| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Tuesday. Incoming — In another sign that the battle between Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Val Demings may be the marquee Florida matchup of 2022, Rubio's campaign is launching its first ad aimed directly at his challenger. Response — Rubio's campaign — which is getting some help from the National Republican Senatorial Committee — has put together an ad designed to counter Demings' multimillion-dollar ad sweep featuring the former Orlando police chief stressing her law-enforcement credentials and saying she will oppose "defunding the police." Last week, the campaign also rotated in a new ad that criticized Rubio's attendance record in the U.S. Senate. Taking aim — The new Rubio ad shared with Playbook features several sheriffs ripping into Demings for voting in line with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and says "maybe she used to be a cop, but in Washington, Val Demings is just another radical rubberstamp." The numbers — So far the Rubio ad buy doesn't come close to matching the nearly $6 million already spent by Demings' camp. Ad tracking firm AdImpact says the Rubio campaign and the NRSC are initially spending close to $300,000 in the West Palm Beach, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay markets. But now that Rubio has gone up on the air, he may stay there for the duration of the campaign. Who's paying? — Demings' campaign — in anticipation of the new ad — pointed out that Rubio is relying on help from the NRSC after his campaign was significantly outraised by Demings in the second quarter of this year. "Marco Rubio has continued to lose momentum and enthusiasm, and he's had to call in Rick Scott and the NRSC in a desperate attempt to save his campaign," Demings spokesman Devon Cruz said in a statement. The ask — Rubio himself went on Fox News on Monday night, where he acknowledged that "I need people's help" in raising money even though Republicans are expected to do well in Florida this election season. "Florida's trending in a very good direction," Rubio said. "But we can't get outspent and outraised three to one. Because we can't get our story out. If you think that — other than this network and a few others — we are going to be able to get our story out without having to pay for it, you're wrong." — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
| | | | HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ROE BEING OVERTURNED? JOIN WOMEN RULE ON 7/21: Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade , abortion policy is in the hands of the states and, ultimately, voters. Join POLITICO national political correspondent Elena Schneider for a Women Rule "ask me anything" conversation featuring a panel of reporters from our politics and health care teams who will answer your questions about how the court's decision could play out in different states, its impact on the midterms and what it means for reproductive rights in the U.S. going forward. SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS AND REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | THE HEIR — "Fox News posts stunning three minute montage of Trump voters ready to ditch him for DeSantis: He's 'too polarizing ,'" by Mediaite's Joe DePaolo: "Ahead of the rally former President Donald Trump was scheduled to have in Arizona (later postponed due to the death of Ivana Trump), the Fox News website posted a stunning three-minute video featuring a host of Trump supporters in Maricopa County talking about ditching him in 2024 for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL). The incredible montage features a group of Arizona voters who — save for one identified as Beverly who enthusiastically backed a Trump 2024 bid — all said they wanted to see Trump sit it out next time and identified DeSantis as the person they want to take over the party." MEANWHILE — "Poll: Trump-DeSantis matchup shows cracks in ex-president's control of Michigan GOP," by The Detroit News' Beth LeBlanc: "And, in a hypothetical 2024 Republican presidential matchup against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, support among Michiganians for the two Floridians was largely split, with [former President Donald] Trump's slight edge falling within the margin of error, according to the poll conducted by the Glengariff Group. When asked if they would support Trump or DeSantis if the presidential election were held the day they were contacted, 45% of voters said they would vote for Trump and about 42% said they would vote for DeSantis. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points."
