Wednesday, 25 October 2006 01:00
President Bush Visits Sarasota
President George W. Bush was on the stump Tuesday in Sarasota - giving a boost to the campaign of Vern Buchanan who's in a tough race with Democrat Christine Jennings to take over the congressional seat vacated by Katherine Harris.
About a thousand enthusiastic Republicans paid twenty dollars each to hear the President speak. WGCU's Valerie Alker was there and has this report.
About a thousand enthusiastic Republicans paid twenty dollars each to hear the President speak. WGCU's Valerie Alker was there and has this report.
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WGCU News
Wednesday, 11 October 2006 01:00
Gubernatorial Candidate Poll
New poll numbers find Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist leading Democrat Jim Davis by 10 points with just under a month before the election. 3-percent of those polled by Quinnipiac University say they’re still undecided, and another 28-percent say they could still change their minds. It’s the first major poll to look at the two main candidates side by side. Quinnipiac’s Peter Brown says Crist is doing better among Democrats than Davis is with Republicans…
“Davis is only getting 74-percent of the Democratic vote while Crist is getting 22-percent…by comparison Davis is only getting 7-percent of the Republican vote. And to top things off Crist is winning Independent voters by 7 points. And all of that adds up to a pretty solid lead a month from the election.”
Brown says the poll also found 57-percent of likely voters hadn’t heard enough about Davis to form an opinion yet. And most who support him do so because he’s a Democrat. And he says when asked which issue was most important, property taxes won by a landslide.
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The first major poll comparing Florida’s two main gubernatorial candidates finds Republican Charlie Crist with a 10 point lead over Democrat Jim Davis. Quinnipiac University conducted the poll of likely voters last week. Pollster Peter Brown says while there are only 10 points or so between them…Davis has significantly less name recognition than Crist does.
“Almost 6 in 10 voters – 57-percent – said they hadn’t heard enough about Davis to form an opinion, and we’re only a month from the election. In fact fully half of Davis voters say the reason they’re for him is because of his political party. In other words, they really don’t know that much about Davis.”
Brown says Davis has a tough job ahead of him to get his name out there before the November 7th election. The poll also asked which issue was most important to voters. Brown says property taxes got the most votes in that race…
“Davis is only getting 74-percent of the Democratic vote while Crist is getting 22-percent…by comparison Davis is only getting 7-percent of the Republican vote. And to top things off Crist is winning Independent voters by 7 points. And all of that adds up to a pretty solid lead a month from the election.”
Brown says the poll also found 57-percent of likely voters hadn’t heard enough about Davis to form an opinion yet. And most who support him do so because he’s a Democrat. And he says when asked which issue was most important, property taxes won by a landslide.
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The first major poll comparing Florida’s two main gubernatorial candidates finds Republican Charlie Crist with a 10 point lead over Democrat Jim Davis. Quinnipiac University conducted the poll of likely voters last week. Pollster Peter Brown says while there are only 10 points or so between them…Davis has significantly less name recognition than Crist does.
“Almost 6 in 10 voters – 57-percent – said they hadn’t heard enough about Davis to form an opinion, and we’re only a month from the election. In fact fully half of Davis voters say the reason they’re for him is because of his political party. In other words, they really don’t know that much about Davis.”
Brown says Davis has a tough job ahead of him to get his name out there before the November 7th election. The poll also asked which issue was most important to voters. Brown says property taxes got the most votes in that race…
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Tuesday, 10 October 2006 01:00
Quinnipiac Poll - Governor's Race
THE RACE FOR FLORIDA GOVERNOR IS IN ITS FINAL WEEKS. ONCE THE VOTES ARE TALLIED, EITHER REPUBLICAN CHARLIE CRIST OR DEMOCRAT JIM DAVIS WILL BE THE NEW RESIDENT OF THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION IN TALLAHASSEE.
THE POLLSTERS FROM QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY IN CONNECTICUT ARE WATCHING THE RACE CLOSELY. THE UNIVERSITY IS REPRESENTED IN FLORIDA BY PETER BROWN OF ORLANDO. PAT DUGGINS SPOKE WITH HIM ON THE LATEST NUMBERS...
THE POLLSTERS FROM QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY IN CONNECTICUT ARE WATCHING THE RACE CLOSELY. THE UNIVERSITY IS REPRESENTED IN FLORIDA BY PETER BROWN OF ORLANDO. PAT DUGGINS SPOKE WITH HIM ON THE LATEST NUMBERS...
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Monday, 09 October 2006 01:00
Precinct Walk
It’s only one month until Election Day so the party faithful have kicked up their campaigning. Voters in Lee County will found volunteers at their doors Saturday. The Republican Party of Florida gathered 50 to 75 volunteers to kick off a grassroots campaign effort in Cape Coral. They’ll be walking through various precincts, knocking on voter’s doors and speaking with them face to face. The party’s communications director, Jeff Sadosky, says the tactic works.
