UPDATE: Apparently Jeff Greene didn't like the tone of our post, as well as other questions from political reporters today about his original light schedule for Election Day, which consistently previously of getting up and voting, and then coming back at the end of the night to host an election party.
Other candidates planned to campaign all day long, and now the Greene camp has announced that the Palm Beach real estate mogul will be out and about as well this afternoon.
The Greene camp announced three stops in South Florida this afternoon - in Pembroke Pines, Tamarac and Coconut Creek.
On the last full day of campaigning, all of the major candidates running for governor and U.S. Senate in Florida spent some time in the Tampa Bay area, "ground zero" in deciding tonight's major races.
But what about today? Back in the old days, I never remembered candidates doing too much on Election Day itself, other than going to vote in the morning. That's still what presidential candidates do — or did.
In Tampa, who can forget Al Gore appearing at an event at 4 a.m. on Election Day in 2000? His advisers had told him that the race was extremely close in Florida and that even a last-minute appearance would generate local television coverage and compel some uncommitted voters to go to the polls.
A look at today's schedule of events for the major candidates reveals who's working to the end, and uh, who's not.
Rick Scott
7:30 a.m. CDT, Visits polling site, Escambia County Courthouse, 221 S. Palafox St., Pensacola.
11:15 a.m., Visits polling site, Pablo Creek Regional Library, 13295 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville.
1:30 p.m., Voting, Precinct 477, St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 985 3 St., South, Naples.
1:50 p.m. Accompanying daughter and son-in-law to polling place, Precinct 471, Naples Branch Library, 650 Central Ave., Naples.
7 p.m., Primary Night Party, Fort Lauderdale Hilton Marina Hotel, 1881 Southeast 17th St., Fort Lauderdale
Bill McCollum
9 a.m., Voting, First Baptist Church of Sweetwater, 3800 Wekiva Springs Rd., Longwood.
12:15 p.m., Sign waving, 100 34 St., North, St. Petersburg.
2:45 p.m., Sign waving, 9501 Arlington Expwy., Jacksonville.
7 p.m., Watching returns, election night party, Hilton Orlando Altamonte Springs, Royal Palm Ballroom, 350 Northlake Blvd., Altamonte Springs.
U.S Senate
Meek
4:30 a.m., AFSCME Member Bus Terminal Stop-in, 16150 Northwest 42nd Avenue, Miami.
6:15 a.m., Breakfast at Jimmy’s Place, 11901 NW 7 Ave., North Miami.
7:15 a.m., Polling site stop, South Kendall Community Church, 16550 SW 147 Ave., Miami.
8:45 a.m., Polling site stop, Palm Beach Co. Fire and Rescue No. 42,. 14276 Hagen Ranch Rd., Delray Beach.
5 p.m., Sign waving, N. University Dr. and Sunrise Blvd., Plantation.
5:45 p.m.,. Polling site stop, Hollywood Hills High School, 5400 Stirling Rd., Hollywood.
Evening, Watching election returns, Westin Diplomat Hotel, 3555 S. Ocean Dr., Hollywood.
Jeff Greene
9 a.m., Voting, Palm Beach Fire Station #3, 2185 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach.
7 p.m., Watching returns, Marriott Hotel, 1001 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.
Okay, which candidate looks a bit like a slacker? Not all at once, now. Jeff Greene has taken some guff for not scheduling any campaign appearances before 11 a.m. and making sure he gets to sleep every night in his Palm Beach residence. A major work ethic he has not really shown in this campaign, leading to questions of how badly he wants it.
Even though he's spent a lot of money (as of last week an estimated $11 million), speculation began last week amongst some political writers and analysts that it wasn't enough. Yes, sure it's been several times more than what Meek has spent (or ever thought he would need in what looked like a relatively uncontested primary until Greene entered on the last day to qualify). But think about this: Thanks to his 527 friends, Bill McCollum is estimated overall to have spent $13 million — as of last week. Again, we'll see the final numbers soon, but how the hell can a full-time career politician end up outspending a Palm Beach billionaire? On the other side, Rick Scott and friends have ponied up an astounding $50 million, which really makes Greene look like he's been conservative with his money.
Then again, with one poll showing Meek yesterday with an over 20% lead over Greene, perhaps the real estate mogul is doing the equivalent today of the guy who realizes he doesn't know any of the answers on the test, and has already turned it in.
