UPDATED: From the Florida Democratic Delegate Front: Lots of movement, but standing still

With her chances of winning fading, Hillary Clinton sent Barack Obama a letter Thursday imploring him to ask the Democratic National Committee to make all of Florida's and Michigan's delegates count towards the presidential nomination.

Most of Florida's congressional Democrats also sent DNC Chairman Howard Dean a letter asking him to help ensure a decision is made by May 31, when the Rules and Bylaws Committee meets to hear an appeal of Florida's case. The state lost its delegates for holding its primary on Jan. 29, a week earlier than party rules allowed.

Meanwhile, at about the same time those letters were released, the Associated Press caused an uproar by reporting that the DNC, the Florida Democratic Party, Obama and Clinton were "on the verge" of striking a deal for seating some portion of Florida's 211 delegates.

It turned out to be wrong, however.

Sen. Deutch: Let's avoid political tragedy

Sen. Ted Deutch wrote to DNC chairman Howard Dean today saying the "surreal dispute between the DNC and Democrats in Florida and Michigan risks becoming a political tragedy." He's asking for the party to count the votes, seat the delegation, but cut its weight in half.

"This is not a new proposal; it is an obvious resolution that has been overlooked or ignored," he wrote. Check out the letter here.

Nelson: Abolish Electoral College

Choosing the president of the United States by the popular vote, rather than by the Electoral College, is chief among the election reform proposals that U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is scheduled to outline tomorrow morning in Tallahassee.

In a speech scheduled for 9:30 a.m. before the Florida Senate, Nelson, the state's top elected Democrat, also will call for expanding early voting, Internet voting and voting by mail. He'll also tout his idea to hold regional, rotating presidential primaries so that every state gets a turn in choosing the presidential nominees. He and Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., filed a bill to do that last year, but it hasn't moved.

No go, DiMaio

That was fast. Just four days after hearing oral arguments, the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta today tossed out Victor DiMaio's suit against the Democratic National Comittee, saying he failed to show he had grounds to sue.

DiMiaio, a Democratic activist and consultant from Tampa, had charged that the party violated his constitutionally protected rights by taking away the rights of Florida Democrats to have a say in their party's presidential nomination. Florida lost its Democratic delegates for holiding its primary earlier than party rules allowed.

Is Florida that scary?

Buzz isn't sure this will help, what with Florida Democrats dead-set against it and Michigan leaders in knots, but Sen. Hillary Clinton is trying to goad Sen. Barack Obama into agreeing to new Democratic primary elections in the two rogue states. Her campaign turned up the pressure this week and she kept it on at a campaign stop in Terre Haute, Indiana, earlier today.

"I do not understand what Senator Obama is afraid of, but it is going to hurt our party and our chances in November and so I would call on him, once again, to join me in giving the people of Florida and Michigan the chance to be counted as we move forward in this nominating process," Clinton said.

Some Florida Democrats pitch new plan

In a press conference on Tuesday, Senators Steve Geller and Jeremy Ring floated a new plan which sounds familiar. (Michigan floated this idea in recent days.)

The plan would say 50% of Florida's delegates would get awarded based on the Jan. 29th presidential primary vote. That means of the 105 delegates (of total 210); Sen. Clinton would get 63 delegates and Sen. Obama would get 42 delegates.

The other half of Florida's delegates would be awarded not based on the Jan. 29th vote.
The options are for that half of the delegates to: split evenly by the two candidates; split as a proportional share based on total popular vote received nationally; split as a proportional share based on total delegate counts excluding Florida and Michigan.

Fight brewing: State vs National Dems?

During a press conference touting a mail-in redo election on Wednesday, state Senate Minority Leader Steve Geller was asked about the Democratic Congressional delegation who dismissed efforts to redo the primary a day earlier.

Geller said the Congressional delegation didn't have all the details of the mail-in ballot proposal that's in the works, when they came up with their decision. "The Congressional delegation, unfortunately, had not been fully briefed," he said, implying they might change their minds now that they know the full story.

Not so, say Congressional delegates.

