Ausman: Fladems won't get 211 delegates

Jon Ausman was in the DC area this weekend where he a) won a big cycling event and b)met with a some key Democrats involved in the 5/31 DNC rules and bylaws committee meeting on his appeals. From his latest e-mail, here's what he expects to happen:

1--Florida is going to receive a penalty and we are not going to get 211 delegates on 31 May 2008.
2-Florida is going to get some delegates and alternates on 31 May 2008.
3--My presentation is going to be positive and forward looking because we are all on the same team.
4--My presentation is going to acknowledge that Florida violated the “timing rule”
5--My presentation is going to note how Floridahas already been punished.
6--My presentation will note the rules call for a reduction of delegates, not an elimination.
7--My presentation will acknowledge that a reduction is called for at this point.

Race too close for Obama to give in on FL

Here's a simple, logical way to give Florida a voice in the Democratic presidential nomination: Barack Obama could join Hillary Rodham Clinton in calling for their national party to count the 1.75-million Democratic votes in Florida's disqualified Jan. 29 primary. Clinton would net 38 pledged delegates, but Obama would still maintain a solid overall lead. The Democratic frontrunner would put behind him a damaging issue in a critical swing state, take a line of attack away from Clinton and bolster his image as a politician inclined to take the high ground.

Why Obama won't do that — because it could cost him the nomination — underscores how volatile the marathon Democratic race remains and how resolving Florida's Democratic delegate debacle remains a major challenge. And it's not just Obama. Clinton, by many accounts, could be better off leaving Florida unresolved than agreeing to any compromise. More here.

Patricia Ireland v. John Stemberger

The former NOW president will  debate Florida4Marriage's leader on the Florida Marriage Protection  Amendment at the Tallahassee Tiger Bay Club on Wednesday, March 26. 

Spin, Spin, Spin

Huckabee supporter House Speaker Marco Rubio: "This is a guy who is one-generation removed from dirt floors and outdoor plumbing. . .He's a great communicator but it's also easy to communicate when you speak from the house."

Romney supporter former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings: "I thought Mitt Romney did especially well. All the momentum is on our side right now because all of the voters are talking about the economy."

The debate: Who won, lost?

Times story here. And our own scorecard.

Huckabee's mysterious Tally stop

Gov. Mike Huckabee said in a speech on Wednesday that he had just gotten in from Tallahassee. Huckabee touted later that he met with lawmakers.

UPDATE: A meeting with lawmakers was supposed to be organized by House Speaker Marco Rubio, but Rubio said through his spokeswoman that "the timing was such that they were unable to set up a meeting on such short notice," according to the Speaker's press spokeswoman Jill Chamberlin.

Yet, when asked for clarification of the Tallahassee meeting on Wednesday night, Huckabee said that he met with lawmakers and made phone calls.

When asked if he had met with Gov. Charlie Crist, Huckabee answered, "I wish I did, but I didn't."

Anne Gannon as Hillary, Clarence Anthony as Barack

...And Ed Chase as John Edwards. Those are the "surprise Democratic guests" expected to show up for Leadership Florida's VIP GOP debate watch party in West Palm Beach Jan. 24.

RPOF Christmas gifts to the Democrats

From the Florida GOP: "Searching for that perfect present for the Democrat lawmakers on your holiday shopping list?  From candidates to Congressman and Florida to Washington, D.C., Democrats’ holiday wish lists abound. For those who just can’t decide what to get the Democrats for the holidays, below are a few suggestions…
10.  Congressman Ron Klein: A Hand-Rolled, Ybor City Cigar (Oops, those are no longer available because Klein voted to tax tobacco farmers out of business…)
9.  FDP Chair Karen Thurman:  A Few Rooms at the Inn (It doesn’t matter if it’s the Motel 6!  We’ll take it!)
8.  Senator Bill Nelson: A New DNC Chair
7.  Barack Obama: A Shiny New Bus (To throw his staff under)
6.  John Edwards:  A Cheaper Salon  (We just couldn’t help it. )
5.  Senator Hillary Clinton: A New Tax! (I will vote for it and you will like it!)
4.  DNC Chairman Howard Dean:  For the State of Florida to Just Go Away!
3.  Congressman Tim Mahoney:  A New Job (Because frankly, I can’t stand the one I’m in now…)
2.  Christine Jennings:  A Job in Congress...Pretty Please?  (I’ll even take Tim Mahoney’s!)
1.  Christine Jennings:  A Job in Congress—PLEASE? I’m begging you, people! Forget the payroll tax thing, it’s really not a big deal!