“Ultimately when voters are able to talk to someone they know, someone from their neighborhood or across the street or someone they work with they can identify with the issues more and it’s been incredibly successful and it’s something that we hang our hat on.”
Sadowsky says the Florida Republican Party has held these precinct walks across the state for the past few months and they will continue to increase until election day.
The volunteers have been trained on the main issues as well as campaign laws regarding what they can and cannot talk about.
Meanwhile the Democratic Party faithful rallied with Senator Barak Obama Friday in Miami.
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The Republican Party of Florida kicks its campaigning up a notch this weekend in Lee County. It has field staff in about 25 offices across the state including in Collier and Lee Counties. They’ve been setting up phone banks calling voters each weeknight and starting tomorrow they’ll conduct precinct walks through neighborhoods. The party’s communications director, Jeff Sadosky, says the volunteers will knock on doors and talk substance.
“Our folks have learned about the issues and learned about what they can and cannot say in terms of campaign laws and best process for motivating voters.”
The first Lee County precinct walk is tomorrow in Cape Coral. Volunteers are still needed. Meet at 11:00 at the Republican Victory Office in Cape Coral.
Meanwhile today in Miami, Illinois Senator Barak Obama campaigned in support of Jim Davis of the Florida Democratic Party.
The general election is 32 days away.
“Ultimately when voters are able to talk to someone they know, someone from their neighborhood or across the street or someone they work with they can identify with the issues more and it’s been incredibly successful and it’s something that we hang our hat on.”
Sadowsky says the Florida Republican Party has held these precinct walks across the state for the past few months and they will continue to increase until election day.
The volunteers have been trained on the main issues as well as campaign laws regarding what they can and cannot talk about.
Meanwhile the Democratic Party faithful rallied with Senator Barak Obama Friday in Miami.
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The Republican Party of Florida kicks its campaigning up a notch this weekend in Lee County. It has field staff in about 25 offices across the state including in Collier and Lee Counties. They’ve been setting up phone banks calling voters each weeknight and starting tomorrow they’ll conduct precinct walks through neighborhoods. The party’s communications director, Jeff Sadosky, says the volunteers will knock on doors and talk substance.
“Our folks have learned about the issues and learned about what they can and cannot say in terms of campaign laws and best process for motivating voters.”
The first Lee County precinct walk is tomorrow in Cape Coral. Volunteers are still needed. Meet at 11:00 at the Republican Victory Office in Cape Coral.
Meanwhile today in Miami, Illinois Senator Barak Obama campaigned in support of Jim Davis of the Florida Democratic Party.
The general election is 32 days away.
Published in
WGCU News
Friday, 06 October 2006 01:00
Vice President Cheney visits Sarasota
Republican Congressional Candidate Vern Buchanan’s campaign gets a boost today. Vice President Dick Cheney will be on the stump in Sarasota for the candidate...the guest-of-honor at a thousand-dollar a plate lunch. The chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota County, Bob Waechter, says Cheney’s visit will raise, quote a “big chunk of change” for the candidate. But he says it’s needed. The contest between Vern Buchanan and Democrat Christine Jennings is shaping up to be a very expensive race – the priciest in Florida.
“The democrats have targeted CD13 – Katherine Harris’s congressional seat as one they would very much like to have. The fact that it was an open seat and a strongly contested Republican primary gives them what they perceive to be an opening. I think they’re wrong, I think we’re going to thump’em.”
Waechter says Jennings is benefiting from Democratic organizations like Move-on.org – and that much of her funding comes from outside the 13th Congressional District. The luncheon featuring Vice President Cheney is at the Sarasota Hyatt. News.
“The democrats have targeted CD13 – Katherine Harris’s congressional seat as one they would very much like to have. The fact that it was an open seat and a strongly contested Republican primary gives them what they perceive to be an opening. I think they’re wrong, I think we’re going to thump’em.”
Waechter says Jennings is benefiting from Democratic organizations like Move-on.org – and that much of her funding comes from outside the 13th Congressional District. The luncheon featuring Vice President Cheney is at the Sarasota Hyatt. News.
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Thursday, 05 October 2006 01:00
Tim Mahoney
As debate over the future of former Congressman Mark Foley and senior Republican House leaders swirls on, the race for the 16th Congressional District pushes ahead. Democratic candidate Tim Mahoney came to Punta Gorda Wednesday to push for changes in Florida’s insurance market. Ask a Florida homeowner what the biggest pressing issue is these days...and chances are the soaring cost of insurance will likely be the reply. After two devastating hurricane seasons, the insurance industry is reeling. Several dozen insurers have left the state and those that remain have doubled or tripled premiums for less coverage. Congressional candidate Tim Mahoney says the federal government needs to step-in and organize a national insurance plan.
“Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fires. We need to have a catastrophic insurance capability where we get everybody in this country together and we create a pool so that we can all manage this risk responsibly.”
There’s a rising chorus of Florida officials, insurance executives and regulators calling for national insurance coverage, similar to the federal flood program. But the idea continues to receive little support.
