Daily Clips for November 2, 2010

PROGRESS FLORIDA IN THE NEWS Campaign roundup… Staff Report Florida Tribune Special: Find your polling place Related: 2010 Progressive Ballot Guide Excerpt: Progress Florida has released a new web video that pushes people to go vote. The ad runs through pictures of conservative politicians and supporters, such as former Gov. Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott and John Thrasher, and tells the viewer that “if they all vote and you don’t ... everyone in Florida loses.” FEATURED STORIES Sink, Democrats rally with Clinton, as GOP talks of Rubio's coattails By Beth Reinhard, Mary Ellen Klas and Steve Bousquet St. Petersburg Times Related: Tied in polls, turnout is key for Scott and Sink in governor's race Related: Polls: Sink, Scott in virtual tie Related editorial: Your vote counts The Democratic ticket in Florida turned to its party's most popular national figure, former President Bill Clinton, in a last-ditch effort Monday to rouse the faithful and offset Republicans swamping the early and absentee vote. Fla. governor's race considered key to presidential election in 2012 By Jane Musgrave, Dara Kam and Jeff Ostrowski Palm Beach Post Floridians are headed to the polls Tuesday to vote for their next governor, but the neck-and-neck race between Alex Sink and Rick Scott has implications far beyond the Sunshine State and leading all the way to the White House. Rubio, one-time underdog in U.S. Senate race, on verge of national conservative stardom By George Bennett, Jennifer Sorentrue and Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post Florida's marathon U.S. Senate campaign neared its end Monday looking nothing like the race that began almost two years ago. Florida Cabinet May Wind Up As A Panel of Rookies By Gina Jordan WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Tuesday's election could result in a complete turnover of the Florida Cabinet. 4 Fla. congressional incumbents on hot seat By Bill Kaczor The Associated Press Republicans focused on unseating four of Florida's Democratic incumbents Tuesday in their drive to take control of the U.S. House. POLITICAL RACES Political change in the air? What to watch for tonight as votes counted By William E. Gibson Orlando Sentinel When the polls close and election results stream in tonight, early returns from Florida's suspenseful race for governor and six closely contested congressional campaigns could indicate a Republican wave nationwide or a late Democratic comeback. Voters decide whether Scott, Sink will be governor By Mitch Stacy The Associated Press Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink are locked in a tight race for Florida governor, with the winner unlikely to be known until long after the polls close Tuesday. Sink or Scott, next governor has to be Florida's best promoter to businesses By Robert Trigaux St. Petersburg Times Be it Alex Sink or Rick Scott, our next chief of state must also be chief economic salesperson. In Florida governor's race, there's more than one winner By Brandon Larrabee Florida Times-Union The names on the ballot for governor in today's election are those of Rick Scott, the Republican, and Alex Sink, the Democrat. Senate candidates seek late edge in Orlando By Jim Stratton and Susan Jacobson Orlando Sentinel Former President Bill Clinton challenged Democrats at an Orlando rally late Monday to defy expectations and push U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek and a slate of party candidates to victory in today's election. Shrugging at Senate race polls, Charlie Crist remains upbeat Aaron Sharockman and Adam C. Smith St. Petersburg Times If you look at the polls, Charlie Crist's U.S. Senate campaign is poised for a beating today. Florida's Soap Opera of a Senate Race By James Call WFSU Public Radio Tallahassee Florida's three-way Senate race is building to a dramatic finish. Bondi, Gelber differ on focus in Fla. AG race By Kelli Kennedy The Associated Press Republican Pam Bondi and Democrat Dan Gelber have battled as Tuesday's attorney general election approached over whether Florida should challenge President Barack Obama's health care overhaul and adopt an Arizona-style immigration law. Putnam, Maddox battle for agriculture commissioner By Tamara Lush The Associated Press Republican Congressman Adam Putnam and former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, a Democrat, are both considered rising stars in their parties, which is why Tuesday's race for Florida agriculture commissioner could have long-term political effects. GOP certain to retain Fla. legislative majority By Brent Kallestad The Associated Press Most of Florida's incumbent legislators face weak or no opposition Tuesday, but the Democrats are hoping they can knock off one of the state's most powerful Republicans: Sen. John Thrasher, the Florida GOP chairman. Political robocall annoyance moves to cell phones By Becky Bowers St. Petersburg Times With Election Day here, take a moment to celebrate temporary relief from the robocall. Group Shines a Light on Money in Politics By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida It's Election Day, and by now you've probably been bombarded with radio and television ads either touting one politician or bashing another. Effect of today's vote will be felt for years By Chuck Raasch Ft. Myers News-Press Millions of Americans will vote Tuesday in an election that could give Republicans control of the House of Representatives and, possbly, the Senate and strengthen their ranks in state capitals. BALLOT INITIATIVES Fla. considers amendments to redistricting methods By Mike Schneider The Associated Press Two amendments that would set new rules for how legislative and congressional districts in Florida are redrawn every 10 years are being considered by voters Tuesday. Why Amendments 5 and 6 should pass By Howard Troxler St. Petersburg Times Every single bad thing that has been said about Amendment 5 and Amendment 6 on today's ballot, the "fair districts" proposals, is true. 31 Florida Lawmakers Faced No Opposition By Keith Laing News Service of Florida For 31 incumbent lawmakers, today's election was over before it started. Amendment 8 would loosen class-size limits By Bill Kaczor and Christine Armario The Associated Press Many school administrators are split from their teachers over an amendment on Tuesday's ballot that would loosen Florida's limits on the number of children who can be in public school classes. The 7 Myths of Class Size Reduction -- And the Truth By Leonie Haimson Huffington Post Across the country, class sizes are increasing at unprecedented rates. An estimated 58,000 teachers were laid off in September, at the same time as enrollment was increasing in much of the country. Amendment 4 would change development process By Tamara Lush The Associated Press A state constitutional amendment that would drastically change the development approval process in Florida is before the voters Tuesday. Fla.'s public campaign financing system faces vote By Antonio Gonzalez The Associated Press An amendment to abandon Florida's system of public campaign financing is being put to the test by voters. Few oppose Fla. military tax break amendment By Curt Anderson The Associated Press There was virtually no opposition before Tuesday's election to a proposed constitutional amendment that would give a new property tax break for thousands of Florida-based military personnel. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY Number of residents denied BP money up sharply By Brian Skoloff The Associated Press Denied claims for Gulf of Mexico oil spill victims are rising dramatically because of a flood of new filings coming in without proper documentation or with no proof at all, the head of the $20 billion BP fund said Monday. EDUCATION UF officials, students at odds on block tuition By Nathan Crabbe Gainesville Sun University of Florida officials made the case Monday for charging undergraduates a flat tuition rate, while students suggested the change would diminish the college experience. JOBS, BUDGET, AND ECONOMY Unexplained glitch delays state retirees' monthly pay By Bill Cotterell Florida Capital News The check is in the mail for thousands of Florida retirees who don't use direct deposit. HEALTH AND SENIORS Sunshine State Voters Polled On Importance Of Social Security By Gina Presson Public News Service Florida No cuts, please! Older folks in Florida and the nation like, and depend on, their Social Security. Toxic schools: Florida's aging, leaky schools outstrip dwindling pot of money to fix them By Denise-Marie Balona Orlando Sentinel Bill Smith sends this warning to Florida's teachers, students and parents: If you think indoor-air quality in public schools is bad now, just wait a few years. Many have gone pink; fewer aid the cause By Dayna Harpster Ft. Myers News-Press Which came first, the chicken chow or the egg cartons?