Why in the world is Alan Keyes on FL ballot?

That question came to mind again watching the GOP debate in Des Moines yesterday so we circled back to state GOP Chairman Jim Greer: "I wanted the voters to have access to all of the Republican candidates that were known,'' Greer said. "And it added the opprtuntity to have have diversity here."

McCain takes on rivals over immigration

CORAL GABLES (AP) - The Republican presidential candidates sought to embrace Hispanics in a Spanish language debate Sunday, striving to mark common ground with a growing voter bloc while softening the anti-illegal immigration rhetoric that has marked their past encounters.

The candidates avoided the harsh exchanges and name-calling of their most recent debate, while still emphasizing the need for border security and an end to illegal immigration. Only Sen. John McCain warned that harsh immigration views voiced by some Republicans have driven Hispanics away from the party.

"I think some of the rhetoric that many Hispanics hear about illegal immigration makes some of them believe that we are not in favor of or seek the support of Hispanic citizens in this country," he said. (story here.)

Spanish debate "has no place" in campaign

So says Tom Tancredo, who is boycotting the Univision debate though, we suspect, nobody will notice. While Mitt Romney is touting a new Spanish language radio ad in Miami and  more Miami-Dade supporters, Tancredo released this statement: “It is the law that to become a naturalized citizen of this country you must have knowledge and understanding of English, including a basic ability to read, write, and speak the language,” Tancredo said. “So what may I ask are our presidential candidates doing participating in a Spanish speaking debate? Pandering comes to mind...America has been a melting pot of people from all over the world but it can not survive as a nation if our immigrants do not assimilate. A common language is essential to that goal. Bilingualism is a great asset for any individual but it has perilous consequences for a nation. As such, a Spanish debate has no place in a presidential campaign.”

The wild straw poll in St. Pete

The rules of the Republican straw poll at Wednesday's CNN/YouTube debate were simple: Buy a ticket for $20 a pop and vote for your favorite candidate. The money would benefit local Republican parties.

Yet when hundreds of Ron Paul supporters arrived by trolley and shuttle, dominating the estimated 1,000 or so guests at the Vinoy Park fundraiser, the event quickly became a heated contest between Paul's people and Mitt Romney supporters.

At stake? The very integrity of the democratic process, to hear some tell it.

Click here for the story of ballot stuffing and allegations of physical threats.

Where's Chuck Norris when you need him?

Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee brought some firepower to the post-debate spin room Wednesday night as Chuck Norris made the rounds touting his favorite candidate.

But Walker, Texas Ranger was no where when a credential journalist from the American Reporter shoved Huckabee's body man to the ground amid a gaggle of press.

The reporter, Joe Shea, was trying to ask Huckabee a question -- which one we'll never know -- when Huckabee's aide Drake Jarman stuck his body between the two and kept Shea away from the candidate, who needed to get to a live TV shot. Shea then pushed (some say threw to the ground) Jarman who fell to the ground. Here's a video that shows parts of the scuffle.

And here's is Shea's version of the events tucked in his debate story. Click below to read the relevant parts.

CNN: Oops

CNN says the openly gay, retired brigadier general who asked the Republican candidates about the military's don't-ask, don't-tell policy had served on a gay and lesbian steering committee for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Accusations that Keith Kerr of Santa Rosa, Calif., was a Democratic "plant" emerged shortly after the CNN/YouTube debate in St. Petersburg ended late Wednesday night. Early this morning, CNN issued a statement acknowledging that Kerr, who served 43 years in the Army, had formerly sat on the Clinton steering committee for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. (Kerr asks his question above. AP photo)

Asked about it in St. Petersburg Thursday morning, candidate John McCain said, "It should been made public if this individual was a member of any other campaign, because I think that people then obviously have a better way of judging the quality of the question, et cetera. But I'm glad the issue came up. It continues to be an issue of discussion."

