More info on Sink & Scott Re: special interest money & good police endorsement

[The Backlash Cometh]

TALLAHASSEE — This weekend, Republicans and lobbyists for Florida’s biggest industries and interest-groups will gather around their new gubernatorial nominee and open their wallets to fund Rick Scott’s expected $50 million general election campaign at a plush resort in the heart of Walt Disney World.

Likewise, Democratic nominee Alex Sink is already beating the bushes in Tallahassee to raise unlimited amounts of special-interest cash from businesses, unions and trial lawyers through a newly created electioneering committee called “Hold Them Accountable, Inc.”

So, what’s different from past elections? Precisely, nothing.

Both Scott and Sink are trying to sell themselves to voters as outsiders who will battle the interest-groups that have significant influence over policymaking in Tallahassee, calling the state’s political process “broken.” But neither candidate is going to turn away their checks, either.

Since his primary election night speech that Tallahassee insiders were “crying in the cocktails,” Scott’s “Let’s Get to Work” committee has already accepted one $100,000 check from the South Florida Stadium Corp., the management arm of Dolphin Stadium where the Miami Dolphins and Florida Marlins play. The Marlins, and super-lobbyist Ron Book, have been one of the biggest lobbying forces in Tallahassee for years as they try to win passage of tax breaks for a new baseball park.


http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2010/09/sink-scott-opening-the-special-interest-floodgates.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+news%2Fpolitics%2Fpoliticalpulse+%28Central+Florida+Political+Pulse%29


Sink sweeps the law enforcement agencies

TALLAHASSEE — While Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott has been scooting around Tallahassee huddling behind closed doors with lobbyists and business groups, Democrat Alex Sink has also been feverishly trying to line up power interest-groups to aid her candidacy.

The latest example that pluralism is still alive and well: Sink has swept the endorsements from Florida’s law enforcement unions, the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police and the Police Benevolent Association. The FOP announced its endorsement Thursday, while the PBA had already endorsed her. Both endorsements give Sink instant street-credibility on “law and order” issues with voters as well as potent Get-Out-The-Vote support from police officers.

According to Sink’s campaign, it’s the first time the FOP has endorsed a Democrat for governor in 16 years and the first time a Democrat has won the backing of both law enforcement unions since they threw their support to the late Lawton Chiles in 1990.

“Alex Sink’s support of law enforcement and public safety is unwavering, and she is the kind of honest, upstanding leader all Floridians need on their side in Tallahassee,” said James Preston, President, Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, in a statement. “We know we can count on Alex to look out for the needs of law enforcement officers and to put the safety of law-abiding Floridians first. Alex Sink has been a strong advocate and loyal friend to the professional law enforcement officers who make up the FOP, and we are proud to support her.”

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2010/09/sink-sweeps-the-law-enforcement-endorsements.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+news%2Fpolitics%2Fpoliticalpulse+%28Central+Florida+Political+Pulse%29