The shockwaves from the government-labor takeover at Chrysler is reverberating in the Tampa Bay area, as seven dealerships are set to be closed as part of nearly 800 dealer closings across the nation.
The local dealerships are:
Yes, it’s a bit harshly lit. And yes, Christine Jennings’ eyes don’t quite connect with the viewer as she reads the script. And she isn’t all warm-and-fuzzy looking. Aesthetics aside, however, this new TV ad gets away from the accusations-trading that has marked her challenge to incumbent Republican Congressman and gazillionaire car dealer Vern Buchanan by talking about the economic issues.
It went up this morning, and I already saw it on the Today Show earlier. The full script follows the jump.
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Here’s the second in our series asking the people of Tampa Bay who they are voting for in the Nov. 4 presidential election. And here’s the archive of our featured voters so far.
Rob Douglas, concert producer at Jannus Landing
He’s voting for: Obama/Biden
Rob Douglas
Why? “Obama, first and foremost, is thoughtful, articulate, even tempered and above all, intelligent! All traits that have been sorely lacking in D.C. for the last eight years. The way he has managed his campaign thus far is a good indication, I think, of how he would manage the country’s business. Ultimately, I believe Obama represents the future of our people and his opponent represents the past.”
What he would say to a McCain supporter: “I wouldn’t bother. Anyone supporting McCain is either an ideologue, incapable of critical thought or has a vested interest in the status quo. The choices and differences between the candidates are stark as are the stakes. It’s also inconceivable to me that anyone could still be on the fence about whom they were voting for. “
Local candidate who most interests him: “I am a registered Independent and I will vote as a Yellow Dog Democrat. I would like to see [Sarasota Congressman] Vern Buchanan get bounced out on his keister.”
Today we begin our series for Election 2008 in which we ask Tampa Bay: Who you voting for?
You can join in, too. Take our unscientific online survey here, and read the latest installment of who Tampa Bay is voting for after the jump:
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Today’s top political and media headlines from Tampa Bay, Florida and the world beyond. Updates in the aggregatin’ box to the right:
… and fails to pay his taxes, only in this case, it is employment taxes and not property taxes.
Congressman Vern Buchanan owes the IRS some big cash, according to the Sarasota daily and our CL blog, The 941, down there:
As reported in today’s Herald-Tribune, our local congressman, Republican Vern Buchanan, is again in hot water with the IRS.
This time, Vern has failed to pay more than $550,000 in federal employment taxes.
Buchanan’s seat has been targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue program as it supports a candidate it calls “the incumbent,” Democrat Christine Jennings who arguably was robbed in the 2006 elections when the ballot design caused 18,000 undervotes in Sarasota County.
Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan, whose 2006 election continues to contested by his Democratic opponent over (say it with me, folks, it is Florida after all) voting machine irregularities, is the tenth biggest fundraiser in the US House, CQ Politics says.
Its listing for the wealthy Sarasota car dealer:
• 10) Vern Buchanan , Republican
Florida’s 13th District (Southwest — Sarasota, most of Bradenton)
Campaign money: $1.4 million raised, $764,000 cash on hand
Buchanan was elected in 2006 to succeed two-term Republican Rep. Katherine Harris, who left open southwestern Florida’s 13th District to pursue a Senate campaign that failed. Buchanan’s 369-vote victory over Democrat Christine Jennings was exceptionally close — and controversial, as Democrats alleged that malfunctions in electronic voting machines led to a large “undervote†in a pro-Jennings county. Republicans said that the result was above board and that the Democrats were sore losers. Buchanan and Jennings are preparing for a rematch in 2008.