Low moments aplenty, and nary a champion

Times political editor Adam C. Smith: Who won the CNN/YouTube debate? Not beleaguered Republicans looking for a champion.

Nobody should have been surprised that the sparring was so aggressive in the final stretch of an unpredictable race. What was striking is how so many of these candidates are ripe for attack on so many core conservative issues.

Gun control? Front-runner Rudy Giuliani drew pronounced boos when he defensively talked about "reasonable regulations." Abortion? Mitt Romney received what sounded like stony silence when he feebly quipped, "I'm not sure who that young guy was," after being confronted with old footage of him touting his support of legal abortions. ...

It was an especially bad night for Giuliani. Unlike the chipper, confident performances of past debates, he frequently looked sour and defensive Wednesday night, hours after revelations emerged that as New York mayor he charged security detail expenses to obscure trips to a Long Island resort at the time he started an extramarital affair with his current wife, Judith Nathan.

Huckabee wins

So says a poll by InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion Research/Florida Chamber of Commerce. Republican voters were asked: "Which candidate do you believe won the debate?"

Huckabee: 44% / Giuliani: 18% / Romney: 13% /McCain: 10% / Thompson: 5% / Paul: 4% / Tancredo: 1% / No winner: 5%

Verbatim: The CNN/YouTube debate

Here is the transcript from the debate. You can also read the Times' coverage of the event here, and view a debate scorecard.

Who's the real flip-flopper?

The final question of the night came from a Bonita Springs man who wondered why the former mayor of New York could drape himself in Yankee pride then root for the Red Sox.

Rudy Giuliani: "I'm an American League fan. I root for the American League team when they get in the World Series. ... As soon as the World Series (was) over, I rooted for the Yankees again. We’re going to beat you next year." Giuliani noted that the Yanks won four series while he was in office. "And since I've left ... the Yankees have won none."

Mitt Romney: "We waited 87 long years and true suffering Red Sox fans that my family and I are, we could not have been more happy than to see the Red Sox win the World Series except by being able to beat the Yankees when they are ahead three games to none. And so I tell you like most Americans, we love our sports teams and we hate the Yankees."

The other debate: Kristy vs. Elliott

A mere half hour into the debate and the Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani spin machines are in full tooth-bearing mode.

Romney spokeswoman Kristy Campbell struck first with an e-mail to reporters with the header, "Mayor Giuliani Praises His Policies Of Protecting Illegal Immigrants." Giuliani spokesman Elliott Bundy hit back with "Mitt Romney Let Illegal Immigrants Flood His State And Rewarded Sanctuary Cities With State Aid."

Back and forth they go ... On sheer volume, Campbell is winning. She's put out seven releases already. Bundy has two. (Click on jump for a sample of the dueling missives, edited for space. Who is more effective?)

Republican ditty

The CNN debates began with Chris Nandor from Snohomish, Wash., who sang a funny song about the candidates.

"The grand old party's looking for somebody who can lead, someone who is electable and adheres to our creed. / Some say the group is not diverse; they're white, they're men, but wait. The Dems have just one candidate, Republicans have eight.

Rudy's leading all the polls, but can he win the base? / Mitt changed on abortion; history he can't erase. / Ron Paul would end the FDA and that is just a start. / Fred has just begun to run, but sure does look the part. / Hunter tells us what to do in foreign policy debates. / Huckabee's compassionate and lost a lot of weight. / Tancredo says let's build a fence across the whole Southwest. / McCain is loved by many and hated by the rest.

We don't know who we're voting for; we don't know who will win. That's why we use YouTube to ask our questions of these men. / Time is short, we're voting soon, and I just thought I'd mention. If we don't reach consensus, then we'll decide at convention."

'Welcome to the Sunshine State'

Gov. Charlie Crist opened the CNN/YouTube debate moments ago by introducing the GOP presidential field.

"It's great to have this in Florida and my hometown of St. Petersburg," Crist said. "This is truly the people's debate. ... But it's also important to remember what we're talking about -- the future of America, about integrity, about honor, about duty and about loyalty. That's what America has always stood for and always will. So let's meet some of these great candidates ..."