Poll says 59% support do-over

UPDATE: Bill Nelson, sounding a tad frustrated, calls on people to put up or shut up asap with a workable plan for getting Democrats seated. See the jump.

Sen. Steve Geller announced on Wednesday that he authorized a poll of Democrats who voted on Jan. 29th, and 59% of some 600 polled said they'd support a mail-in primary election.

Geller said the poll gives Florida Democrats the "moral authority" to go forth and work on a plan to do a mail-in redo ballot, the details of which could emerge on Thursday.

He said plans to pay for the poll, which was conducted by the Kitchens Group on Monday and Tuesday. The poll had a 4 percent margin of error.

Nelson: New Dem primary

Sen. Bill Nelson introduces Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton during a January campaign rally in Davie, Florida. [Getty Images]

Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida’s senior Democrat and the titular head of the state party, reversed course and called for a new primary election this afternoon. He also demanded that the Democratic National Committee pay for it, even though DNC Chairman Howard Dean has said no and the party lacks the jack.

“With two outstanding candidates battling so closely for their party’s nomination, there’s no way you can tell nearly two-million Florida voters they don’t count,” Nelson said in a statement.

Nelson supports Sen. Hillary Clinton, who won the Jan. 29 primary in Florida and Jan. 15 primary in Michigan, and he had argued that Clinton should get to count the delegates she won in those states.

Camp Clinton: Florida voters already spoke, remember?

Despite growing buzz about holding a do-ever to bring Florida and Michigan in line with Democratic party rules regarding the presidential primary contest, Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said the campaign still believes Florida and Michigan’s delegates should be seated according to the results of their unapproved primaries.

“We have certainly noted with interest the conversations that are occurring in Florida and Michigan about the possibility of some way to rectify the situation that currently exists,” Wolfson said in a conference call this morning.

“Our position has been all along that the people of these states have spoken, that their votes ought to count, and we have urged our delegation to seat those delegations.”

Most of the Democratic members of the U.S. House from Florida met with their Michigan counterparts Wednesday evening to begin discussing potential ways to hold a re-vote. While Michigan is leaning toward holding community caucuses, meeting participants said there was little enthusiasm for holding caucuses in Florida, and members agreed that holding another primary, at a cost of some $25-million, would be too expensive, unless they got extensive outside funding.

One election night party Crist can't make

Gov. Charlie Crist has been able to party with Sen. John McCain during the last few primaries, but this coming primary, Crist may have to take a pass.

He spent Feb. 5th with McCain in Phoenix celebrating his Super Tuesday victory, after campaigning with McCain a few days. Crist had a trip to Washington to talk about the Everglades, which coincided with the Feb. 12th primaries, meaning he was at McCain's Feb. 12th Potomic victory speech.

But on Tuesday, when McCain is expected to spend election night in Dallas, Crist has got his own plate pretty full with the first day of the legislative session.

More prescriptions for Dem primary headache

Sen. Charlie Justice and Rep. Scott Randolph, both Democrats, want the Legislature to ask Congress to rotate early primaries among certain regions starting in 2012, an idea endorsed by the National Association of Secretaries of State.

CFO Alex Sink has a more immediate solution: "Chill out for another week."

"Let's see what happens in Texas and Ohio. Either the waters will be murkier, which I hope they're not, or the future might be more clear," said Sink, who is a Democratic delegate. "I'm sure we'll deal with the issues then."

Arnold has his back

Rep. C.W. Bill Young got a little help from a celebrity friend and fellow Republican pol today: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger headlined a $1,000-per-plate fundraiser for the long-time Pinellas County congressman on Capitol Hill.

Turns out that Schwarzenegger, a former actor and body-building champion, has been pals with Young and his wife, Beverly, since 2003, when he visited Young while trying to convince Congress to restore $400-million the Bush administration had cut from after-school programs.

Young, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee at the time, was receptive to his cause. But what really got to Schwarzenegger was Mrs. Young's invitation for him to join her in visiting wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

"She held my hand and said, 'Before you leave to go back to California, can I take you out to the hospital, Walter Reed hospital?'" Schwarzenegger, who was in town for a National Governors Association meeting, told the crowd. "I said yes."