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Democratic Congressional candidate Tim Mahoney came to Punta Gorda Wednesday and used the town as a backdrop to call for changes to Florida’s insurance market. The region was hard hit by Hurricane Charley in 2004. And Mahoney says steep premium increases and insurers dropping customers are hurting residents. Mahoney is advocating for a national catastrophic insurance fund so the risk is spread around.
“We need to make sure that insurance goes back to the purview of the federal government. It got reverted back in 1947 to the states. We have issues with regards to catastrophic insurance claims that go well beyond the capability of any given state.”
“Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fires. We need to have a catastrophic insurance capability where we get everybody in this country together and we create a pool so that we can all manage this risk responsibly.”
There’s a rising chorus of Florida officials, insurance executives and regulators calling for national insurance coverage, similar to the federal flood program. But the idea continues to receive little support.
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Democratic Congressional candidate Tim Mahoney came to Punta Gorda Wednesday and used the town as a backdrop to call for changes to Florida’s insurance market. The region was hard hit by Hurricane Charley in 2004. And Mahoney says steep premium increases and insurers dropping customers are hurting residents. Mahoney is advocating for a national catastrophic insurance fund so the risk is spread around.
“We need to make sure that insurance goes back to the purview of the federal government. It got reverted back in 1947 to the states. We have issues with regards to catastrophic insurance claims that go well beyond the capability of any given state.”
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WGCU News
Friday, 29 September 2006 01:00
Congressman Foley Resigns
REPUBLICAN FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN MARK FOLEY ANNOUNCED HE WILL RESIGN TODAY (FRIDAY) AFTER ALLEGATIONS HE SENT INAPPRPROPRIATE E-MAILS TO A TEENAGE, MALE, CONGRESSIONAL PAGE. CHAD PERGRAM REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT SHOCKED WASHINGTON...ESPECIALLY REPUBLICANS...WHO ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.
THE E-MAILS APPARENTLY CAME LAST YEAR...WHEN THE PAGE WAS 16. THE PAGE...WORKED FOR REPUBLICAN LOUISIANA CONGRESSMAN RODNEY ALEXANDER.
FOLEY REPORTEDLY ASKED THE BOY HIS AGE...AND WHAT HE WANTED FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.
IN A STATEMENT, FOLEY SAID HE IS QUOTE.."DEEPLY SORRY AND I APOLOGIZE FOR LETTING MY FAMILY DOWN...AND THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA...I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT.
HOUSE SEPAKER DENNIS HASTERT OF ILLINOIS...SAID HE WAS RECIEVING FOLEY'S LETTER OF RESIGNATION.
HASTERT
FOLEY'S WEBSITE STATES THE 6-TERM CONGRESSMAN...IS CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDRENS CAUCUS...AND HAS SPONSORED LEGISLATION...ATTACKING THE CHILD PORN INDUSTRY.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT SHOCKED WASHINGTON...ESPECIALLY REPUBLICANS...WHO ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.
THE E-MAILS APPARENTLY CAME LAST YEAR...WHEN THE PAGE WAS 16. THE PAGE...WORKED FOR REPUBLICAN LOUISIANA CONGRESSMAN RODNEY ALEXANDER.
FOLEY REPORTEDLY ASKED THE BOY HIS AGE...AND WHAT HE WANTED FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.
IN A STATEMENT, FOLEY SAID HE IS QUOTE.."DEEPLY SORRY AND I APOLOGIZE FOR LETTING MY FAMILY DOWN...AND THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA...I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT.
HOUSE SEPAKER DENNIS HASTERT OF ILLINOIS...SAID HE WAS RECIEVING FOLEY'S LETTER OF RESIGNATION.
HASTERT
FOLEY'S WEBSITE STATES THE 6-TERM CONGRESSMAN...IS CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDRENS CAUCUS...AND HAS SPONSORED LEGISLATION...ATTACKING THE CHILD PORN INDUSTRY.
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WGCU News
Thursday, 28 September 2006 01:00
Harry T. Moore Investigation
A nonprofit that rewards tipsters has denied an award in the long-unsolved killings of two civil rights activists, fueling criticism that the reopened investigation by Attorney General Charlie Crist's office did not solve it.
Central Florida CrimeLine said no one would get the 25-thousand dollar reward offered for information in the 1951 murders of Harry T. Moore and his wife, Harriette.
Last August, at the conclusion of a 20-month investigation, Crist announced that the killers had at last been identified. But a researcher who wrote a book about Moore, now says that Charlie Crist got it wrong.
Rick Stone reports with from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
The story was co-produced by Rhonda Miller of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Central Florida CrimeLine said no one would get the 25-thousand dollar reward offered for information in the 1951 murders of Harry T. Moore and his wife, Harriette.
Last August, at the conclusion of a 20-month investigation, Crist announced that the killers had at last been identified. But a researcher who wrote a book about Moore, now says that Charlie Crist got it wrong.
Rick Stone reports with from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
The story was co-produced by Rhonda Miller of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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