WaPo Politics blog: "Are Republicans on the March?"

WaPo's Chris Cillizza has an interesting take on Republican victories in Georgia and Louisiana over the past few days. These victories echo GOP's performance in Florida, where the Obama coattails were short and FL Democrats failed to defeat a single Republican incumbent in the Legislature, even in the best possible political environment.

Notes Cillizza, "In the wake of an election cycle dominated by bad news for Republicans, the last five days have been a welcome relief.

Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss cruised to a runoff victory last Tuesday, and House Republicans held Louisiana's 4th district and pulled off a massive upset win over Rep. Bill Jefferson in Louisiana's 2nd district on Saturday.

Those three developments have led some Republicans to insist that what happened on Nov. 4 was almost entirely due to President-elect Barack Obama's unique electoral appeal and that when the soon-to-be-president is not on the ballot -- the 2010 midterm elections -- his party will not fare nearly as well.

"Voters vented on Nov. 4th and the momentum that swept Obama and many other Democrats to victory has now stalled a bit," said Republican pollster Neil Newhouse, a partner in the firm Public Opinion Strategies. "It seems it might have been 'easy' to get the Democratic base excited about Nov. 4th -- the historic opportunity to elect Obama and send a message of rejection to Bush's eight-year tenure -- but it's a bit more difficult re-energizing those voters now, with seemingly less at stake."

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"While I don't think these victories mean that the GOP has miraculously fixed everything that is currently broken, I do think that they a really positive data points," said Alex Vogel, a prominent Republican strategist. "Just like the Democrats took advance comfort from the special elections they won leading up to the 2008 elections, we should certainly view these overtime wins as a sign that the sun is rising again."

Georgia on our Minds...

The folks at Politico sum up the short Obama coattails in GA, noting, "Democrats have given a lot of lip service to the Georgia runoff, but don’t seem to have put their money behind their man. USA Today reports that Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss “raised $1.6 million in large contributions — amounts of $1,000 or more — from Nov. 13 through Nov. 21 compared with $462,000 for [Jim] Martin.” Outside groups have done even more, as the NRSC has put $2.5 million into the race, more than twice that of outside Democratic groups.

Belinda Ortiz to Head Hispanic Outreach for RPOF

Tallahassee–Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer today announced his appointment of Belinda Ortiz to serve as Director of Hispanic Outreach and Deputy Director of the Minority Outreach and Coalitions Department for the Republican Party of Florida.

“Hispanic voters in Florida are an important part of our party’s future success and the appointment of Belinda Ortiz demonstrates that gaining the confidence and ultimately the Hispanic vote is a top priority,” said Chairman Greer.

Ortiz most recently served as president and chief executive officer for Zitro of Orlando, Inc., a public relations and business development firm in Central Florida. She previously served as director of public policy for the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association. Visit RPOF's website for more.

Democrats blew it in Florida

We couldn't have put it better ourselves! Adam Smith of the St. Pete Times explains the Florida Democrats' failure to capitalize on the Obama wave.

Democrats blew it in Florida?

The biggest surprise in Tuesday's results may be how poorly -- other than Barack Obama (all hail Steve Schale!) -- Florida Democrats performed despite the Obama juggernaut helping turn out votes.

They netted one Congressional seat and showed that Democrats can compete well in heavily Cuban-American districts. But despite the anti-GOP climate, they did not pick off a single incumbent Republican in the Legislature and ultimately may net just one state House seat. Two words: Pa Thetic.

And gloomy Republicans today can find plenty of reasons for solace: On Constitutional amendments, Floridians voted strongly to cut taxes, ban gay marriage and oppose tax increases for community colleges.

There's no real evidence of a Democratic tide in Florida.

Greer says Madison, Jefferson and the Gang Would Applaud Crist

The Herald Tribune's Joe Follick blogs:

Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer had a short interview on MSNBC this afternoon where he defended Gov. Charlie Crist’s 180-degree switcheroo to expand early voting hours.

Greer was asked about an anonymous quote in Politico from a Florida Republican who said the move will cost McCain the election by expanding the ability of Democrats to vote.

“I don’t believe that. We shouldn’t be partisan when it comes to giving voters the opportunity to participate in the process. I know there are some that believe the governor’s actions yesterday to extend voting was not good for the Republican Party. I don’t buy that. I don’t think we’re going to see a greater number of voters coming to the polls,” Greer said, adding that the number of voters will stay the same even if the lines get shorter.

“I think Gov. Crist’s actions yesterday would make our founding fathers quite proud,” he said.