Romney staffer headed to Louisiana

Mitt Romney's Florida campaign director Mandy Fletcher was spotted fueling up on coffee on route to Louisiana on Monday morning. Fletcher will be joining the campaign of John Kennedy, the Louisiana Republican state treasurer seeking to unseat Democrat U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.

"The only two people I know in Louisiana is a guy from high school who works for the Saints and Alan Levine," said Fletcher, referring to the Florida's former AHCA Secretary who just took a similar job in Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration.

Crist hits the road with McCain

One of the reasons Gov. Charlie Crist moved up the release of his budget recommendations was so that he can travel with U.S. Sen. John McCain in a series of out-of-state presidential events on Monday and Tuesday.

Buzz hears that Crist will appear with McCain at a New York City fundraiser on Monday night. And Crist is also tentatively scheduled to appear with McCain in three states on Super Tuesday:  Connecticut, Missouri and Arizona. He'll end Super Tuesday with McCain in Phoenix, at what the Arizona senator hopes will be the clenching of the Republican nomination.

--Steve Bousquet

Would Crist consider a VP slot?

After speaking with a public policy class at the Florida Institute of Government, Gov. Charlie Crist was asked this afternoon whether he would consider a job in Washington, should U.S. Sen. John McCain win the Republican nomination.

In typical Crist fashion, he didn't say yes or no.

"I love this job. It's a great job, and the people of Florida have been very kind to me to allow me to serve as their governor. I'm trying to do the best I can...I'm obviously very, very pleased for Sen. McCain. I think it's the right thing for our country and I know he'll make a great president. "

Are you saying you wouldn't go to Washington on any circumstance?

"My answer was what I just said," Crist said.

Romney: You're all family, no inheritance

Best lines from former Gov. Mitt Romney's concession speech.

"Almost, but not quite," Romney said when he first took the stage.

And at the very end: "All you guys are family. Don't expect to be part of the inheritance. I'm not sure there's going to be much left after this."

Supporters pack Romney party, no redneck signs

ST. PETERSBURG -- Several hundred people have packed the Mirror Lake Lyceum to watch the poll results roll in.
After casting her ballot for Mitt Romney earlier in the day, Marie Roberts points to the television screen to show her son Michael, 8, the latest update.

Romney supporter, Mike Freese, 59, faced a major setback to enter the party: the Romney staff would not  let him bring in his "Rednecks for Romney" sign. He was told there was not enough room to bring in the sign, even though other supporters were holding signs, including non-campaign ones, like "St. Pete hearts Romney."

Freese, a retired ATF agent and a Vietnam veteran from St. Petersburg, said he didn't mind, he was just happy to be there.  "I like Romney, he's well-rounded on all the right issues, immigration, defense and the economy," said Freese, who was wearing a camouflage baseball hat that said "Git-R-Done."

Romney crosses paths with new citizens

Just a few hours after voting booths opened in Florida, Mitt Romney spoke to a couple hundred supporters at the Tampa Convention Center. In another convention center meeting room, more than 700 people participated in a naturalization ceremony and received information on voter registration. The moment was not lost on Romney. "These are people who stood in line, most of them years and years, and worked hard to become citizens of this country," Romney said at his rally. "We say to the millions who came here illegally -- get back in line."

McCain robocalls reaching Dems?

State Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, was surprised to hear the voice of Gov. Charlie Crist on his answering machine last night, urging him to vote for U.S. Sen. John McCain in the Republican primary. That would have been pretty impossible, since it's a closed primary. Justice said it was probably a fluke.

"The good senator did not get my vote," said Justice who wouldn't reveal who he supported in the Democratic primary.

Romney family gets wild and crazy

The Romney family is feeling foot-loose and fancy free. When Mitt Romney got on the private jet on route to the last of some six stops the campaign made on Friday, Romney stood in the middle of the plane and called out: "Want to add a few more?"

At take off, as the plane lifted up vertically son, Josh Romney, 32, came careening down the plane aisle, surfing on a slick Mitt Romney campaign sign to the surprise and gasp of the press corp traveling with them.

