Free Republic

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is running for U.S. Senate in a challenge to Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. Scott, who is expected to announce his decision to take on the Democrat Monday in Orlando, called Washington “horribly dysfunctional.” The Republican governor, a multi-millionaire who won the governorship in 2010 as a political novice, emphasized to Politico that he’s independent-minded, not to be labeled a “Donald Trump Republican.” “I consider myself Rick Scott. I don’t consider myself any type of anything,” he said. “I run on what I believe in. I’ve been very clear,” he added. “People ask me that a bunch...

TAMPA -- What goes through Marco Rubio's mind in the dark of night? ''Just cutting taxes not enough. We need Tax Reform!'' he shouted via Twitter recently at 1:55 a.m. ``Tax code is too complicated, too anti-job creation and full of unfair exemptions.'' Another night at 2:37 a.m.: ``In last election Americans voted for change. But they did not vote to expand size or role of govt. That was not what Prez. campaigned on.'' The line between fearless warrior, unhinged zealot and doomed martyr can be hazy. It's hard to tell where to place underdog Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco...

Debate may prove decisive With Florida's contentious U.S. Senate race deadlocked, the candidates appear together for the first time tonight in a televised debate. BY BETH REINHARD AND MARC CAPUTO breinhard@herald.com While tonight's televised debate between Florida's U.S. Senate nominees probably won't be spoofed on Saturday Night Live or The Daily Show, it will feature the trappings of a nationally watched, highly competitive contest. NBC's Tim Russert will moderate the hourlong match-up between Democrat Betty Castor and Republican Mel Martinez in Tampa. Fox News, CNN and C-SPAN will be among the 19 satellite trucks. An estimated 1.5 million viewers will...

Betty Castor, Bill McCollum Come In Tops The results are in from NewsChannel 2's Orlando Sentinel Poll that focused on the U.S. Senate race. Thirty-three of state Democrats favor former education commissioner Betty Castor -- a wide margin over her nearest challenger, Rep. Peter Deutsch, who took in 16 percent of votes. Miami mayor Alex Penelas came in at 9 percent. Four percent were undecided. On the Republican side, former Rep. Bill McCollum leads former HUD secretary Mel Martinez 27 percent to 18 percent respectively. State Sen. Dan Webster raked in 8 percent. A whopping 34 percent were undecided.

TAMPA, Fla. -- "Terri's Law" was actually an appropriate label for the measure passed by the Florida Legislature last fall to save the life of brain-damaged woman Terri Schiavo. Lawmakers in special session crafted the bill so narrowly as to apply only to Schiavo's unique situation. At the urging of her parents, they gave Gov. Jeb Bush authority to order a feeding tube reinserted into her stomach, six days after her husband had it removed with court permission. The unprecedented government intervention into a right-to-die case attracted national attention, aroused strong emotions on both sides and brought to the forefront...