| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Due to a technical issue, today's Florida Playbook arrived in your inbox later than usual. We apologize for the delay. Hello and welcome to Tuesday. Let's go — After months of Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Val Demings ripping into each other during campaign appearances and in television ads, the two candidates will square off this evening in Palm Beach County in their first — and only — televised debate. Moving in stereo — Expect to hear a lot of amplification of the talking points the two have hurled at each other. Rubio will seek to link Demings to President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a tactic that has already shown up repeatedly in other Senate debates across the country the last few days. Rubio's campaign has just launched yet another ad where they label Demings as "Pelosi's puppet." "Tonight Marco Rubio will highlight his record of getting things done for Florida and shine a light on Congresswoman Val Demings' blind support for Democrats' agenda and her failure to deliver results for Floridians," Elizabeth Gregory, a spokeswoman for Rubio, said. You might think — Demings will hit Rubio as an extremist when it comes to abortion — where he has publicly stated that he would be in favor of a total ban with no exceptions for rape and incest. The former Orlando police chief will also likely smack him over his attendance record in Congress as well as his position on guns and his unwillingness to back any changes after the Parkland shootings. Christian Slater with Demings' campaign said that "you should look for her to highlight what you'd expect: her law enforcement experience, Rubio's failure to show up for work, and the various ways he fails Florida when he does." Touch and go — For Demings, time is running out. She has been a formidable fundraiser — and outpaced Rubio again in the most recent quarter — $22.5 million versus $9.8 million, and has been able to use that cash to remain on television since the summer. But polls have shown her lagging against Rubio in a state where President Joe Biden remains underwater and Republicans have widened their voter registration margin over Democrats. Shake it up — Rubio can be a skilled orator, but during his failed 2016 presidential bid things went awry, like when former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was able to put him on the defensive during one of the GOP debates. The question is whether Rubio — unworried about his electoral prospects — will rely on stock phrasing and talking points to get through the hour. All mixed up — Demings, however, could find herself challenged as she touts Democratic legislation such as the infrastructure bill yet at the same time trying to maintain a balancing act over where she agrees and disagrees with Biden. — 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
| | | | NEW AND IMPROVED POLITICO APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. With a fresh look and improved features, the sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don't miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. Already a POLITICO app user? Upgrade today! DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID . | | | | | |  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | GETTING PERSONAL — " Dueling accusations of doxing, death threats in Florida Senate District 38 election race ," by Miami Herald's Tess Riski: "Two candidates competing in a Florida Senate race have launched dueling accusations of doxing, with police opening a criminal investigation after Democrat Janelle Perez reported that she received death threats to her personal cell phone. Perez, 35, owns a Medicare HMO company with her family. She faces Republican challenger Alexis Calatayud, 28, who is the former policy and programs director for the Florida Department of Education. … Perez held a press conference Monday alongside Sen. Lauren Book, a Democrat for District 35, where she accused Calatayud's campaign of sending voters text messages with her personal cell phone number, and running campaign ads with a photo of Perez's home." Linked to Mailergate — The campaign arm for Senate Republicans led by incoming Senate President Kathleen Passidomo did send out text messages to voters in both South Florida and in the Tampa because both Perez and Sen. Janet Cruz appeared on a north Florida campaign mailer paid for by Senate Democrats that featured Republican Corey Simon, who is Black, on a gun target. That same mailer also featured pictures of children with targets over their faces. One text message captured by POLITICO says Cruz should resign for being behind a "racist campaign mailer." "Senate Democrats Lauren Book and Janelle Perez are desperate to turn the page form their racist, dangerous ad depicting a Black man and children on shooting targets," said Erin Isaac , a spokeswoman for the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee. "Instead of taking responsibility for this gross ad, Book and Perez want to somehow claim they are victims." Isaac also pointed out that the numbers included on the text messages came from information posted online by the state Division of Elections. Claire VanSusteren , a spokeswoman for Book, who is leading Senate Democratic campaign efforts this year, did not respond to questions about the numbers being publicly available, nor did she respond to a question about Democrats putting out their own text message critical of Calatayud that included her number. "Painfully obvious is the fact that Janelle Perez — the only openly gay and only brown-skinned Hispanic woman of the three targeted — was also the only one to receive death threats after Republicans sent these inflammatory texts," VanSusteren said in an email. "…Unless they condemn the ongoing threats of violence toward Janelle and her two small children, Republicans will continue to be complicit in these attacks." SCHOOL DAYS — " DeSantis, Crist make education issues key to governor's race ," by News Service of Florida's Ryan Dailey: "Education issues such as parental rights, school boards and teachers unions have become a key battleground in the race between Gov. Ron DeSantis and his Democratic challenger, Charlie Crist. DeSantis, who is widely considered a potential 2024 presidential candidate, has drawn national attention because of his at-times controversial education decisions. He also has gotten heavily involved in county school board races, helping many of his preferred candidates win seats in the August primary elections or advance to the November general election." — " Housing, rent and electric prices up big in Florida. What has DeSantis done to ease crisis? " by USA Today Network-Florida's Zac Anderson | 
Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist walks between tables at a campaign event in Pinecrest, Fla., Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) | AP |
CROSSING OVER — " Some Pinellas Republicans endorse Democrat Eric Lynn for Congress over Luna ," by Tampa Bay Times' Romy Ellenbogen: "A group of Republican and independent elected officials in Pinellas County endorsed Democrat Eric Lynn over his Republican opponent for the Pinellas-based congressional seat, citing Lynn's background in national security and his moderate values. Lynn is running against Republican Anna Paulina Luna for Florida's 13th Congressional District, which leans slightly red. He's focused his campaign on appealing to moderate voters, while Luna has leaned into the conservative base. On Monday, five current and prior elected officials announced their endorsement of Lynn, as did Beverly Young, a Republican and the widow of former U.S. Rep. Bill Young."
CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP — Attorney General Ashley Moody is out with another television ad that emphasizes her clashes with the Biden administration over border policy, and her support for law enforcement. The ad includes snippets from one of the Republican's frequent appearances on Fox News. The campaign calls it a "significant advertising buy" that will run statewide. As of late last week, tracking firm AdImpact showed that $1.65 million had been spent on ads supporting Moody compared to zero for her Democratic challenger. … Ban Assault Weapons Now has released a digital ad critical of Gov. Ron DeSantis ' stance on gun control that features snippets of 911 calls made during the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where 17 students and staff were killed. The ad points out that DeSantis said he would he vetoed the law passed in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting that raised the minimum age to buy a rifle from 18 to 21. "My nephew, Alex, along with 16 others, were executed with an assault weapon while at school," said Gail Schwartz, chair of BAWN. "Prior to that, 49 people were slaughtered at the Pulse Nightclub with a similar type of high-capacity, high-powered weapon made for war. The fact that our Governor would have vetoed the bipartisan law passed in the aftermath of those tragedies, and now wants to bring back old-west style, untrained carry, is irresponsible and unconscionable." … The Republican National Committee is hosting a get-out-the-vote rally this afternoon in Doral with the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee as part of the group's "Take Back our Country" tour. RNC chair Ronna McDaniel will attend the rally along with Sen. Rick Scott, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, as well as Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar and Carlos Giménez. … Charlie Crist, the Democratic nominee for governor, will be in West Palm Beach this morning where he will hold a press conference over a "growing affordability and property insurance crisis" that is happening under DeSantis … — " U.S. Senate candidate Val Demings leads golf cart ballot caravan in The Villages ," by Villages-News.com's David Towns — " Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist hosts 'Revive the Vote' rallies in Pinecrest and Hollywood ," by WSVN's Lorena Estrada and Robbin Simmons — " Can Democrats unseat LaMarca, the last remaining Republican state lawmaker in Broward? " by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Anthony Man — " Polling continues to give Kamala Harris the edge against Ron DeSantis in potential 2024 faceoff ," by Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski
| | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS | | BEHIND THE CURTAIN — " Perla was his boss. He was her ace. Inside the covert op behind DeSantis' migrant flights ," by Miami Herald's Sarah Blaskey, Nicholas Nehamas and Carl Juste: "The final of three cash payments — $700 total — was left under a chunk of broken concrete behind the East Terrell Hills location of a San Antonio barbecue chain. It was Sept. 20. The day everything fell apart. Perla Huerta, a 43-year-old former U.S. Army counterintelligence agent working for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, got out her phone and opened the secure messaging app Signal. "The money is going to be in the Bill Miller [restaurant] near your house,' Huerta wrote in Spanish to a 27-year-old Venezuelan migrant named Emmanuel. 'It's going to be behind the dumpster outside in a white envelope.'" ANOTHER LAWSUIT — " DOT and a Florida contractor face a public records lawsuit over migrant flights ," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders: "An open-government group has filed a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Transportation and a state contractor, alleging they did not comply with public-records requests stemming from controversial flights of migrants to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. The Florida Center for Government Accountability filed the lawsuit Saturday in Leon County circuit court. The non-profit group also filed a separate lawsuit last week against Gov. Ron DeSantis and the governor's office seeking to force the release of records."
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today . | | | | | | | ...HURRICANE HOLE... | | HMM — " Hurricane Ian debris hauling deal raises questions ," by CBS Miami's Jim DeFede: "As the west coast of Florida begins the long task of rebuilding after Hurricane Ian, Lee County officials are poised to award a debris removal contract that will raise the rate for hauling debris to landfills to $40 a mile. The current rate: Five cents. That single change could cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars in added fees, with the federal government likely picking up the bill. CBS News Miami has obtained emails, text messages and other records which show that the company in line to be given the contract — CrowderGulf — has added costs and services in other areas, as well, including the removal of debris from private property and waterways." AFTERMATH — " Florida coastal living reshaped by hurricane housing codes ," by Wall Street Journal's Arian Campo-Flores and Deborah Acosta: "Strong hurricanes and stricter building codes, arriving in succession, are changing the economic and demographic makeup of Florida's coastal communities. Inexpensive cottages vulnerable to harsh weather are giving way to pricier homes that are more resilient—a transition that is fortifying the housing stock, but limiting who can afford to live on the coast. Adding to the costs are escalating premiums for homeowners and flood insurance." SUNNY — Hurricanes Fiona and Ian gave solar power its time to shine , by POLITICO's Gloria Gonzalez, Kelsey Tamborrino and Catherine Morehouse: Solar power withstood the hurricanes that struck Puerto Rico and Florida last month — a fact that could aid the technology's supporters in lobbying battles around the country. Hurricanes Fiona and Ian caused catastrophic flooding, knocked out power lines and washed away roads and bridges. But people who could afford solar panels and batteries say those systems kept the lights on during the storms, and even allowed them to share electricity with neighbors left in the dark. — " Why the record number of 'flesh-eating' bacteria cases? Health department blames Hurricane Ian ," by Fort Myers News-Press' Amy Bennett Williams
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | NOW A FLORIDA MAN — " How Michael Flynn goes local to spread Christian nationalism ," by The Associated Press' Michelle R. Smith: "In Sarasota County, [Michael] Flynn and his allies have created a kind of laboratory for his approach, energizing local conservative activists through social media and public appearances, and gatherings at a venue called The Hollow that has become a meeting place for the far right. He questions American democratic institutions, repeats lies about the 2020 election, attacks the news media and embraces conspiracy theories about COVID-19. One of the groups he's welcomed into the fold is the violent extremist group the Proud Boys." | 
This image from video posted on Rumble on Feb. 23, 2022 shows Michael Flynn speaking at The Hollow in Venice, Fla. Flynn, who once led the U.S. military's intelligence agency, now is at the center of a far-right Christian nationalist movement that has a growing influence in the Republican Party. (AP Photo) | AP |
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | HEADED TO JAIL — " Former Lake City State Attorney Siegmeister gets 40-month sentence in legal corruption case ," by Florida Times-Union's Steve Patterson: "Former Lake City-area State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister will spend 40 months locked up for corrupt deals that undermined his office's integrity in return for money, a judge said Monday. 'Attorneys also have to hold attorneys accountable,' U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard said as she handed down the sentence in federal court in Jacksonville. A few hours later, Howard sentenced Dixie County defense attorney Marion Michael O'Steen, who was indicted with Siegmeister last year, to 44 months behind bars for extorting money from a client." HIRED — "' I was not intending to be here.' FIU names new president to replace Rosenberg ," by Miami Herald's Jimena Tavel: "The Florida International University Board of Trustees Monday selected Kenneth Jessell, the interim president, as the university's next president with a compensation package of nearly $1 million. "I'm very emotional," said Jessell, 67, right after he got picked. 'It's a little bittersweet because I lost my mother on Friday.' The FIU Board of Trustees unanimously voted to name Jessell as FIU's sixth president." TALE OF THE TAPE — " Police cameras show confusion, anger over DeSantis' voter fraud arrests ," by Tampa Bay Times' Lawrence Mower: "When police went to arrest Tony Patterson outside his Tampa home in August, he couldn't believe the reason. 'What is wrong with this state, man?' Patterson protested as he was being escorted to a police car in handcuffs. 'Voter fraud? Y'all said anybody with a felony could vote, man.' Body-worn camera footage recorded by local police captured the confusion and outrage of Hillsborough County residents who found themselves in handcuffs for casting a ballot following investigations by Gov. Ron DeSantis' new Office of Election Crimes and Security." — " Some 1,400 Florida schools receive $200 million in 'school recognition' funds ," by Florida Phoenix's Danielle J. Brown — " Orlando home sales plummet as mortgage rates keep rising ," by Orlando Sentinel's Trevor Fraser — "' Most popular piece of legislation' ever: Jacksonville considers banning balloon releases ," by Florida Times-Union's Hanna Holthaus — " South Florida, U.S. hotel revenues jump as consumers pay more ," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's David Lyons — " Universal gave Disney some competition in 2021, new report says ," by Florida Politics' Gabrielle Russon
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — " Father, son open fire on innocent woman they think is home intruder, Polk sheriff says ," by WFLA's Dylan Abad: "A Polk County father and son were charged with attempted murder after they opened fire on an innocent woman who they thought was trying to break into their home, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Monday. Sheriff Judd began a Monday afternoon press conference by describing the shooting incident as something that 'you just absolutely cannot believe.' 'This ranks among the craziest stuff that I have seen in a while — and I've seen a lot of crazy stuff,' Judd said." BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Amber Mariano Davis … former Rep. Dennis Ross .... Walt Disney Co's Caitlin Conant … Dara Kam, senior writer/editor with the News Service of Florida ... Alma Gonzalez, former general counsel at AFSCME | | | | 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 | | | | |
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