As the flight descended 45 minutes later, the plane staff admonished him, "Josh, don't ever do that again."

The Rudy Revolution?

With the campaign scratching to stop its fall in polls, Rudy Giuliani Florida chairman Bill McCollum has offered this comparison at rallies today. In 1994, McCollum told supporters he was in Congress and worked with Newt Gingrich on the elections that sent the GOP into control.

Casting the result at unexpected then, McCollum said, "the pundits were wrong and they're wrong about Rudy. We're going to win."

Anti-Romney pushpolling

The Romney campaign is getting reports of anti-Romney pushpolling in Orlando, Fort Myers and West Palm Beach, the calls started this morning.

The poll calls are saying that Romney never supported Bush tax cuts, supports tax-payer funded abortions and wants relations with Fidel Castro. Some calls have targeted the Cuban community in South Florida and are in Spanish, said Al Cardenas, Romney's Florida chair.

"These are clearly negative and false attacks against Gov. Romney by a flailing campaign desperate to change the dialogue on issues that matter most to Florida voters like lower taxes, less government and stronger families," said campaign spokeswoman Kristy Campbell.

Scarborough and Mitt

Former Gov. Mitt Romney was interviewed by Joe Scarborough at a private airport in Sanford for MSNBC. Scarborough threw him a couple of softball questions.

Scarborough: "Ted Kennedy is endorsing Barack Obama today, do you wish that he' come out and endorse John McCain?"

Romney: "Yes!"

Romney: McCain wants you to pay at the pump

After John McCain spent the weekend jabbing at Mitt Romney for his position on the war in Iraq, Romney attacked back by claiming the Climate Stewardship Act co-sponsored by Joseph Lieberman and McCain amounts to a tax increase. The act is intended to reduce greenhouse gases. But the Romney camp says that if the bill becomes law, it would cost consumers $1,000 a year, in part by increasing gas taxes. In a conference call Sunday, former House Speaker Allan Bense, former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings and former RPOF chair Al Cardenas -- all Romney supporters -- said that kind of legislation shows McCain is not a "gold standard Republican" when it comes to addressing economic issues.

Romney starts early

First thing in the morning, former Gov. Mitt Romney held a press conference, during which he remembered the head of the his church President Gordon B. Hinckley who died Sunday at 97, according to the AP. Romney said he plans to attend his funeral in Salt Lake City.

In the meantime a few hundred Romney supporters gathered at Galaxy Aviation, a private hangar in West Palm Beach, to rally Romney on before his big fly-around day. Romney arrived a bit after 7 a.m. and gave a short speech, hitting Sen. John McCain pretty hard.  While Romney said, "No, I don't think he's a Democrat," he also repeated reports that McCain had been asked by then Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry's as a running mate back in 2004.

"He gave that some thought," Romney said. "Had some one asked me that question it would not have been a nano-second of thought about it, it would have been an immediate laugh."

Clinton fundraises, ignores nonpaying voters

Sen. Hillary Clinton flew to Florida Sunday to hit three fundraisers, one in the Sarasota area and two in Miami. About 1,000 people are expected to pay at least $1,000 and as much as $2,300 to see her. They expect to raise $750,000 Sunday, according to Clinton's financial team.

The first was at the home of Myrna and David Bank in Siesta Key, where neighbors like Susan Callahan waited outside for an hour for a chance to speak with Clinton. Callahan even put a sign her dog Polo, "Jack Russells for Hillary," although she is undecided as to who she'll vote for in the Democratic primary on Tuesday.  "Polo likes Hillary," Callahan said. "I admire her, but I'm undecided."

Yet, Clinton blew by in a motorcade and didn't stop on her way down a private road blocked off to the media and non-paying attendees.

Honey, Mitt's dropping by

LAND O'LAKES - The phone call that turned the Guenette family's weekend inside out for 23 hours came at 2 p.m. Friday: the Mitt Romney campaign was looking for a "normal, average" family.

Marcy Guenette paused. She liked Romney. Planned to vote for him. But she didn't know what to say.

Read more here.

