Free Republic

Sen. Tom Lee and Rep. Randy Johnson disagree about how to attract private insurers back to the state. By DALE WHITE dale.white@heraldtribune.com Two Republican contenders to be Florida's next chief financial officer disagree about how to attract private insurers back into a state where millions of home and business owners are scrambling to find adequate, affordable coverage. Senate President Tom Lee of Brandon calls for expanding state support to insure businesses that can't get coverage. Ultimately, he wants to get the state out of the policy-writing business and make it a source of the reinsurance that the private sector can't...

Tom Gallagher’s campaign has changed media consultants and will begin airing new television ads this week with a sharper focus on the issues in the hope of overcoming Charlie Crist in the Republican primary. Mike Murphy, one of the nation’s most successful GOP media strategists and consultant Matt Leonardo are taking over the task of writing and producing television and radio ads for the campaign. They replace media consultant Scott Howell who left the campaign. Howell’s departure comes on the heels of the resignations of David Johnson, Gallagher’s general campaign consultant, and David Browning, the campaign’s finance director. Losing key...

In the latest pre-primary straw poll, Will McBride beat Katherine Harris, his primary opponent for the Republican nomination, and incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson. The outcome of the ballots cast at the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Hob Nob was 72 votes for McBride and 51 for both Harris and Nelson. Two other candidates for the GOP nomination, LeRoy Collins Jr. and Peter Monroe, received 12 and 2 votes respectively. “This is the sixth significant straw poll in a row, in which we have virtually equaled or run ahead of Katherine Harris, making it very clear that a strong trend is...

TALLAHASSEE -- Republican Tom Gallagher is betting his political life on an appeal to Christian and social conservatives. And at least one of his supporters in those groups say their own future is at stake in Gallagher's quest to be governor. Gallagher has earned the endorsement of Florida Right to Life, as well as vocal support of most social conservative leaders in the state. His goal: Win the hearts of Republicans most likely to get out and vote on Sept. 5.

I am not a consipiricy theorist... but I think Glenn Beck is raising a very interesting question.. watch this segment.. and post your comments please !! >>>>> AUGUST 22nd 2006 <<<<<<< .......Click here...... to watch a 5min Glenn Beck clip and decide for youself If you are a Glenn Beck fan you can vist his website here..http://www.glennbeck.com/home/index.shtml

Attorney General Charlie Crist announced two endorsements on Tuesday: U.S. Sen. John McCain, the well-known and outspoken Arizona senator who is expected to be the leading GOP contender for the 2008 presidential race, and the National Rifle Association. The twin endorsements are notable for two reasons: The McCain endorsement could help Crist win over independent voters after the Sept. 5 primary, while the NRA endorsement helps Crist once again rebuff criticisms that he is not conservative enough for the Republican faithful that will vote in the primary. "No one has been stronger in support of Second Amendment, self-defense, and anti-crime...

Charlie Crist is OK with civil unions for gay couples, he doesn't have a problem with embryonic stem cell research, he doesn't talk much about his faith because it's a personal issue and while he doesn't want people to get abortions, he won't seek to ban them. In many ways, the attorney general's views on social issues differ from the far right of his party and of those held by Tom Gallagher, his opponent in the Republican primary for governor. "Like a family, the party has a different spectrum, too," Crist said Tuesday in an interview with The Associated Press....

PRIMARY REPUBLICAN BALLOT (3511R) UNITED STATES SENATOR....William "Will" McBrideGOVERNOR.................................Tom GallagherCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.... Tom Lee COUNTY COMMISSIONER...............Chip Sellers....Cliff Thaell MUST GO !!!COUNTY JUDGE.............................Ron FluryMAYOR........................................Larry Hendricks CITY COMMISSIONER (seat 3).........Brian ArmstrongCITY COMMISSIONER (seat 5)........Allan Katz

PRIMARY REPUBLICAN BALLOT (3511R) UNITED STATES SENATOR....William "Will" McBride GOVERNOR.................................Tom Gallagher CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.... UNDECIDED (open for debate) COUNTY COMMISSIONER...............Chip Sellers....Cliff Thaell MUST GO !!!COUNTY JUDGE.............................Ron FluryMAYOR....................................UNDECIDED (open for debate)CITY COMMISSIONER (seat 3).........UNDECIDED (open for debate)CITY COMMISSIONER (seat 5)........UNDECIDED (open for debate)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 8, 2006CONTACT: Vivian Myrtetus (850) 656-9445Cell (850) 508-2654 NRA and Unified Sportsmen Endorse CristTALLAHASSEE – The National Rifle Association of America and the Unified Sportsmen of Florida yesterday endorsed the campaign of Charlie Crist, Attorney General and candidate for Governor. Citing Crist’s strong support of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen, both organizations prefer Crist in the Republican Primary. “No one has been stronger in support of Second Amendment, self-defense, and anti-crime issues than Charlie Crist and we sincerely appreciate your solid pro-sportsmen, pro-Second Amendment, pro-freedom record,” said Marion Hammer, NRA past president and Executive Director of...

I am also pleased to announce that on Wednesday, I received the endorsement of Florida Right to Life. This endorsement recognizes my pro-life record and my support of Republican values. The Florida Right to Life is the largest pro-life, grassroots political action committee in the state. I am humbled and honored to receive this endorsement because they have endorsed many successful candidacies including Jeb Bush in his successful runs in 1998 and 2002. Jeb has been a leader in enacting pro-life legislation into law and as Governor, and I will continue to enact pro-life initiatives like a 24-hour waiting period...

The momentum builds for Will McBride who won the Orange County Young Republicans straw poll on Thursday, August 3rd. The Straw Poll Results: Will McBride 65 Harris 46 Collins 26 Monroe 22

This flyer was sent to me at my request.. please pass it on !! Tom Gallagher on the 2nd Ammendment !!

TALLAHASSEE - Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist told a radio talk-show host on Friday that civil unions between gays are "fine." Crist, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, added that he has not decided whether Florida should lift its long-standing ban on allowing gays to adopt children. He hasn't yet "reached a conclusion," he told Miami radio talk-show host Jim DeFede.

Partial List of Endorsements: Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Congressman Dave Weldon, M.D. Former Governor Bob Martinez Former Attorney General Jim Smith Former Speaker of the House John Thrasher Former Assistant Attorney General Ray Marky Former Deputy Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections George Denman Mr. Jim Warford, Former Florida Chancellor for K-12 Instruction Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Al Cardenas Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Van Poole Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Tom Slade Senator Carey Baker, Eustis Senator Evelyn Lynn, Ormond Beach Senator Bill Posey, Rockledge House Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, Orlando Representative Bob Allen, Merritt...

McBride Closes on Harris for GOP Senate Nomination Date: 24-07-2006 Will McBride, vying for the Republican nomination to oppose Senator Bill Nelson in November, ran a dead heat against Representative Katherine Harris, Sunday, in a key straw poll. Republican activists in Seminole County gave Harris a razor-thin two vote margin at their biannual Elephant Stampede in Altamonte Springs. "I am deeply grateful to the many GOP supporters who attended the Seminole Elephant Stampede and cast their votes for me", McBride commented. "It is deeply gratifying after just two months to have gained the support of so many knowledgeable Republicans, and...

Katherine Harris' former communications director has joined the campaign of one of her Republican opponents for the U.S. Senate, LeRoy Collins Jr. Chris Ingram, who was one of five senior staffers to leave Harris' campaign two weeks ago, is now Collins' campaign manager, according to a news release from the Collins camp. "Admiral Collins has the leadership abilities, integrity, and common-sense values Florida voters need for effective representation in Washington," Ingram said in the statement. "Governor Bush was right when he said, '(Katherine Harris) can't win.' At 30 points down in the polls, it is safe to say a vote...

With the U.S. Senate set to debate offshore drilling this week, Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida wants to make sure the upper house gets the last word. The state's senior senator filed legislation Monday that would forbid the Senate from negotiating with the U.S. House on drilling for oil and natural gas -- a provision the Democrat said would ensure greater protections for the Florida's coastlines. But the measure faces a dim prospect in Congress. Last week, Pete Domenici of New Mexico, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, unveiled a plan that would allow drilling in 8.3 million acres of...

TAMPA - Attorney General Charlie Crist may be running away with the Republican nomination in the governor's race, a new poll for The Tampa Tribune and WFLA, News Channel 8, shows. Crist leads Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher 55 percent to 24 percent among likely Republican voters surveyed last week by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research. The race for the Democratic nomination remains wide open, however,with a majority of the Democrats surveyed undecided on whether to support U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, of Tampa, or state Sen. Rod Smith, of Alachua. Of those who chose a candidate, Davis led 29 percent to...

Republican Attorney General Charlie Crist has opened a double digit lead in the race to succeed Governor Jeb Bush, leading Democratic Congressman Jim Davis 49% to 35% in our latest survey. In May, Crist led Davis 44% to 39%. Both men are front-runners in their primary contests, which will be decided on September 5. Crist recently picked up an endorsement from Republican Senator Mel Martinez, the first Cuban-American elected to the U.S. Senate. The Crist campaign hopes will help him pick up primary votes among Hispanics. Republican Tom Gallagher also leads Davis, although by the narrower margin of 43% to...