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The Buzz: Florida politics

Harris energizes Democrats

By Times staff writers
Published March 19, 2006

Sen. Bill Nelson 's best re-election fundraiser kicked it into gear last week. Her name? Katherine Harris. As soon as Harris announced on the Fox channel Wednesday night that she would jump-start her campaign by kicking in $10-million of her own inherited money, the Nelson camp revved up its own money machine.

"People are smart, they're informed and they're active. However, $10-million spent on attack ads and a willingness to say anything can put a dent in even the most formidable lead. This is going to be a hard-fought battle against a very heavily funded opponent - an opponent who must be beat," Nelson's campaign manager, Chad Clanton, said in an e-mail solicitation.

That was followed by one from Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, urging donations to Nelson: "Here's the bottom line: Bill Nelson is an outstanding senator, and he is running a great re-election campaign. He has built a huge network of grass roots support and, until last night, had built up an important fundraising advantage. That fundraising advantage is now gone, and he needs your help."

By Friday, Democratic activists had created a Web site, www.makeherspenditall.com soliciting donations for Nelson: "Donate now - and help defend Sen. Bill Nelson from her latest shopping spree."

JEB TUNES OUT HARRIS: While the Florida political world was glued to its TV screens Wednesday watching Katherine Harris make her Senate statement, Gov. Jeb Bush was watching Pillow Talk, the 1959 comedy starring Doris Day and Rock Hudson.

"Fantastic movie. Great movie. A classic," Bush said.

As for Harris' decision to plow $10-million of her personal fortune into her lagging Senate bid, Bush said: "I think it probably shows she's committed, so that's a good thing. I think for congresswoman Harris to win, this whole issue has to stop being about her. It has to start being about Sen. Nelson, and the future of our country and the future of our state. ... She needs to take it to him. This shows a commitment to the race, and hopefully the dynamics will change."

BOB'S BUILDING: It seems the Florida Senate has concluded that not all lobbyists are bad. He will soon have to reveal how much he makes as a lobbyist in the state Capitol under new Senate-backed disclosure laws, but lobbyist and former Gov. Bob Martinez of Tampa is still worth naming a state building after.

The name of Martinez, Republican governor from 1987 to 1991, will likely soon adorn the Department of Environmental Protection's facility at 2600 Blairstone Road in Tallahassee under bills moving quickly through both the Senate and House.

It's only appropriate, said Tallahassee Democratic Sen. Al Lawson, as Martinez was governor when Florida passed its aggressive land-buying program, Preservation 2000.

SHUNNING SUNSHINE? Secretary of State Sue Cobb, what have you wrought?

It's one thing to throw reporters and a Leon County commissioner out of a meeting announced as public. But you do it right before the chief executive of the world's largest news organization shows up?

The Associated Press' CEO and president, Tom Curley, took quick aim Tuesday during the First Amendment Foundation's annual luncheon at Cobb's evictions Monday (which included an AP reporter). Curley, a leader in open government advocacy nationwide, mused, "The action by Florida's secretary of state yesterday suggests that casual ability to slip back to the old days when certain people in government think they know what's best."

Among those in the audience during the event: Attorney General Charlie Crist, House Speaker Allan Bense, Senate President Tom Lee, Senate Minority Leader Les Miller, state Reps. Kim Berfield, Randy Johnson, Stan Mayfield and Everett Rice.

ALL'S FORGIVEN? Senate President Lee suggested last week that Alan Levine, Gov. Jeb Bush's former deputy chief of staff, might finally get confirmed as secretary of Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration after nearly two years on the job.

Levine greatly angered Republican senators in 2003 when it was discovered he was plotting to find GOP challengers to run against GOP senators who were blocking the governor's proposal to overhaul the state's medical malpractice system.

"I think the secretary has proven himself to be a professional. I think he's matured and learned from this experience," Lee said. "I think he has been a balanced supporter of the profession. ... He's moved well past that initial first impression."

Adam C. Smith and Joni James contributed to this week's Buzz. For more political news check out http://www.sptimes.com/blogs/buzz/

[Last modified March 19, 2006, 01:06:13]