McCain: Veterans need better health care

At town hall meetings in Fort Myers and Sun City Center on Saturday, John McCain said the system of providing health care to veterans is broken. McCain said it's wrong that veterans sometimes have to drive an hour to find an appropriate health care provider and then "stand in line to get in line and make an appointment to get an appointment." He said if elected president, he would issue a card to veterans that would give them access to the doctor of their choice for basic health care. McCain will host a town hall meeting Sunday at 11:45 a.m. at Fantasy of Flight, 1400 Broadway Blvd. SE, in Polk City.

McCain takes heat for immigration stance

John McCain spoke to more than 800 people at Sun City Center on Saturday, where he took some heat for his stance on illegal immigration from an audience member who described his Wimauma neighborhood as a suburb of Mexico where no one speaks English and "illegal aliens" have driven up the crime rate.

"You and Ted Kennedy have the worst record on amnesty," said Buddy Gibbs, a retired cattle farmer.

McCain answered that he's committed to securing America's borders first, and then putting a temporary worker program in place. Anyone who violates the terms of the program would be prosecuted, he said. McCain also said he would immediately deport the estimated 2-million illegal immigrants who have committed crimes. "I have never supported amnesty," McCain said. "I never will and never have." 

Gibbs said he planned to vote for Mitt Romney, "the only real conservative running," and came to the McCain event specifically to confront him on immigration.

Romney hits Land O' Lakes & McCain

Former Gov. Mitt Romney visited with the Lenny and Marcy Guenette and three of their four children, all of whom were a little starstruck to have a presidential contender on their couch for 20 minutes. They talked about the economy, the housing market and the rising costs of health care.

Romney was asked about a comment McCain had made earlier today suggesting that Romney had wanted to withdraw troops. "I don't know why he's being dishonest. But that's dishonest, to say that I have a specific date that's simply wrong, and it's dishonest, and he should apologize," Romney said in a press conference in a Land O' Lakes subdivision. "It's fine for him to express his views on different topics, and I know he's trying desperately to change the topic from the economy, trying to get back to Iraq. But to say something that's not accurate is simply wrong. And he knows better."

Romney chows KFC in Pasco

Former Gov. Mitt Romney made an impromptu stop for lunch with Florida advisor Al Cardenas at a KFC on State Road 54.

Few Pasco County residents even noticed the presidential contender, except for two college students who shouted a few questions  behind the entourage of traveling media surrounding Romney's table.

"I really go there for the biscuit," he said after eating. He pulled the skin off his fried chicken and ate mashed potatoes, baked beans and a side of coleslaw.

Romney expects a win, but 2nd place OK

Former Gov. Mitt Romney said he thinks the top two candidates in Florida will advance strongly going into the following Feb. 5th primary day, in an interview with Political Connections and Times Political Editor Adam Smith (in connection with Bay News 9), which will air on Sunday.

"I think the first two spots coming out of Florida will have a good shot at becoming the nominee, I think it would be hard if I came in third, fourth or fifth to consider it a successful campaign beyond that," Romney said. "But I'm expecting to come in no. 1. If I don't get no. 1, I expect no. 2, and therefore I'll continue."

Romney on Martinez: you can't get 'em all

Former Gov. Mitt Romney was asked late Friday afternoon at a St. Petersburg private airport to respond to the news that Sen. John McCain had won the endorsement of Sen. Mel Martinez.

"I think endorsements by and large are nice things to get but don't do a lot for you in terms of actually getting votes," Romney said. "I always try to seek good endorsements....but if other guys get them, well, that's fine, you can't get 'em all."

Later, Romney Florida campaign chair Al Cardenas acknowledged he has spoken with Martinez often in recent weeks also courting his endorsement.

"If he was not going to support us, I'm glad he supported somebody at the end of the process, when a lot of people have already made up their minds as they intend to vote," Cardenas said.

Today, the Romney campaign released a new web ad that spoofs a real McCain ad, saying that McCain is the "favorite Republican among Democrats."

Mel Martinez exepected to endorse McCain

After playing coy for more than a week, U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez is expected today to endorse John McCain for president, possibly in Miami. McCain is scheduled to make an appearance at 5 p.m. today in Miami to speak to the Latin Builders Association.

Romney: Laying people off is is hard to do

During a speech in Miami to the Latin Builders Association, Former Gov. Mitt Romney talked about his role in laying off employees, while he worked in the private sector. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee has lately hit Romney hard on this issue, attacking Romney's business credentials.

“Do you understand how businesses work? They don’t all work; that’s the nature of the risk of return," Romney said. "Nobody likes laying someone off. It’s awful. No one likes laying someone off. Someone who thinks you’re bad person, because you’re laying somebody off doesn’t understand. You feel that. It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve done in business, was asking someone to be let go. Letting somebody go, it’s awful. Feels terrible. It’s an indication that business isn’t doing well. You don’t lay people off when you’re growing, you lay people off when you’re not growing...But you recognize it’s the only way you can go forward and hopefully turn it around."

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 first CAT fund TV ad

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani announced that starting Friday Floridians will see a TV commercial that talks about an issue dear to their hearts: property insurance.  Giuliani is going to tout on Florida airwaves how he's the only Republican candidate that wholeheartedly endorses a nationwide catastrophe fund that Florida leaders say would help cut Florida property insurance rates.

Here's Giuliani and Attorney General Bill McCollum during a press conference in Boca Raton, where Giuliani denied that he made a mistake by blowing off early primary states to focus on Florida.

"Given that it's still a wide open race, No, I don't think it was a mistake," Giuliani said.

New tune for Rudy

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani changed his opening tune to Van Halen's "Best of Both Worlds," which debuted on Thursday at a rally at the Embassy Suites in Boca Raton.

Giuliani used to make his entrance to a song from the 1993 movie Rudy, a sort of sweeping, regal song, said spokeswoman Maria Comella. This new one is a bit more hard core.

Giuliani started his speech off by asking about early voting: "How many people here have already voted?"

Nearly a third of the room raised their hands, some cheered and one man yelled, "Twice!"

To which Giuliani responded: "We're not Democrats here."

Despite his struggle in the polls, his event was packed with a few hundred South Floridians, who were quite animated in their support, often breaking into chants of, "Rudy, Rudy, Rudy."

Huckabee's debate prep

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee went for a four-mile run with staff and supporters in Ft. Lauderdale on Thursday. He plans to spend the rest of the day working on debate preparation.

"I challenge all my other colleagues running, to come out here on the beach and run along with me today," said Huckabee wearing a running shirt that said "ARKANSAS" on the back. "I hope that all three or four of the others will make some statement that takes them out of the race and I'll make one that puts me at the very front. Tonight we can settle it all."

McCain's big bold move: Abba

As Sen. John McCain's campaign moved to Florida this week, his campaign changed up the music that booms from the speakers after a forum or rally wraps and McCain starts shaking hands. The last song played is now "Take a Chance on Me."

Buzz hears his line-up used to end with "Johnny B. Goode," and McCain, a fan of the Swedish music group, asked specifically for the song. (The song actually debuted at his last stop in South Carolina Saturday night.)

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."

Huckabee: Don't believe the rumors!

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee wants to set the record straight.

During a rally at a private airport hangar in Fort Lauderdale Wednesday evening, he repeated his intent to stick it out and campaign hard in Florida.

"There's some pretty crazy rumors going around that the Huckabee campaign is pulling out of Florida," Huckabee said. "Well, it doesn't look like it to me," he added over a chorus of "We Like Mike!"

Later during a late-night media availability, Huckabee added: "Those news reports that our demise is imminent are much exaggerated."

What his campaign lacks in organization (the rally was planned a few days ago) and money (they're still not on TV) they make up for in grass-roots charisma and ingenuity.

Mitt in Tampa: It's the economy ...

Mitt Romney spoke at the H. Lee Moffitt cancer center at USF, then hit a rally nearby, in Tampa this afternoon. Not surprisingly, he tied his campaign to improving the economy. Immigration, defense, education -- it's all linked to "economic security," said Massachusetts former governor.

"You can't have a strong military without a strong economy," Romney said.

And he noted -- again -- that John McCain voted against the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts, although he acknowledged to reporters he didn't publicly laud them at the time but his first comment later was supportive.

"When they first came out out, I didn't make any comment on them," he said. "I said the economy needed a stimulus, and hoped they would be a stimulus. But I didn't make it a practice as governor to talk about federal legislation."

Rudy adds former Congressman to list

Former Congressman Clay Shaw announced today that he's supporting former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Shaw was defeated last year by Democratic Congressman Ron Klein for that seat.

McCain: Stuck with tribal gambling; needs more oversight

Buzz asked Arizona Sen. John McCain in an interview on his bus, on route to an Orlando airport, whether he favored the expansion of tribal gambling.

"It’s not up to any state or individual,” said McCain who has dealt with the issue of tribal gambling in Arizona. "Unless you get a reversal of a United state Supreme Court decision, if you live in a state where gaming is allowed, there’s going to be Indian gaming, so if you don’t like it or if you’re against it, you’re entitled to that opinion, but it’s not going to change anything."

But he said he was most concerned about the erosion of authority of Indian gaming regulatory commission.

"I worry that there's not enough transparency and oversight. I'm very worried about it, that's what I've been trying to see improved," McCain said. "The major casino owners that used to be opponents of Indian gaming are now, guess what, partners with Indian gaming. The chances of me getting legislation which tightens oversight, regulation and transparency are not good."

McCain pitches housing slump fixes

During an economic round-table at an Orlando tub manufacturer, Sen. John McCain talked about Florida's housing slump and what he would do to fix it.

"We are paying a price for violating one of the fundamental principles of economics: Don't lend money to people who can't pay it back," McCain said at Baker Manufacturing, which makes fiberglass bath and spa tubs.

McCain suggested cracking down on predatory lenders and mortgage brokers that "deceived people" as well as rating agencies "that gave high ratings based on nothing I know of." He also talked about making the mortgage process easier to understand and more transparent. "Why shouldn't (a mortgage document) be one page, and at the bottom say I understand this document?"

McCain on his friendship with Crist

When asked if he had chatted with Gov. Charlie Crist Tuesday morning, Sen. John McCain checked his watch and said: "I ususally call him hourly." But no, they hadn't talked Tuesday morning.

Later, McCain talked to the Buzz about his relationship with the governor. "I don’t know, I like him very much, he’s a very decent guy, he’s a good man. We get along very well. There’s a lot of politicians who, sometimes, you don’t hit it off with. And we just sort of hit it off," McCain said.

But what do they talk about? "Sports. Other politicians. We never gossip,” McCain said with a grin. "The economy, what’s going on in the world. Just the kind of conversations you have with contemporaries."

In his latest remarks on the will-he-or-won't-he-endorse question, Crist sounded torn by the fact that it wasn't only McCain who helped him in his 2006 race. "Gov. Romney was very helpful to me as head of the Republican Governors' Association," Crist said. "Mayor Giuliani campaigned for me a lot in South Florida. That's what I mean. They were all very kind to me."

Mitt Romney on economy in new ad

On a day when the stock markets are expected to plunge, Mitt Romney is starting to air a new TV ad in Florida about his credentials to fix a dour economy. Check it out here.

Past haunts McCain in Florida

JACKSONVILLE - Conservative talk radio pundits roar at him. Party insiders quietly grind their teeth. Columnist George Will calls him a closet Democrat.

As the presidential campaign unfurls across Florida, with candidates fanning out from South Florida to Pensacola on Monday, a central question undergirds the drama of who might win.

The question is this: Why don't Republicans like Sen. John McCain very much? (story here)

Why McCain opposes nationwide CAT fund

"I believe that the United States government is there to assist every citizen in this country in the event of a natural disaster. FEMA still has a long, long way to go," Sen. John McCain said at a Monday media-only press conference in Jacksonville at a private airport. "I think that's an appropriate role of the federal government....That's where I think the federal government responsibility extends. I know that various states have various agreements concerning various types of insurance. And I think that's the best way to do it. I'm a federalist, which means the states are the ones who make those decisions."

Cindy McCain to visit Tallahassee, Tampa Bay

John McCain's wife, Cindy McCain, will rally with supporters at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Urbane, a Tallahassee restaurant at 115 E. Park Ave. The event is free and open to the public. She'll also hold a meet-and-greet at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and will also make an appearance Wednesday in south Hillsborough. John McCain is launching a television ad in Florida today titled "Never Surrender," that focuses on his criticism of Presidents Bush's Iraq war strategy.

Update: Cindy McCain will be at the FishHawk Ranch Restaurant in Lithia on Wednesday at 10:40 a.m. and at Fred's Market Restaurant in Plant City at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

MLK Day with Mitt Romney

JACKSONVILLE --Former Gov. Mitt Romney started this Martin Luther King Jr. Day giving a speech at Gate Petroleum, whose executive Herb Peyton, is a big Romney supporter. Romney's speech emphasized the military and he told a story about going to the Boston airport to see a soldier's casket come home.

"It's obvious that Mitt Romney is our kind of folks," Peyton told a roomful of about 50 employees, none of whom had the day off.

Florida Congressman Ander Crenshaw endorsed Romney at the event.

Huckabee faithful: 'Florida is big time open'

Seemingly hurt by Fred Thompson's showing, Mike Huckabee came up short in South Carolina. That leaves him further weakened in advance of Florida.

But his backers here remain confident. "Florida still looks good," Sen. Mike Haridopolos said in a telephone interview. "And we're raring to go. The more people who see Mike Huckabee, the better we'll be. Florida is big time open territory." Haridopolos noted that Thompson tonight seemed to teeter on dropping out, a move that would eliminate a hurdle for Huckabee.

Huckabee will hit central Florida on Monday, and a bus tour will follow later in the week. Details are still being worked out.

McCain announces Florida events

UPDATE: Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe and the McCain Tampa Leadership Team will host the grand opening of John McCain's new Tampa headquarters at 12:30 p.m. at 124 Platt Street (Corner of Bayshore Blvd. & Platt St.). 

The McCain campaign has announced five Florida fundraising events. They are: Monday in Jacksonville at 5 p.m. at the Mussallem Galleries; Wednesday at the Boca Raton Hotel & Club at 5 p.m. (tickets: $2,300); Thursday at the West Palm Beach offices of Smith & Ballard at 9:30 a.m.(tickets $2,300); Friday in Coral Gables at 7 p.m. at the Kadre residence (tickets: $2,300); and Jan. 29 in Tampa at noon at The Tampa Club (tickets: $1,000).

Giuliani to appear at Ybor's Columbia Sunday

George Stephanopoulos will conduct a live interview with Rudy Giuliani at 9 a.m. Sunday at Ybor City's Columbia Restaurant. The interview will appear on ABC's This Week.

Although the restaurant will not be open for business, the event is open to the public. (There's a rumor that cafe con leche and Cuban toast will be served.)

-- Ernest Hooper, Times Staff Writer

Take it from Mel and Bill

Florida's two U.S. senators, Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Mel Martinez, have collaborated a public service announcement urging Floridians to vote in the Jan. 29 presidential primary.

You'll remember that the national Democratic Party stripped all of Florida's delegates to the national nominating convention after the state Legislature moved the primary a week earlier than allowed under party rules. The major Democratic candidates have pledged not to campaign here because of it (though somehow raising money in Florida is fine).

The national Republicans, meanwhile, docked their Florida cousins half of their delegates to the Republican National Convention.

No matter, Nelson and Martinez say in the PSA, which the senators unveiled on YouTube today. They're offering it in English and Spanish to TV stations across the state.

Rudy in Tallahassee

On a swing across North Florida, Rudy Giuliani paused in Tallahassee Thursday at the annual Associated Press seminar for reporters and editors and gave a long speech on the principles of homeland security, focusing on the need to "stay on offense" and for the nation to be better prepared for another terrorist attack or natural disaster. He touted his support of a national catastrophe fund that Florida leaders of both parti