Interesting how the candidates greeted the popular governor. John McCain, who helped Crist campaign in 2006, gave him a hug. Fred Thompson offered a quick handshake. Rudy Giuliani also shook Crist's hand, adding, "How are you fellow?" Mitt Romney: "Hey, Charlie."

RPOF TV -- you can still catch it

Jim Greer, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, is scheduled to appear on CNN Newsroom P.M. at 3:40 p.m., which Buzz calculates is in, oh, about 5 minutes. UPDATE: Talking up FL in advance of the debate, Greer took some bold positions. Charlie Crist is a strong leader, for instance. And this:

"Immigration, like all issues to citizens, is important. It's an issue that needs to be discussed."

Parties, rallies on tap as candidates come to town

The candidates are descending on St. Petersburg this week and their plans surrounding Wednesday night's debate are forming. Stay tuned for photo dispatches from both inside and outside the debate hall, traffic news and debate analysis.

In the meantime, take a sneak peak at a few questions asked by Tampa Bay residents.

What's going on in town:

Mitt Romney: His five sons will play "turkey bowl" or flag football Wednesday with supporters, including state Rep. Trey Traviesa, R-Tampa. They'll start at 11 a.m. at Flora Wylie Park, 901 Northshore Drive NE. Later Wednesday, the Romney campaign and supporters plan to gather for Tampa Bay's GOP straw poll and debate-watching barbecue from 4 to 10 p.m. at Vinoy Park, 501 5th Ave. NE.

Gov. YouTube

Gov. Charlie Crist has his own YouTube debate question for the presidential candidates. He begins by explaining Florida's hurricane catastrophe fund, then asks:

"Would you support a national fund that would provide similar protection for homeowners throughout our country? Protection from wild fires, floods, tornadoes and other catastrophes."

Don't expect to see the question on TV, though. It was not submitted in time. Rather, the Republican Party of Florida said it is intended to promote the debate.

That whacky YouTube debate

Months after the first YouTube presidential debate, on the eve of Round 2 in St Pete, some observers are asking: Did the novel, tech-infused debate change anything?  Story is here.

Meanwhile the Fl Chamber is planning an insta-poll on who wins the debate Wednesday night. InsiderAdvantage says it has placed more than 100,000 calls to find undecided Fl Republicans who planned to watch the debate. Immediately after the debate the randomly collected sample of undecided voters will call a toll-free number sent to them.

"Data should be collected by 10:20 pm," said Jeff Shusterman of Majority Opinion, InsiderAdvantage's research partners. "We will weight the data for age, gender, and geographic location, and should have results
between 10:30 and 10:45 p.m."

An upredictable GOP race

Check out the Republican hopefuls Wednesday night in St. Petersburg for the CNN/YouTube debate and you'll see four or five candidates with plausible paths to the nomination.  A Republican primary so volatile and unpredictable is practically unheard of in modern political history. So let's step back and review the long, strange trip that has taken us to this point. "They say in politics that a week is an eternity. In this case, a year has been a century because of all the changes we've seen," marveled Republican consultant Adam Goodman, a former Rudy Giuliani adviser who's unaffiliated this cycle.

The most important day of the 2008 GOP primary? Consider Aug. 11, 2006. Virginia Sen. George Allen calls a Democratic staffer of Indian descent a "macaca," starting the demise of Allen's re-election campaign against Democrat James Webb and snuffing the presidential aspirations of a man widely seen as a conservative superstar. More here.

Handicap the debate field here.

Say hi to homeless, GOP prez candidates

It has the makings of a public relations nightmare: CNN, big-name politicians - and more than 100 homeless people sleeping on the sidewalks outside the Mahaffey Theater, the site of Wednesday's GOP presidential debate. With the national media coming to town, advocates for the city's homeless announced on Friday their plans for four days of protest, including a "sleep-in" and hunger strike.

More here.

Tampa Bay's GOP straw poll

Tampa Bay's Republican party leaders are teaming up to stage a "Have your say in Tampa Bay" straw poll and debate watch rally Nov. 28 2007 at St Petersburg’s Vinoy Park for the CNN YouTube debate.

Every Republican Presidential Campaign has been invited to address the crowd.  Each $20 ticket (contact your local party to buy em) entitles the holder to a BBQ dinner, bottled water and 1 vote. A giant screen television is being set up in Vinoy Park to watch the debate which begins at 8 P.M. Straw poll results will be announced before the debate begins.

“Only one time since 1964 has the candidate that carried Florida not won the White House. You can’t win Florida without winning Tampa Bay. This straw poll is being held in the epicenter of 2008 Presidential politics. Presidential campaigns will be using this straw poll as a measure of their ground game and overall support in Tampa Bay,”  said Manatee Republican chair Kathleen King.

Jeb and Charlie support licenses for illegals too

Be careful Republican presidential hopefuls about jumping too hard on Hillary Clinton's nebulous debate answer last night on whether illegal immigrants should be granted drivers licenses. As Politico's Jonathan Martin notes, Jeb Bush supported the same thing in 2004: "“We shouldn't allow them to come into the country to begin with, but once they're here, what do you do?" Bush told the AP at the time.  "Do you basically say that they're lepers to society? That they don't exist? … A policy that ignores them is a policy of denial."

What's more, Charlie Crist last year said he supported drivers licenses for illegals too, "in limited circustances."

Romney, Thompson RSVP for CNN/YouTube debate; it'll be a full house Nov. 28

The campaign for Mitt Romney told The Buzz today that the former Massachusetts governor will attend the CNN/YouTube debate Nov. 28 in St. Petersburg. Romney had previously not said whether he would participate.

"We look forward to seeing you down there," said Kristy Campbell, a Romney spokesperson. Organizers thought Romney would show up, especially since the date was rescheduled to in part to accommodate his schedule. But folks had been getting a little antsy with the event a month away.

UPDATE: Thompson spokesman Jeff Sadosky says Thompson's in as well. "This is a unique platform to discuss the ideas and issues facing America, and Sen. Thompson is excited to be participating," Sadosky said Friday. Thompson's RSVP gives CNN a full house for the Nov. 28 event.

What will you ask the presidential candidates?

The CNN/YouTube presidential debate is coming to the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg on Nov. 28 and tampabay.com wants to make sure your voice is heard.

Let us film your question for the Republican candidates and we will take care of the rest. Your question might be chosen to be broadcast and answered on live television.

Our next session will be held on:

Nov. 7, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
University of Tampa, Student commons

Don't get between Jim Greer and a camera?

Buzz noted that State GOP Chairman Jim Greer switched front row seats with his wife during the Republican presidential debate Sunday night, ensuring he got a lot more face time on TV behind the Fox News questioners. But Greer assures us that wasn't his goal.  He simply wanted to sit next to Gov. Charlie Crist.

"Lisa's a lot better looking on TV than I am."

The elusive Charlie Crist

In an interview after the Republican presidential debate, Fox News' Carl Cameron tried to pin down Gov. Charlie Crist on a few things: Who won; will he endorse Rudy Giuliani; and will he seek a VP spot?

Crist, smiling at a national TV audience, dodged all three.

Q: Who won?
A: Florida won. It was a great night for the Sunshine state.
Q: Of the Republican candidates on the stage debating for president, who won?
A: I thought they all did very well. I really do, Carl. It's a great debate. It's a great opportunity for people to see these people respond to questions that are important not only to the future of my state here in Florida, but also the future of our country. I was very impressed. I was very proud to be a Republican.

Q: Everybody thinks you are going to endorse Rudy Giuliani -- the deal's done. Is the deal done?
A: No. No. I'm focused on cutting property taxes in our state, making sure that property insurance gets lowered, we fight hard for better education for our students and pay our teachers more. That's what I'm focused on right now.

Q: Do you pledge to stay as governor throughout and not go and be somebody's vice president?
A: I'm doing everything I can to work as hard as I can every single day for the people of Florida and it's an honor and a privilege to do so.
Q: And not answer that question. (laughing) Thank you very much governor, appreciate it.

Rumble at the Rosen

With lots of shots of Charlie Crist, George Lemieux, Mel Martinez, and Jim Greer in the background, the Fox News/RPOF debate started off with elbows flying. A sampling:

McCain: "Gov. Romney, you've been spending the last year trying to fool people about your record. I don't want you to start fooling them about mine. I stand on my record."

