GOP Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist stumped in Southwest Florida yesterday -- promising tax relief for homeowners if he wins in November. His challenger, Democrat Jim Davis, promises the same. W-G-C-U’s Valerie Alker reports.

Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Katherine Harris brought her campaign to Punta Gorda yesterday, where she received a warm welcome from the local GOP. A barbershop quartet serenaded Katherine Harris who arrived at Gilchrist Park after most the crowd who had gathered to rally republican candidates had left. But those who remained enveloped the candidate with hugs and warm good wishes. Harris said her reception brought a tear to her – and that Charlotte County has always been special too her.

“There’s a lot of attention in campaigns, but this was very special it meant a lot to me, but Charlotte County means a lot to me. Charlotte County is where I began my political career and they embraced me, they taught me they listened to my terrible speeches when I was terrified to stand up in front of people. I love Charlotte County.”

Harris was first elected to the state senate in 1994 – representing a portion of Charlotte County. As for her rival incumbent Bill Nelson, Harris stump speech paints him as one of the most liberal democrats in the United States. Harris rounded out her day with a stop in Ft. Myers. Today she’s back in the stump in Lake Mary where she will talk to the Florida Chapter of Ronald Regan Republicans.
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Katherine Harris brought her campaign for the U.S. Senate to Southwest Florida yesterday with stops in Punta Gorda and Ft. Myers. Her stump speech was primarily directed at criticizing her Democratic rival Incumbent Bill Nelson – who Harris painted as one of the Senate’s most liberal members. Harris also criticized the Senate version of the immigration reform bill.

“I don’t support the house bill that makes felons of those that are here illegally.What we can do is provide them with a legal temporary secure identification. And that what’s we need to do – we need to make sure people are who they claim to be.”

Harris said she looks forward to working with Florida Senator Mel Martinez to craft a guest worker program that will assure that crops are harvested in the Sunshine State – but that the border remains secure.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist has named his running mate. State Representative Jeff Kottkamp of Cape Coral will join him on the ticket. The pair made the announcement Wednesday morning at a hastily improvised press conference in the front yard of Kottkamp’s home. W-G-C-U’s Valerie Alker reports.

Congressmen Mark Foley paid a visit to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s department Wednesday where he briefed officers on details of new legislation aimed at protecting children from sexual predators.

Passage of the Adam Walch Child Protection and Safety Act in Congress last month coincided with the 25th anniversary of the day 6 year old Adam Walch went missing from a mall in Hollywood Florida. His severed head was found in a ditch near Vero Beach a few days later. Representative Foley told sheriff’s deputies the new law has the teeth to help prevent crimes like that from happening again – including continuous monitoring of individuals serving probation for child sexual violence.

“It’s ironic we put Martha stewart in a bracelet in her 20 million dollar home – and the worst that happened there is maybe one of her cakes fell – but we wanted to make an example of her so we monitored her presence and whereabouts 24-7 – yet we treat those who are sexual predators in a cavalier and casual way.”

Other provisions of the act include a 5 year felony conviction for violating probation and the mandatory registration of all child sex offenders within 72 hours of their release from prison. Foley also praised Charlotte County Law Enforcement for it’s proactive stance in tracking child sexual predators.

With three weeks until the primary election, a majority of Democrats in Florida haven’t made up their minds who to vote for in September. Recent polls show the two main candidates in a statistical dead-heat.

Tampa Congressman Jim Davis started the campaign with a comfortable lead in both the polls and fundraising. Now State Senator Rod Smith has chipped away at that lead and finds himself even with voters that express a preference. But polls show more than half of all likely Democratic voters haven’t made up their minds yet. Speaking on Gulf Coast Live, Smith said that’s a concern. But a bigger concern would be if they had already decided against him:

“I really believe that if you are the guy that started as far behind as I did. I think from the outset, I started some 20-something points behind. The fact that I’m in the race, that I’m in a good position in the race and that a huge number of people haven’t made up their mind, I think that augers well for this campaign. And so I actually kind of like that dynamic.”

Smith has spent time courting Hispanics in South Florida, touting his plans for homeowners insurance reform and funding for stem cell research. On election day, Republicans will choose between State Attorney General Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.

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Florida gubernatorial candidate Rod Smith vowed today (Tuesday) to make changes to the state’s insurance market. The Democratic State Senator is locked in a tight primary race with Tampa Congressman Jim Davis. Polls show the two are neck-and-neck with most voters undecided with three weeks until the election. Smith vowed to stimulate competition in the insurance market to bring cheaper rates for Floridians. Speaking on W-G-C-U’s Gulf Coast Live, he also pledged to toughen oversight of the insurance industry.

“We’re going to have a crisis in home ownership, a crisis in the workplace and a crisis in the economy if we don’t immediately drive down and stabilize and then drive down rates in Florida for property insurance.”

Florida G-O-P Senate candidate Katherine Harris brought her campaign to Naples last night to speak to the Collier County Republican Party. Her visit came amid continued frustration over her troubled campaign. Yesterday (Monday) Southwest Florida Congressman Connie Mack declined to offer his opinion on her chances. More than a dozen key Harris campaign aides have quit in the last year. She is well-known to treat her staff poorly and Katherine Harris has dwindling support from both the national and state Republican parties. Fort Myers G-O-P Representative Connie Mack serves with her in the House. Speaking on Gulf Coast Live, he did say she has an uphill climb. But would not say she should pull out of the race.

“It’s difficult when you see all the challenges that she’s facing and how to overcome those. But I’m not involved day-to-day in her campaign strategy and planning and what she’s trying to accomplish. So I don’t know I can answer that question. If you’re saying, ‘can she win?’ Yes, she can win.”

Political watchers expect Harris to win next month’s G-O-P primary but have a much harder time defeating Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson.

Senator Smith hails from the small town of Alachua, just outside Gainesville. He doesn’t have the name recognition of the other contenders and trails in the polls and fundraising. But he has seen increases in both in recent weeks. Smith will square off against (Democratic) Tampa Congressman Jim Davis in the September primary. Speaking from his motorcade as he barnstorms the state, Smith says his campaign has got momentum.

“The fundraising’s going very well. The polls are showing that we’ve been constantly moving. We’ve closed the gap on Congressman Davis. He started off, of course, with an enormous advantage...been in politics a lot longer. So we knew we were spotting him a few points to start with but that’s all getting less and less relative now.”

On the Republican side, state Attorney General Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher will vie for the G-O-P nomination. Crist leads in the polls, partly because of his fundraising and early television commercials

Meanwhile candidates are lining up to run for Harris's house seat, including Republican State Representative Nancy Detert of Venice. Detert says it's possible - but not probable - that Harris will give up the Senate race and instead run to hold onto current job.

"Katherine Harris never goes backwards - she's been in this position before and she just never goes backwards. I think she will continue forward in her U.S. Senate race or just totally drop out, but I don't think she's going to drop back into this race, in fact I'd pretty much bet the farm on it"

Harris house seat is comprised of a slice Charlotte and all of Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Hardee counties.

Meanwhile Harris has pledged to o spend ten (m) million dollars of her own money to continue in the senate contest that polls show her badly trailing.

A group that spent more than 100,000 dollars trying to oust Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah from office two years ago has been fined for failing to file financial reports. Charlie Whitehead has the story.

State Senator Burt Saunders of Republican of Naples made it officials today – he’s campaigning to be Florida’s next Attorney General. WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.