McCain: Obama Panders in FL, Shows Love to the Rays

"...I heard that Senator Obama was showing some love to the Rays down in Tampa Bay yesterday. Now, I'm not dumb enough to get mixed up in a World Series between swing states, but I think I may have detected a little pattern with Senator Obama. It's pretty simple really. When he's campaigning in Philadelphia, he roots for the Phillies, and when he's campaigning in Tampa Bay, he shows love to the Rays. It's kind of like the way he campaigns on tax cuts, but then votes for tax increases after he's elected. Or the way he says he backs the middle class and then goes and attacks Joe the Plumber after he's asked a tough question..."

-Remarks as prepared for delivery at the McCain-Palin 2008 rally in Bensalem, PA

Orlando Sentinel: ACORN's voter registration sloppiness could create problems come Election Day

The community organizing group known as ACORN has been getting kicked around quite a bit on the presidential campaign trail lately. The group has no one but itself to blame.

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now says it has registered 1.3 million people for the Nov. 4 election. But its pattern of turning in some applications with false names and made-up addresses has spurred investigations in at least a half-dozen states.

ACORN says it has signed up 140,000 voters in Florida. Elections officials in Orange and Seminole counties have reported problems in hundreds of forms submitted by the group. Even if that's the extent of the trouble, instead of the tip of the iceberg, it's not insignificant in a state where 537 votes wound up deciding the 2000 presidential election.

ACORN says it's required by law to turn in all its applications and flag the few with problems. But good intentions don't excuse what's at best a sloppy operation -- especially because the group's employees have been caught in prior elections submitting bogus registrations. Its practice of paying employees bonuses to sign up new voters invites phony applications. States should bar that practice, if ACORN won't.

ACORN aims its registration drives at lower-income voters, who tend to vote Democratic. The group's most vocal critics are, naturally, Republicans. ACORN and its supporters contend its opponents are trying to distract attention from efforts, often pushed by Republicans, to suppress voting. Investigators need to be on guard against both.

Meanwhile, the controversy over ACORN may be priming the pump for another legal battle royal if the election is close. Anyone up for a rerun of Florida 2000? We didn't think so.

View the editorial here

McCain Up in Florida Poll!

McCain 49%, Obama 48% in Florida

The presidential race in Florida is now essentially even. The latest Fox News/Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds John McCain ahead of Barack Obama 49% to 48%.

Support for the GOP nominee is at the highest level in the past five polls of the state. Last week, Obama held a 51% to 46% lead. He led by seven points in the Fox/Rasmussen poll the week before.

The tighter race in Florida is consistent with national polling, which has tightened up over the past week. The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll has generally shown Obama up by four or five points nationally during the past week. Prior to that, Obama had consistently enjoyed a five-to-eight point lead.

Liberal Watchdog Group: Pelosi, Investigate Mahoney Now!

Photo--Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer calls on Mahoney to resign.


A DC watchdog group -- often accused of being left-leaning -- has sent a letter to the House Ethics Committee asking for an investigation into revelations about Rep. Tim Mahoney.

Though the Palm Beach area Democrat has asked for his own inquiry, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington says its goal is to ensure that the committee "consider specific relevant provisions of House rules."

CREW says Mahoney's conduct -- paying off an ex-mistress, "implicates numerous House rules," including a clause that "requires congressional employees to perform public duties commensurate with their compensation. Thus, hiring a staff member to facilitate a sexual relationship is impermissible."

It also suggests that "by conducting a sexual relationship with an employee he supervised, and by firing that employee after the affair ended, Rep. Mahoney may have engaged in sexual harassment in violation of House Rule 23.."

It also suggests he may have violated campaign finance laws by "failing to report his in-kind contribution to the campaign to pay Ms. Allen."

Free Trade Creates Florida Jobs, But Obama Opposes It

Watch John McCain and Barack Obama talk about Free Trade during the presidential debate. Barack Obama reminded us tonight that he does not support free trade, even though it is critical to Florida's economy and our status as the "Hub of the Americas."

Reviews Are In--John McCain Wins the Last Debate

John McCain won tonight's debate by vowing to fight for "Joe the Plumber" everyday he is President.

John McCain was a spokesperson for millions of Americans who do not want their taxes raised and their health care socialized.

John McCain won with strong, clear straight talk about setting a new direction for our country and fighting for working families.

On issue after issue, Barack Obama showed that his words do not match his record. Whether it was his tax plan, his spending plans or his record, Barack Obama was full of half-truths.

John McCain outlined his specific, bold plan for creating jobs, helping those near retirement, keeping people in their homes, curbing spending by a hatchet and scalpel, lowering health care costs and achieving energy independence.