| 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attends a media event Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Miami. | Lynne Sladky/AP Photo | REACTION — DeSantis: It was 'wrong' for Jacksonville Republican to mislead donors using his name, by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: Gov. Ron DeSantis said it was 'wrong' for a Jacksonville Republican congressional candidate to misleadingly use his name in fundraising emails to raise thousand from unsuspecting, mostly elderly, donors. "If my name is being used to trick people into providing donations for something they don't necessarily want to do, that's wrong," DeSantis said during a Monday press conference in Jacksonville. The comments came after POLITICO last week reported that Republican Erick Aguilar was kicked off of the Republican fundraising platform WinRed for sending solicitation emails that looked like they came from DeSantis, former President Donald Trump, and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). ELECTED — "Florida Republican wins state House seat after opponent booted off of ballot," by Tampa Bay Times' Kirby Wilson: "A Florida House race was officially decided Sunday after a Pinellas judge ruled one of the two candidates on the ballot ineligible to run. Republican Adam Anderson, 39, of Palm Harbor, will represent House District 57 in north Pinellas County. His opponent, Austin Brownfield, 41, of Safety Harbor, was taken off the ballot by the county elections supervisor because he has not been a registered Republican for long enough to participate in a GOP primary. According to a state law passed in 2021, candidates in major party primaries have to have been registered with the party they hope to represent for 365 days before the qualifying period of the election." A CLOSER LOOK — "Florida election officials offered inmates a chance to vote; it got them prosecuted," by The Gainesville Sun's Javon L. Harris: "Some believe State Attorney Brian Kramer's office is unfairly prosecuting nearly a dozen inmates for election crimes they unintentionally committed after the passage of a controversial law change that promised to restore voting rights for felons. The issue is anything but black and white and has left more questions than answers, despite multiple investigations from law enforcement and elected leaders. The debate traces back to a voter registration drive held at the Alachua County jail in 2020, which later spurred a series of complaints lodged by Gainesville database researcher Mark Glaeser who identified potentially hundreds of illegal ballots cast by inmates around the state." BY THE NUMBERS — Here's the breakdown for the weekly fundraising totals in the governor's race: DeSantis raised $11.4 million during the period from July 2 to July 8, while Rep. Charlie Crist brought in nearly $179,000 and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried raised just under $35,000. The totals including money raised for campaign accounts and for political committees controlled by the candidates. Following the money — DeSantis' large haul in that short period was buoyed primarily by a single $10 million donation from Robert Bigelow, a contribution that garnered lots of media attention because the wealthy businessman has said that space aliens are already here on earth. In the bank — DeSantis has nearly $129 million million unspent, according to state reports (which don't reflect any future planned expenditures) while Crist has $6.87 million and Fried has nearly $3.9 million. — "Miami's judicial race story lines: Name change controversy, a Navy hat and Roe v. Wade," by Miami Herald's David Ovalle — " What Florida voters need to know about voting by mail in August primary," by Orlando Sentinel's Steven Lemongello — "They both worked for Obama's campaigns. Now one is advising Mayor John Dailey; the other, rival Kristin Dozier ," by Tallahassee Democrat's Jeff Burlew
| | THE GUNSHINE STATE | | DAY ONE — "'Someone help me.' Victim's pleas, thundering gunfire on video shake courtroom on opening day of Marjory Stoneman Douglas mass shooting trial ," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Rafael Olmeda, Scott Travis and Natalia Galicza: "It took more than four years for the sounds of shots fired at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland to reach a courtroom in downtown Fort Lauderdale. When jurors heard those shots, the gunman at the defense table lowered his head and did not look up. Family members of his victims leaned on each other for support. Some couldn't take it and left the room. Another could not wait five seconds into a video clip before declaring she'd had enough. 'Shut it off!' she called out."
| 
On Monday, July 18, 2022, relatives and family members arrive on the first day of the sentencing trial for convicted Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Judicial Complex in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | Pool photo by Carl Juste | — "Prosecutor recalls coldness, cruelty of Parkland gunman," by The Associated Press Terry Spencer — "'Heinous, atrocious and cruel.' On day one of trial, state details Parkland school massacre," by Miami Herald's David Ovalle
| | | | INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | COMPLICATED — A criminal probe of Trump could complicate Jan. 6 cases, by POLITICO's Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney: But if the Department of Justice starts assertively mounting a criminal investigation of [former President Donald] Trump, it could create delays in other Jan. 6-related trials because defense attorneys for hundreds of defendants could demand access to much of the evidence against Trump as part of the discovery process. "It's messy. It's a headache. And it's a huge undertaking," said Pace University law professor Bennett Gershman, a leading expert on so-called discovery practices in criminal cases. Under longstanding Supreme Court precedents, court rules and Justice Department policies, defense attorneys for current Jan. 6 defendants could demand almost real-time access to any evidence gathered in a probe of Trump's actions on and around Jan. 6, arguing that his alleged incitement of the crowd that day — both in person and online — undercuts the culpability of those already charged. HMM — "Word of Trump media deal is said to have leaked months in advance ," by The New York Times' Matthew Goldstein: "Months before former President Donald J. Trump's social media company unveiled an agreement to raise hundreds of millions of dollars last fall, word of the deal leaked to an obscure Miami investment firm, whose executives began plotting ways to make money off the imminent transaction, according to people familiar with the discussions. The deal — in which a so-called special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, would merge with Mr. Trump's fledgling media business — was announced in October. It sent shares of the SPAC soaring."