Giuliani: I think, in every case, you can always find one exception or two to someone being absolutely conservative or absolutely this or absolutely that, but I think I had a heck of a lot of conservative results.

Thompson: "Mayor Giuliani believes in federal funding for abortion. He believes in sanctuary cities. He's for gun control. He supported Mario Cuomo, a liberal Democrat, against a Republican who was running for governor; then opposed the governor's tax cuts when he was there. So I simply disagree with him those issues. And he sides with Hillary Clinton on each of those issues I just mentioned."

Huckabee: "For the first time in about nine debates, I'm kind of glad I wasn't in on the first few minutes because it was all about these guys fighting each other. And I am more than content to let you let them fight all they want tonight, shed each other's blood and then I'll be ready to run for president because I'm not interested in fighting these guys. What I'm interested in is fighting for the American people."

Romney: "All of us on the stage are Republican. But the question is, who will be able to build the house that Ronald Reagan built -- who will be able to strengthen that house, because that's the house that's going to build the house that Clinton, Hillary, wants to build. "

Defining Weekend for Republican Candidates

Buzz caught up with Fox News Channel chief political correspondent Carl Cameron who will be asking debate questions on Sunday night in Orlando.

Cameron says this debate, in particular, will be integral, as the primaries are just around the corner.

"We've reached a point where all the candidates have stood on a debate stage and to varying degrees have mastered their own talking points and slogans and rhetoric and their punch, counter punch points. Now that we're in the post-September sprint, we're 11 weeks away from Iowa and New Hampshire and the candidates know that time is going to be moving very quickly. This is an important opportunity to define themselves and not be defined by their rivals. The stakes are incredibly high."

Trying again for Univision debate

John McCain has comitted to "honor his original committment" and attendthe rescheduled Univision debate 12/9 in Miami: ""I look forward to communicating with Hispanic voters nationwide in this unique discussion of issues.  It is an opportunity to broaden access to the democratic process and to participate in the political dialogue," said John McCain.  "I commend the Univision Network for hosting this historic presidential forum and am happy to accept their invitation to participate."

Presidential debates at FAU

The Florida Press Association, Leadership Florida and NBC/PBS announced that their planned 1/23 and 1/25 presidential debates will be at Florida Atlantic University in Boca. No word yet on candidate commitments, though. Those debates potentially violate the pledge most of the leading Democrats have signed not to campaign for Florida's Jan. 29 primary.

UPDATE: Speaking of which, Steve Geller argues those four states may be violating the Voting Rights Act of 1965: " Floridahas five voting rights counties, Hillsborough, Hendry, Hardee, Collier, and Monroe. The four states have conspired together to intimidate the Presidential candidates to ignore Florida, such that a minority voter in a Federally protected Voting Rights county will have no opportunity to see a Democratic Presidential candidate during October, November, December, or January, unless they pay for this privilege.  I believe that this is a clear violation of the Voting Rights Act, and I expect a federal Judge will agree. "

Brit Hume will moderate Fla. GOP debate

Fox News Washington managing editor Brit Hume will moderate the Republican Party's Oct. 21 prime-time TV debate among the GOP presidential hopefuls, party chairman Jim Greer confirms. The event known as Presidency IV will be at Shingle Creek resort in Orlando the weekend of Oct. 20-21, and Greer says more than 5,000 activists have expressed interest so far. Other planned events include a "governor's luncheon" on Saturday and Sunday morning prayer breakfast with members of the Congressional delegation.

The Hume-moderated debate, among all of the GOP's presidential contenders, will air live in prime time on the Fox News Channel.

New-style debate covers old ground

There's a question from Santa Claus. There's a question from Mr. Potato Head.

And yes, there's another question about global warming from a snowman.

But of the close to 2,000 video questions already submitted for the Republican presidential candidates coming to St. Petersburg this fall, the vast majority are asked by regular people sitting in front of a simple camera. More here.

Giuliani's debate conflict

Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani speaks to law enforcement officials Friday at the Louisiana Sheriff's Association in Baton Rouge. (AP photo)

Tonight, you may remember, was supposed to be the YouTube CNN debate in St. Pete, which was postponed until 11/28 after Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani cited scheduling conflicts. The question we've heard today is what the heck is Rudy Giuliani doing chatting up Tampans this evening at a gelatto/coffee joint? The real conflict is Rudy's fundraiser afterward at the Centre Club Tampa.

