- Poignant final words from Davis, and that’s a wrap
- Crist speech over, the real party begins
- Davis entourage takes the podium
- Crist goes on before Davis’ concession speech
- Davis concedes
- Maps are bleeding
- ‘Tude takes a downturn at Davis camp
- Crist about to give victory speech
- Waiting game at the Crist headquarters
- MSNBC barely makes a ripple
- Busanky concedes
- Fat lady HASN’T sung, Davis camp insists
- What, us worry?
- Crist Wins Says MSNBC, AP
- Keeping hope alive at the Davis camp
From Jackie Barron, Harris party HQ, Sarasota:
Brace yourselves. So far, a majority of voters in Sarasota County want to go back to the paper ballot system. That’s right. Folks here want to try it one more time.
I just came back from Election Headquarters in downtown Sarasota, where the pace is slow because election officials say voters filled out many of the absentee ballots so poorly the machines won’t read them. The next step requires the canvassing board to review the ballot and decide on the intent of a ballot with marks in multiple spots and then give those ballots to duplicators who basically revote by filling out a new ballot and feeding it back through the machine. The elections office says it had a big stack of those, and that doesn’t count the 40 absentee ballots still on their way from North Port in southern Sarasota County.
Are you tired yet?
Right now I’m sitting in the live truck waiting for Katherine Harris to concede. Democrat Bill Nelson gave his victory speech more than an hour ago, but Harris—it seems—is holding on. Still, the mood is pretty light at her party, and that’s mainly because it’s filled with folks making the rounds while they wait to celebrate with Republican District 13 Congressional Candidate Vern Buchanan. In fact, one of the local Republican Party leaders already described Buchanan’s narrow lead as one sign of some good news.
Rumor mill has it Harris plans to sit down with Larry King in the next 24 hours.
From Julie Pace, Crist party HQ:
Crystal told me to take a mental picture when I went up to Crist’s suite. You should see it, it’s fantastic.
But since there’s no way to transmit mental pictures, you’ll have to settle for this audio clip from the few minutes reporters spent with Crist. Crist Audio
Keith Cate, Crist party HQ:
This race is getting closer. The Charlie Crist big screen TV sets are showing Crist leading Jim Davis 54 percent to 46 percent. This is closer than the Associated Press, which is trailing in information. I have been tracking the AP with the Crist in-house feed from the precincts, and the Crist numbers are consistently more up to date.
Point is … there are fewer laughs and cheers when the results appear on screen. Don’t get me wrong, there is still a feeling of victory in the room, just not the overwhelming lead that has been present most of the night. The music has also changed. No more big band, it’s more pop. “Love Shack” is now playing. What an interesting room. It’s packed with a diverse group of people. Some in their party best—beautiful gowns for the ladies and starched shirts and ties (some in bowties) for the men—others in casual attire. The reporters are running around looking for scoops and interviews. Problem is, in a room full of media, everyone gets pretty much the same information at the same time.
I will have a live update on WFLA-TV at 10:25. See you on the tube.
From Rod Carter, Nelson party HQ, Orlando:
Many people have started to head home after an early victory speech by Senator Bill Nelson. The Embassy in downtown O-Town was packed with people for most of the short speech.
David Cornileus Jr., a recent college grad, came along with his Godmother to see the senator and snap a photo.
From Anthony McCartney, Davis party HQ:
Florida State Senator Les Miller just came into the press room and said Davis’ camp is actually encouraged by the early numbers.
“The larger counties are really not in yet,” Miller said. A lot of the figures are absentee ballots, and those sway Republican, he said.
Larger counties such as Hillsborough haven’t come in yet.
He said it could be a long night and that bodes well for Davis.
“This is going to be a real, real close race,” Miller insisted. “The longer the night, the better it is for us.”
Reality check: With roughly half the precincts counted in Hillsborough County, Davis is losing by 10 percentage points. Other precincts that haven’t been counted could go heavily for Davis, but the early returns here clearly aren’t in Davis’ favor.
From Julie Pace, Crist party HQ:
Well, the reporters got their turn, at least a few of us. The Tampa Tribune was one of a handful of newspapers (along with the Associated Press) let into Crist’s suite.
We found Crist sitting on the couch with his parents in front of a table filled with brownies, Doritos and cookies. The small group gathered upstairs was watching CNN for election updates.
Voters have been enthusiastic this week, Crist said.
“So far it looks like that energy is being reflected in the numbers,” he said.
Crist has not received a phone call from Jim Davis or Jeb Bush, but said he is looking forward to hearing from the governor.
We don’t expect to see Crist again until he comes down later in the night to give either a victory speech, which is looking increasingly likely, or to concede the election.
Crist wouldn’t say whether he has one or two speeches prepared, but he did joke about how he hopes the night will go.
“I know which [speech] I would rather give,” he said.
Thalia Potter Audio | Sydney Potter Audio
Anthony McCartney, Davis party HQ:
Few people have known Jim Davis the politician for longer than Thalia Potter.
Potter was Davis’ first legislative aide when he was a Florida state representative in the late 1980s. Potter has worked on his gubernatorial campaign since almost the beginning.
Tonight, she and her husband, Sydney, are at Davis’ party at the Grandy Hyatt Tampa Bay.