| | DATELINE D.C. | | ISOLATING — Val Demings announces she has Covid after attending Dem's Tampa conference, by POLITICO's Hannah Farrow: Rep. Val Demings announced on Monday that she tested positive for Covid-19 after attending the Florida Democratic Party's Leadership Blue convention in downtown Tampa over the weekend. Demings, who is currently self-isolating with mild symptoms, had a hoarse voice after delivering a speech on Saturday night. Her husband, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, told POLITICO at the conference that her voice was rough due to speaking at multiple events. It's unclear where or how she caught Covid-19. SUMMER SOJOURN — A summit of small business owners put together by investment banking firm Goldman Sachs is drawing a fair amount of interest from Florida politicians. Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Small Business Voices is taking place this week in Washington, D.C. Both Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott are meeting with business owners, as are Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Carlos Gimenez and Brian Mast. Rubio is scheduled to do a panel on Wednesday at Nationals Park with Maryland Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin as well a joint advocacy meeting with Scott and Florida small business owners.
| | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | SAILING AWAY — "CDC ends color-coded COVID-19 cruise guidance," by Orlando Sentinel's Richard Tribou: "The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention abruptly ended its COVID-19 guidance program for cruise lines on Monday. Posting the statement to its information page for cruise travelers on its website, the familiar color-coded program has been shut down. The CDC states it will continue to publish guidance for those seeking to go on cruise ships, though. … In its FAQ section, the CDC said travelers with COVID-19 outbreak concerns should contact individual cruise lines, although lines will continue to report cases to the CDC. For now, cruise lines continue to require most passengers to have proof of COVID-19 vaccination and negative COVID-19 tests before sailing."
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | A SECOND CHANCE? — "Lawmakers look to revive vetoed projects," by News Service of Florida's Jim Turner: "House members have filed nearly 750 proposals as they take a second shot at bringing home tax dollars for local projects and programs. Lawmakers faced a Friday deadline for filing requests to tap into a new $80 million pot of money, called Local Support Grants, included in the state budget that took effect July 1. Gov. Ron DeSantis last month vetoed dozens of projects and programs from the budget. But the pot of money was tucked away separately in the budget, setting up a new process for lawmakers to seek tax dollars. The 747 proposals filed before the deadline seek $634.5 million and, in many cases, try to revive spending that DeSantis vetoed."
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | ARRIVING — "'Florida is turning into an abortion destination state": Thousands seek abortions in Florida amid bans in neighboring states ," by CBS News Manuel Bojorquez: "As states pass and revive legislation restricting abortion following the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, many women are heading to Florida to have the procedure done. Planned Parenthood facilities in Florida have taken in as many women seeking abortions as they could before the state's 15-week ban on the procedure went into effect this month, according to Dr. Samantha Deans, the associate medical director of Planned Parenthood of Southeast and North Florida 'We had to increase our staffing. We had to increase our appointments,' Deans told CBS News." UNDER THREAT — "Local leaders urge DeSantis to declare climate emergency in Florida," by Orlando Sentinel's Jennifer A. Marcial Ocasio: "Community leaders urged Gov. Ron Desantis Monday to declare a state of climate emergency immediately in Florida citing a recent report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that mentioned Florida is under significant threat. The call to action, launched during what Chispa Florida is calling Latino Conservation week, included State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D) and Florida Conservation Voters, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Jobs with Justice, La Mesa Boricua de Florida, Hope Community Center, Farmworker Association of Florida and Mi Familia Vota to raise awareness about climate change as a 'threat to the long-term safety and well-being of Florida's people, economy, and environment.'" WHAT'S GOING ON — "A country on edge: Cubans share images of protests, police beatings and healthcare crisis," by El Nuevo Herald Nora Gámez Torres: "Recent videos and publications on social media show how volatile the situation in Cuba remains a year after historic anti-government protests shook the island, underscoring the country's deteriorating economic and human rights situation. With the hashtags #Cubapalacalle — Cuba on the streets — and #SOSCuba, social media users have been sharing images of anti-government protests and police beatings, as well as the stories of Cubans suffering or dying because of public health failures."
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | BIRTHDAYS: Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry
| | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment