Election Wrap Up

No Senate Race.

US HOUSE: District 16 was riddled with scandal all year.
Republican Mark Foley of West Palm Beach battled issues of scandal. Then his opponent the democrat, Mahoney, was served with divorce papers after allegedly having inappropriate sexual relations with a campaign worker. It ended up to be a lucky break for the Republican Rooney an attorney and retired marine corps officer best known for his family’s ownership position with the Pittsburg Steelers, he won the seat.

Gay marriage amendment prohibiting same sex marriage needed pass by 60 percent and passed by 62 percent.

The big one.

Very popular and once considered VP prospect, Gov. Charlie Crist, was unable to deliver Florida for McCain. As expected the SE went Obama, this area caters to northern transplants.

The I-4 corridor, the highly contested “decider” of the state, went for Obama. The population along these counties consist of 1st time Hispanic voters, a group the Republicans typically draw well from. Hillsborough county typically votes with dems. The growth of central Florida within Orlando’s Orange and Volusia counties alluded to the possibility of the region going with Obama.

The areas surrounding the universities, FSU and UF, also went for Obama. A change from the 2004 election shows the surrounding areas turning more “purple.” Researchers are led to believe that more and more government officials or university workers are moving further away from campus, which caused this demographic change.

Obama won 51/49.

The winner is

Endorsements for Obama

Daytona Beach News-Journal Kerry ‘04
Florida Today (Melbourne) Kerry ‘04

The Gainesville Sun Kerry ‘04
The Ledger (Lakeland) Bush ‘04
The Miami Herald Kerry ‘04
Naples Daily-News Bush ‘04
Orlando Sentinel Kerry ‘04
The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach) Kerry ‘04
Pensacola News Journal N/A '04
St. Petersburg Times Kerry ‘04
Sarasota Herald-Tribune Kerry ‘04
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Ft. Lauderdale) Kerry ‘04

Obama picked up two Bush endorsements but the most interesting is the Pensacola News Journal. The paper's readership is considered some of the most conservative in the state. 

The Gov will campaing with John McCain as he zig zags across the state. Wednesday and Thursday stops include: Tampa and Miami
Sen. Mel Martinez on how the Latino vote may paint Florida Blue.



Caroline Kennedy will be in the Tampa Bay Area, Fort Myers and West Palm Beach.

Proof that the I-4 markets are powerful... The Republican Trust PAC introduced Jeremiah Wright to the area.



Biden was in New Port Richie Wednesday.

Wednesday- Obama was in Sunrise for his multimillion dollar infomercial and Orlando with Bill Clinton. He will continue to back down 75 to Sarasota Thursday morning.

They continue to flock

Matt Damon is wrapping up his appearance today at Florida's VoteFest '08, which encourages early voting. The often outspoken supporter of Obama posed with a cardboard cut of the the Democratic hopeful during the event. 

She just looks like a Republican!

Sarah was in Tampa with 5,000 supporters sporting “They’ll know we are Christians by our vote” t-shirts. The question remains why Palin’s scheduling staff booked the event during Sunday Worship hours.

The View’s lone conservative introduced Palin and again brought up this weeks zinger, the $150,000 wardrobe. Palin said, “I'm trying to ignore this because it's so ridiculous.” She compares them to the lighting and staging, which belong to the RNC that she is not taking with her. Palin goes on to say, “I'm back to wearing my own clothes from my favorite consignment shop in Anchorage, Alaska.” Shhh don’t tell Nancy Regan, she may fall and break the other hip.

Sandy Shores Await!

With less than 10 days until Election Day, the candidates and surrogates are flocking like snow birds to Florida. Even Joe the Plummer likes to visit the state’s sandy shores…

Welcome back Sarah! She hosted rallies in Kissimee, Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Obama, finally, made it to Miami! (10/21) We were all wondering when you would go down there and schlep for yourself! Sadly, the sound bite is “I’ve got nothing but love for Joe the plumber” maybe Aunt Ida would have appreciated a shout out.

Oddly Enough— Black students interrupted Obama during a rally, they were quickly escorted out.


This is not the first time African-American Floridian’s have gotten testy with the Democratic candidate. Here is the video from earlier this summer where he called my hometown “feisty.”


McCain- The Joe the Plumber Tour is in full swing. The GOP nominee had coffee with his wife, the Governor and four local businessmen to talk about taxes and other campaign issues. (10/23)

Later that day, radio ads of Governor aired in support of the McCain Ticket.

McCain is finally getting some help from the state’s party, RPOF. They mailed a “blistering report of Obama on “Soft Crime.”

Cindy and Rudy made surprise visits to the Victory office in Orlando (10/25)