The couple are in their 80s, and have been volunteering tirelessly for Davis’ chances. Both say they believe if elected, he would be a governor with integrity and vision.
Thalia Potter recounted her first meeting with Davis and why she has stuck by him this election. (Thalia Potter Audio)
Sydney Potter has also supported Davis in his run for governor, and explained the major difference he sees between Davis and Crist in this interview. (Sydney Potter Audio)
A clue? All those greenbacks that bought all those T.V. ads ...
From an AP pool recording:
Jim Davis, with his family and running mate Daryl Jones, expressed confidence and satisfaction with today’s election. In brief statements to a pool of reporters, Davis said his campaign “succeeded in letting voters know our vision. That’s all I ever wanted.”
About 30 people are in an 11th floor suite at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay hotel near Tampa International Airport.
Asked if he would change anything had he to do it again, Davis joked, “It’s such a humbling experience. You do everything you can and it rains.”
But he expressed confidence his supporters wouldn’t let the rain keep them from voting.
Crystal Lauderdale, Crist party HQ:
Minutes ago they rounded up the photographers to visit Crist’s suite. No reporters allowed. As I grabbed my cameras and raced to join the herd, Julie tugged my sleeve and said, “Hey! Take mental notes for me.”
In the minute that I was there, the only information I could glean was that Crist was wearing his lucky tie. How’s that for reporting?
While a picture may be worth a thousand words, I guess they’ve decided that won’t be enough. Now they’ve gathered the reporters to visit with Crist for awhile. I’ve been left to my own devices so I’m taking over the blog!
As Julie was rushing away with her pen and notepad, I shouted, “Hey! Take some mental pictures.”
We’ll see what she comes up with.
Rod Carter, Nelson party HQ:
One interesting moment before the Nelson victory speech began: His daughter NanEllen sang a special song written for him.
People listened intently as the song went on: “Vote For Bill Nelson … elect him statewide.” There were lots of smiles as the song played and NanEllen sang.
Then, more serious moments as Grace Nelson spoke about Bill Nelson’s time in space. Billy Nelson next … all in front of a packed room.
Rod Challenger, Busansky camp, Tampa:
It’s a good thing it stopped raining. Democrat Phyllis Busansky is throwing an outdoor party on the patio of Michael’s Grill on North Dale Mabry for her supporters.
The one-time Hillsborough county commissioner is running for a seat in Congress against Republican Gus Billirakis who is hoping to replace his father in the U.S. House of representatives.
Busansky arrived at her party at 8:20 this evening, waved to supporters, then climbed the stairs to her campaign office adjoining the patio where she will watch the election returns with her family. A four-piece band is providing entertainment, and there’s a buffet line and drinks, making for a great party. Now, everyone here is hoping the 69-year-old grandmother can pull off a victory to cap off a great Florida evening.
Julie Pace, Crist party HQ:
Crystal is back with a full report from the Crist suite on the fifth floor of the Vinoy, where the man of the hour was spending time with his parents and Sen. Mel Martinez.
The Crist family shared a few hugs for the cameras, and Charlie told photographers about his lucky tie—a red one (naturally) with white stripes. His mom gave it to him.
Photographers were only inside for about one minute, Crystal says. Hey, it’s more than the reporters got. Not that I’m bitter or anything ...
Rod Carter, Nelson party, Orlando:
Senator Bill Nelson managed to slip in a back door and head to a suite upstairs to watch the results of his race come in. It was a short viewing party. After a number of news agencies started calling the race, Nelson staffers moved up their 9 p.m. Nelson appearance by half an hour. Now Nelson is expected to speak in 5 minutes. As you would imagine, the room’s all abuzz with happiness. Nothing but smiles here.
So here’s the program you should be able to watch in just a couple minutes here on TBO.com: a singer, a speaker, then Nelson himself saying a big thank you.
Julie Pace, Crist party HQ:
Two cheers just erupted in the ballroom.
The first came from the crowd, cheering as the latest projections for governor flashed across the television: Crist: 55 percent, Davis: 42 percent.
The second came from the still photographers in the press corps. One of Crist’s spokespeople, Erin Isacc, just gathered up a few of the photographers and escorted them up to the suite where Crist has been camped out all day. It was a flurry of lenses and flash cards as the photographers hurried to follow Isacc upstairs.
Unfortunately, no reporters were allowed, but I’ll make sure photojournalist Crystal Lauderdale gives us a full report when she returns.
Anthony McCartney, Davis party HQ:
I just arrived at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, where gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis is holding his election night party.
The polls closed less than an hour ago, and I left Davis at a precinct where was still trying to get last-minute votes. He looked relaxed and confident, and said he was still confident he could beat Charlie Crist, who has run a well-financed campaign.
Davis is set to meet with photographers in about half an hour as he watches returns coming in.
The hotel Davis selected is a popular spot tonight. The Yes on Amendment 4 folks are just down the hall from Davis’ party. And when I walked in, there was an impressive spread of food and a long line of people waiting to dig in.
The only problem? It’s not Davis’ food. There is a banquet here tonight for another group, and the food is theirs.
Davis’ spread is considerably less impressive. To be fair, most of his guests’ food isn’t out yet.
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