Hot headlines from the Sunshine State:

  • GOP Lt. Gov candidate Jennifer Carroll says this of her partnership with Scott: “We are Batman and Robin; the dynamic duo.”
  • Meanwhile, the gubernatorial race heats up, with both candidates now soliciting unlimited campaign contributions through 527 organizations.
  • Republican Rick Scott has taken criticism for trying to federalize the race by linking his opponent, Democrat Alex Sink, to Obama. Now she’s being called out in turn for quietly distancing herself from the president.
  • DC-based FreedomWorks puts its weight behind Senate candidate Marco Rubio.
The candidates with FreedomWorks support include GOP challengers to Democratic Florida incumbent Reps. Allen Boyd, Alan Grayson, Suzanne Kosmas, and Ron Klein. But the key Florida focus is Rubio. […] FreedomWorks has identified 40,000 who could hold the victory for Rubio. “They are independent leaning, fiscal conservative, Reagan Democrats,” said Steinhauser said.
Starting next week, tea party activists will begin calling those voters. Using a sophisticated computer system, volunteers can work from home, allowing out of state volunteers to lend a hand. A group in Maine a few weeks ago was encouraged to help out for Rubio.
  • The 17th amendment emerges as an election issue in Florida, with at least two GOP House challengers, both of whom are in competitive districts, favoring repeal — and being hit by their Democratic opponents as extreme for their belief.