Read RPOF Communications Director Erin VanSickle's debate response for the Palm Beach Post here.

5 Questions for Mahoney

The National Republican Congressional Committee released a statement today after Tim Mahoney (D-FL) refused to answer questions at his press conference responding to news reports that he paid a former employee $121,000 in hush money.

“Congressman Tim Mahoney’s cover-up and stonewalling three weeks from Election Day is nothing more than an attempt to run out the clock without being accountable to voters in his district. While today’s press conference must have been very difficult for Mr. Mahoney, his statement was incomplete and insufficient. The voters in the 16th Congressional District have been let down one too many times by both parties, and they deserve an open and swift account from Mr. Mahoney.

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Based on news reports, the Democrat Leadership had at least some knowledge of Congressman Mahoney’s inappropriate and potentially illegal behavior, which begs the question: What did the Democrat Leadership know and when did they know it?

Five questions Tim Mahoney should answer today:

Did Tim Mahoney pay his former employee $121,000?

Did the money originate from his campaign account? If not, from where?

Is Ms. Allen telling the truth when she said Tim Mahoney arranged to get her a job with his media firm?

Why did Tim Mahoney find it necessary to move Ms. Allen off the government payroll and pay her from his campaign account once rumors of their affair surfaced?

How long has the Democrat Leadership known Mahoney paid off his mistress and what did they advise Mahoney to do when they learned of it?

Breaking--Tom Cole, Tom Rooney Holding Press Conference Today to Discuss Tim Mahoney

Tom Rooney and NRCC Chairman Tom Cole to Make Announcement About District 16 Congressional Race

Congressional candidate Tom Rooney (FL-16) and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole will hold a press availability to discuss unseating Tim Mahoney in the race for Florida’s 16th Congressional District – Today, October 14, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.

Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: West Palm Beach Marriott
1001 Okeechobee Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

BREAKING: Mahoney's Mistress Hush Money

Congressman's $121,000 Payoff to Alleged Mistress

Listen to the call between Mahoney and mistress

ABC Breaking News:

West Palm Beach Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL), whose predecessor resigned in the wake of a sex scandal, agreed to a $121,000 payment to a former mistress who worked on his staff and was threatening to sue him, according to current and former members of his staff who have been briefed on the settlement, which involved Mahoney and his campaign committee.

Mahoney, who is married, also promised the woman, Patricia Allen, a $50,000 a year job for two years at the agency that handles his campaign advertising, the staffers said.

A Mahoney spokesperson would not answer questions about the alleged affair or the settlement, but said Allen resigned of her own accord and "has not received any special payment from campaign funds."

Senior Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives, including Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), the chair of the Democratic Caucus, have been working with Mahoney to keep the matter from hurting his re-election campaign, the Mahoney staffers said.

A spokesperson for Emanuel denies that account, but said Emanuel did confront Mahoney "upon hearing a rumor" about an affair in 2007 and "told him he was in public life and had a responsibility to act accordingly." The spokesperson added that it was a "private conversation" that had nothing to do with Mahoney's re-election prospects.

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The affair between Mahoney and Allen began, according to the current and former staffers, in 2006 when Mahoney was campaigning for Congress against Foley, promising "a world that is safer, more moral."

Broken Campaign Promises?

At the time, Mahoney's campaign ads featured a picture of him with his wife, Terry, with the line, "Restoring America's Values Begins at Home."

The staffers say Mahoney first met Allen at a campaign stop and later arranged for her to work as a volunteer on the campaign. Allen also appeared in a Mahoney campaign television commercial, criticizing his opponent.

Campaign Flyer for Mahoney

Following his election in 2006, Allen was hired, at taxpayers expense, to work on Mahoney's Congressional staff in Florida, at a yearly salary of $36,000.

After complaints about the affair circulated in Washington, Allen was moved to the campaign staff, the staffers say.

Friends of Allen told ABC News that Allen sought to break off the affair when she learned Mahoney was allegedly involved in other extra-marital relationships at the same time.

Her friends say she told them Mahoney threatened that ending the relationship could cost her the job.

"You work at my pleasure," Congressman Mahoney told Allen on a January 20, 2008 telephone call that was recorded and played for Mahoney staffers. ABC News was provided a copy. Click here to hear the tape.

"If you do the job that I think you should do, you get to keep your job. Whenever I don't feel like you're doing your job, then you lose your job," Mahoney can be heard telling Allen.

"And guess what? The only person that matters is guess who? Me. You understand that. That is how life really is. That is how it works," Mahoney says on the call.

"You're fired," Mahoney tells her. "Do you hear me? Don't tell me whether it's correct or not."
...

The Terms of the Settlement

After Allen was fired, the 50-year old single mother of two hired a lawyer, Gregory Coleman, and threatened to sue the Congressman for more than a million dollars.

...

Mahoney reportedly insisted that Allen destroy all audio and video recordings of a sexual nature, they said.

...

Breaking: McCain Unveils New "Fighter" Speech

Politico reports that John McCain will unveil a new speech today "...designed to get voters and reporters to give him one more look..."

Excerpt: "Let me give you the state of the race today. We have 22 days to go. We're six points down. The national media has written us off. Senator Obama is measuring the drapes, and planning with Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid to raise taxes, increase spending, take away your right to vote by secret ballot in labor elections, and concede defeat in Iraq. But they forgot to let you decide. My friends, we've got them just where we want them.

"What America needs in this hour is a fighter; someone who puts all his cards on the table and trusts the judgment of the American people. I come from a long line of McCains who believed that to love America is to fight for her. I have fought for you most of my life. There are other ways to love this country, but I've never been the kind to do it from the sidelines."

ACORN in Florida

Local Voter Fraud Claims Rise
From Tampa Tribune

When DeeAnn Athan received a new voter registration card at her downtown law office a few weeks ago, she figured it must be a mistake.

The card had her age and middle initial wrong and a different Social Security and driver’s license number. The only things correct were her gender and party affiliation.

After making a few calls, Athan discovered she had two voter registrations on the books at the Hillsborough County elections office. One had her place of residence listed as her West Shore Boulevard home; the other her Kennedy Boulevard office. …
Hillsborough County Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson said the discrepancy is likely a case of voter registration fraud by a third party group that pays people to register voters. …

Hillsborough elections officials have come across numerous other questionable voter registration applications in the run-up to the Nov. 4 general election, which has seen hundreds of thousands of new voters added to election rolls across the state. …
With the general election only weeks away, scores of fraudulent voter registrations are being investigated across the country, most of them submitted by third party groups.

One group, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, which has registered some 1.3 million voters nationwide, is facing allegations of fraud from elections officials in Wisconsin, North Carolina, New Mexico, Michigan, Ohio and Missouri. …

View The Entire Article

New Web Ad: "ACORN"

McCain: Investigate ACORN

More on the Democrats' Bogus Press Conference

Today Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart’s campaign issued the following fact sheet in response to Raul Martinez’s frivolous accusations yesterday – a pathetic act of desperation as voters consistently reject his record of corruption.

THE FACTS

• In trying to rescue Raul Martinez’s sinking campaign, the Florida Democratic Party held a bogus press conference yesterday making baseless implications about Congressman Diaz-Balart. The political hack that made the statement refused to take any questions from the members of media that were present.

• The Miami Herald has already reported that the allegations are uncorroborated (October 9th, page 2A).

• Nowhere in the audio and video presented by the Democratic Party does Puerto Rican Senator Jorge de Castro Font mention a suitcase or $50,000 as maliciously suggested by operatives.

• The Fonalledas Family mentioned by Senator Jorge de Castro Font has contributed a total of $400 to Congressman Diaz-Balart’s campaign.

• Unlike his opponent, Congressman Diaz-Balart does not have a history of corruption and unethical behavior. He has always served with integrity and respect.

• Unlike his opponent Congressman Diaz-Balart has never used public office for personal financial enrichment. A simple review of Raul Martinez’s personal financial disclosure forms indicates that he has become extremely wealthy through public office.

• Unlike his opponent Congressman Diaz-Balart has never illegally lobbied other public officials as Raul Martinez recently did in the City of Miami to benefit one of his companies (The Miami Herald, September 11, 2008).

• The circus and distractions that others have attempted to create in order to deflect attention from Raul Martinez’s history of corruption and disgraceful behavior will not influence the outcome of this election.

Is ACORN Stealing The Election?

From Investor's Business Daily

It's a legitimate question to raise now that the FBI has raided the offices of the nonprofit Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now in Nevada and North Carolina, two states where Obama and John McCain are running neck-and-neck. ACORN has registered bogus voters in both states.

The group's voter-registration fraud is rampant, and authorities plan a nationwide sweep of ACORN offices to collect records.

In Nevada, state officials say the fraudulent registrations included forms for the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys football team, including quarterback Tony Romo.

"Romo is not registered to vote in the state of Nevada," Secretary of State Ross Miller said, "and anybody trying to pose as Terrell Owens won't be able to cast a ballot on Nov. 4."

To View, Click here.