Mitt, meanwhile, is in New York City, where he at 7:15 p.m. he hosts a live, online Ask Mitt Anything. Tomorrow morning he'll be raising dough in the Big Apple before heading to Florida for Ask Mitt Anything session in Orange Park tomorrow evening and then a rally in The Villages Tuesday.

See video from Romney's previous Ask Mitt Anything event in Tampa, August 6.

Bill Clinton to the rescue? Maybe

The primary debacle may keep candidates from attending the Florida Democratic Party's 2007 convention at Disney late next month, but organizers are hoping to land a big draw anyway: Bill Clinton.

"Yes, he has been asked," party spokesman Mark Bubriski confirmed for the Buzz. "We would love to have him."

An appearance by the former president would spice up what could be a lackluster affair. But it would raise a question about an unfair advantage to the other Clinton, the party's front-runner for the presidential nominee.

Hillary Rodham Clinton and other top Democrats have sworn off campaigning (but not fund-raising) in states attempting to hold primaries before Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Still unclear is whether that pledge applies to spouses as well.

Values, Shmalues

Monday's the big Values Voters Debate to be broadcast to Christian stations across the country from the Broward Center for Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. But this thing does not seem to be picking up much mo'.

Last week, a press release said seven of 10 Republicans and zero Democrats ("what are these values you speak of?") would be there. Today, a release says the candidates committed to participating are Duncan Hunter, Mike Huckabee, Tom Tancredo, Sam Brownback, Ron Paul, and John Cox.

The Clash in Coral Gables

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton insisted Sunday night that it's time to start pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq as she and her rivals for the Democratic prresidential nomination debated the war anew on the eve of a much-awaited asssessment by U.S. commanding Gen. David Petraeus.

In the first presidential debate ever broadcast in Spanish, Clinton primary campaign rival Bill Richardson challenged her to get each and every U.S. soldier out - not just some of them.

"I'd bring them all home within six to eight months," Richardson said in the debate which took place in south Florida and was broadcast on Univision, the nation's largest Spanish-language network. "There is a basic difference between all of us here ... This is a fundamental issue." More here.

Mel Martinez's tough sell

From the Washington Post today: "I was hoping that there would be good participation in the Univision forum," Martinez said. "It's a very busy primary calendar, and their schedules are such that this forum didn't fit in. Now is this a rejection of Hispanic voters? Of course not. And I hope it's not seen that way."

Obama's grass roots

More than any other presidential candidate, Obama is seeking to replicate and improve on the Internet-driven, grass roots success of Howard Dean, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004. "It's a Dean-like energy," Andrew Gillum said, "only we're taking it to the next level."

More here.

Romney may YouTube in St Pete after all

Mitt Romney has made it clear he's not thrilled with the format of  the YouTube/CNN debate, but now that it's been re-scheduled for Nov. 28 (as opposed to smack at the end of a fundraising quarter), he may make it to the St. Petersburg debate after all.

"We're waiting for an official invitation from the CNN/YouTube folks and we'll give it every consideration,'' Romney's national campaign manager, Beth Myers, told Buzz. "We absolutely will consider a YouTube/CNN debate.''

More Florida uncertainty for Obama

From the AP: "We may be seeing less of Sen. Obama in Florida in the coming months as the campaign nears the end of the year and Obama will have to spend more time in early primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire," said an e-mail sent out Monday by the campaign.

Obama, an Illinois senator, has events in Tallahassee Aug. 24 and in the Miami area the next day, where he will talk to Miami-Dade County Democrats and then attend the fundraiser at the Mansion night club on South Beach.

"This could be one of your last opportunities to hear and see the senator before the primaries," the e-mail said. The campaign quickly clarified that the e-mail was a case of trying to get people to attend the event, and not a revelation of strategy. Obama will put a priority on Florida, said spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

Obama will make the 9/9 Univision debate in Miami.

