"I've been fighting to find a candidate I can support," said David Nelson, a retiree from Fort Myers Beach, echoing Republican after Republican who came out to see Thompson in Cape Coral recently. "Fred is so straightforward and comes off so logical, he's the kind of candidate people have been screaming for."

More here.

Fred Thompson courts Stemberger

On the same day we learned that Focus on the Family founder James Dobson has been trashing Fred Thompson - "Isn't Thompson the candidate who is opposed to a Constitutional amendment to protect marriage ...and can't speak his way out of a paper bag?" - we learn that Dobson's main man in Florida, John Stemberger, has landed Thompson as the keynote speaker for his Florida Family Policy Council dinner in Hollywood Nov. 16.

Also scheduled to be on hand at the Westin Diplomat are Marco Rubio and Adam Putnam.

Hispanic GOPers gather in Lakeland

Here's the release: "This Saturday, August 18, 2007, the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Florida gathers for their annual Black Tie Presidential Gala, where the diversity of the Republican Party is celebrated by Republican leaders from all over the nation.   The Lakeland Yacht and Country Club will be the location for this spectacular event.  It will feature Keynote Speakers Marco Rubio, the Florida Speaker of the House and Jim Greer, the Republican Party of Florida Chairman."

Is there a lot of yachting in Lakeland?

"Some of the expected guests include Congressman Adam Putnam, State Representatives Dennis Ross and Seth McKeel, Osceola County Commissioner  Osceola John Quinones, Chairman of the California Republican National Hispanic Assembly Jim Lopez, noted Republican author and historian Michael Zak of Washington,  D.C. and Craig Romney, the son of presidential candidate Governor Mitt Romney. "

Edwards in FL

We caught John Edwards in Miami last night, where his $15-a-head fundraiser/rally drew nearly 300 people. By comparison Barack Obama's $25-a-head fundraiser in Tampa earlier this year drew about 2,000.

Florida could be a challenge against better-funded rivals, but while blowing past reporters on his way out last night Edwards implied potential DNC penalties would not keep him from campaigning in Florida : "I'm going to compete everywhere in America."

Edwards will be in Tampa Bay June 29 for a fundraiser hosted by trial lawyers Steve Yerrid and Jim Wilkes.

Putnam on the Fred train

As he signalled to Buzz the other day, U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, is backing Fred Thompson for president. We're hearing Buzz that Putnam, chairman of the House Republican Conference, may lead Thompson's Florida campaign, but Putnam spokesman Keith Rupp tells us details of Putnam's role in Florida for the campaign have not yet been ironed out.

UPDATE: Check comments for Putnam's letter to supporters today.

Republican leaders stand behind Feeney

Two U.S. House Republicans, John Doolittle of California and Rick Renzi of Arizona, recently resigned from their committees after learning they were targets of FBI investigations.

But Bartow Rep. Adam Putnam, the third-ranking Republican in the House, said Rep. Tom Feeney's situation is different. "The execution of the search warrants on Renzi and Doolittle is clearly another level..." he said.  "It is not fair to put Tom in the same category."

"We're monitoring the news reports and the developments closely," Putnam said. "But it appears to be a routine information request dealing withi the larger Abramoff scandal, and the trip that Tom was part of, he was lied to about the source of funding for it."

FAMU band to Ba-rock Tampa

Forty-five members of the world renowned Florida A&M University’s Marching 100 Rattler Band will “Ba-ROCK” the Cuban Club in Ybor City Sunday, 15 as they welcome Senator Barack Obama to Tampa and help kick off his area Presidential campaign. The $25 fundraiser rally is “designed to attract a new generation of donor,” said Frank Sanchez, Tampa Bay Area O-Train Executive Committee chairman.

Washington Post profiles Adam Putnam

First, the New York Times. Now, the Washington Post. Read today's story about Florida's Adam Putnam.

"Rep. Adam Putnam won't apologize for trying to make headlines.

The Florida Republican's new job is to jump on anything that makes Democrats look bad and exploit it for maximum effect. As chairman of the Republican Conference Committee, Putnam is the face and voice of House Republicans. His agenda: to aggressively display the flaws of the new majority, to convey the ideas of the Republicans, and to work his hardest to help his party win back the House in 2008."

Read full story here