Hey GOP: Here's a question from Samm Simpson

So The Buzz was scrolling through the more than 1,100 questions submitted so far for the CNN/YouTube debate planned here now Nov. 28, and came across a familiar face. Samm Simpson, the Democrat who ran for Congress against U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young and will likely run again, has posed at least two questions to the GOP field. One is about 9/11, the other about civil liberties. Click on the picture above to hear one question. See the other by clicking here.

Sept. 17 debate promos still running

Though the prevailing winds seem to suggest a later date for the CNN/YouTube presidential debate scheduled in St. Petersburg Sept. 17, there's at least some support for the idea that the date may not switch at all. When asked if there was an update Wednesday, an official with CNN said there was none and then added, "It’s probably worth noting to you that the Sept. 17 promos are still running on our air. So if you don’t believe me that we haven’t made a decision to move it yet, believe that."

McCain says yes to Univision debate

"I look forward to communicating with Hispanic voters nationwide in this unique discussion of issues,'' McCain said of the 9/16 debate at the University of Miami. "It is an opportunity to broaden access to the democratic process and to participate in the political dialogue. I commend the Univision Network for hosting this historic presidential forum and am happy to accept their invitation to participate."

Clinton v. Obama on electability

If sweating the details wins elections, Hillary Clinton stands to be the Democrat who runs away with Florida's crucial Hispanic vote. Last week was the latest example, as she went after Barack Obama for saying in a televised debate that he would unconditionally meet with leaders of hostile foreign countries like Cuba or Venezuela in his first year as president.

"She is so smart to jump on these issues because it displays how moderate she is. It positions her in the center and confirms her position as the only Democrat who's going to get a large percentage of the Cuban vote," said Dario Moreno, a Florida International University political scientist and expert on Hispanic voters. "Among Cuban-American voters right now in Florida, it would probably be Republican Rudy Giuliani leading, followed by Hillary."

Full story here.

CNN/YouTube to GOP: Tell us what you want

After a weekend spent in crisis mode, organizers of the CNN/YouTube GOP debate seemed more hopeful on Monday that the event will indeed go off in St. Petersburg. Just maybe not on Sept. 17, as first thought.

CNN and the Republican Party of Florida are now floating possible new dates to the Republican field. "People want to make a way to make this happen," said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, who spoke with several campaigns over the weekend. Baker said the campaigns are tied down by overcrowded schedules, not a fear of the debate's format.

Romney/Giuliani say no to YouTube

GOP frontrunner Rudy Giuliani told Miami radio host Jim Defede Friday that he likely won't be coming to the CNN/YouTude presidential debate Sept. 17 in St. Petersburg. "I don’t think we can," the former New York mayor said in an interview that is scheduled to air Monday. "I think they would have to change the date. We have either five or six events that day. There was a little annoyance on the part of my campaign. (CNN and YouTube) just select a date and don’t think we have anything else to do." Hear Giuliani here.

Meanwhile, a group of GOP online strategists have started a online to save the debate. And Gov. Charlie Crist weighed in, saying he would personally ask the candidates to attend if need be. "I think the importance of Florida speaks for itself. We’re the fourth largest state ... We're the first megastate to have a primary. The importance that goes along with that is obvious."

UPDATE: Romney out, too. "Because of a travel schedule that will have us elsewhere in the country that day, our campaign had to decline the CNN/YouTube debate invitation,"  Romney Florida spokeswoman Kristy Campbell said. "We still have another six debate invitations during that 11-day time span in September that are under consideration – and it is an especially busy month as the end of the third quarter approaches."

Republicans cooling YouTube debate in St. Pete

Republican frontrunner Rudy Giuliani may have better things to do than answer YouTube users' questions in St. Petersburg. Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney is also frowning on the plan.

"I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman," Romney told the Manchester Union Leader this week.

The news comes just a week after the debate’s location was announced, and just days after Democrats fielded questions in YouTube videos, including one from a cartoon snowman that worried about global warming. Story here.

Stephanie Garry, Times staff writer

Questions wanted for YouTube debate

The Republican Party of Florida is seeking questions for the upcoming YouTube/CNN debate in St. Petersburg. RPOF did some YouTubing of its own to pitch the idea. "It's pretty easy," we're told. "Just be personal and original, keep it quick, speak loudly and don't forget to include your name and hometown."

Go here to participate.