Check out the Obama campaign blog for photos from Barack Obama's swing through the Sunshine state.

Call 1-877-235-6226 or visit http://fl.barackobama.com to find your closest early vote location.

Americans' retirement plans have lost as much as $2 trillion in the past 15 months, Congress' top budget analyst estimated Tuesday. [...]

As Congress investigates the causes and effects of the financial meltdown, the House Education and Labor Committee was hearing from retirement savings and budget analysts on how the housing, credit and other financial troubles have battered pensions and other retirement funds, which are among the most common forms of savings in the United States.

"Unlike Wall Street executives, America's families don't have a golden parachute to fall back on," said Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., the panel chairman. "It's clear that their retirement security may be one of the greatest casualties of this financial crisis."

Yet, John McCain stlil wants to privatize Social Security.

And while Sarah Palin is in Florida promising that John McCain will "protect' entitlement programs, his economic advisers are telling the press that there will be massive cuts into Medicare and Medicaid. Perhaps she hadn't read in the newspapers her what her campaign wants to do just yet.

Staff at the Hillsborough County Democratic Party offices in Tampa have been getting barraged with phone calls from party members who have received what they say are deceptive mailers.

Some of the mailers sought support for Republican presidential candidate John McCain; others simply asked for a donation to the Republican National Committee. Most of the voters who have received them are elderly and registered Democrats, local party officials said.

"I still don't understand their angle," said Michael Steinberg, the county Democratic Party's executive committee chairman. "Frankly, it doesn't really make any sense."

One possibility, he suggested, was "vote caging." By sending the mailings to registered voters in envelopes that can't be forwarded, groups can compile lists of voters who might have moved or are part-time residents. Those lists could then be used to challenge the voters' registration and prevent their absentee ballots from being counted in the general election.

An editorial in the St. Petersburg Times calls the mailings some of the "sleaziest campaign tactics."

It apparently uses incorrect or fraudulent voter identification numbers, and it arrives on official-looking forms titled "voter registration tracking forms.'' One of its devious aims appears to be to build lists to challenge the eligibility of legitimate voters. Such an effort to confuse older voters is contemptible, and McCain should denounce it.

Florida Democrats:

Jacksonville, Florida's largest city with more than 800,000 people, voted for 58% for George W. Bush in 2004. When President Bush visited Jacksonville during the 2004 election, he had nearly 50,000 supporters fill Alltel Stadium. [Jacksonville Times-Union, October 24, 2004]

In contrast, John McCain only drew 3,000 at the most to see him this morning at Jacksonville Memorial Arena, which has a capacity of 16,000.

State Tax Collection Fell Short $263.9 Million Over Three Months This Year; Expected Worsen. "State tax collections fell a combined $263.9 million below anticipated levels in March, April and May. June figures are expected to be about $100 million short as the state sinks into recession, economists said." [Orlando Sentinel, 7/6/08]

Florida Is Facing $2 Billion Shortfall from First Year of Crist administration. Florida is facing a $2 billion dollar short fall from '07. [Tallahassee Democrat, 2/1/08]

Crist Using Half of the State Budget Stabilization Fund to Patch Hole in Current Budget. "Seeking to avoid a grim, budget-cutting session while they're running for re-election, legislators earlier this year gave Crist authority to use half of the state's budfund -- or about $700 million -- to patch holes in the 2008-09 spending plan." [Orlando Sentinel, 7/6/08]

For more on the Bush-McCain-Crist connection, go to the "100 Days, 100 Ways" web site (www.100days100ways.com).

For more on how Florida has suffered under failed Bush-McCain policies, visit the "Florida" article at McCainpedia.org (http://mccainpedia.org/index.php/Florida).

Residents of Florida and many other states are deeply affected by natural disasters, struggling not only in the aftermath of tornados and hurricanes but from day to day under the burden of rising property insurance costs. Hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 in Florida caused some Floridians' property insurance rates to triple by 2007. Yet when discussing catastrophic insurance, McCain said, "If people are going to build homes where hurricanes hit, they have to assume a great part of that liability." He added helpfully, "We don't have that many hurricanes that hit Arizona."

Americans want - and need -- change, but McCain is offering more of the same failed Bush policies that have left residents of Florida and other at-risk states burdened by soaring insurance rates and struggling after natural disasters.

Of course, McCain isn't the only one who will face tough questions about his opposition to the CAT fund during his trip -- Governor Crist will also have to answer questions about how he so strongly supports a candidate who stands in such strong opposition to a key state priority. Crist is a strong supporter of the CAT fund, championing it consistently and even testifying before the US Senate Banking Committee, saying, "A federal catastrophe fund would provide protection for American homeowners throughout the nation" and stating that a CAT fund would strengthen insurance markets.

MCCAIN'S REVERSALS ON A NATIONAL CATASTROPHIC INSURANCE FUND

First, He Implied He Had An Open Mind…

October 2007: Mac Is Back? McCain Now Back on the Insurance Bandwagon? Meeting with Gov. Charlie Crist in Florida, McCain "said he was interested in Crist's effort to create a national catastrophic-insurance fund to cope with major disasters like monster hurricanes or earthquakes." [The News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida), 10/2/07]

Then, Crist Praised McCain For His Support Of The Fund…

March 2007: McCain On Board With Gov. Crist's Idea of National Catastrophic Insurance Fund. In March 2007, Gov. Charlie Crist "praised McCain for his support of Florida issues such as a national catastrophic fund for disasters." [Palm Beach Post, 3/28/07]

But McCain Reversed Himself Again…

January 2008: McCain Refused To Support National Catastrophic Insurance Fund. In a speech in Coral Gables, Florida, McCain suggested that the government should do more to bolster FEMA and rejected the National Catastrophic Insurance Fund. McCain said, "I do not support a national catastrophic insurance policy… That insurance policy is there and it's called FEMA and it's called national disaster preparedness...I still do not have confidence that FEMA is capable of handling those responsibilities." [Miami Herald, Naked Politics Blog, 1/21/08]

Now, He's Bragging About His Opposition.

February 2008: McCain Bragged About His Opposition To A National Catastrophic Insurance Fund. In his speech to CPAC, McCain highlighted his opposition to the national insurance fund, bragging, "I campaigned in Florida against the national catastrophic insurance fund bill that passed the House of Representatives..." [John McCain CPAC Remarks As Prepared For Delivery, 2/7/08]

HIGHLIGHTS FROM MCAIN'S OPPOSITION TO A NATIONAL CATASTROPHIC INSURANCE FUND

McCain Says People Who Live "Where Hurricanes Hit" Should "Assume a Great Party of that Liability." As reported by the Tampa Tribune, "The Arizona senator has long opposed the creation of a national fund to help insurers cover catastrophic damage from natural disasters. "If people are going to build homes where hurricanes hit, they have to assume a great part of that liability," he once explained. "We don't have that many hurricanes that hit Arizona.'" [Tampa Tribune, 7/29/08]

McCain Opposes A National Catastrophic Insurance Fund, Even Though Some Of His Supporters Backed It. "McCain also faced criticism for opposing a national catastrophic insurance fund for hurricane-prone states. Democrats noted that Crist, who gave McCain a critical boost by endorsing him just before the Florida primary last January, had lobbied congress for the fund. His predecessor as governor, Jeb Bush, also backed the fun. … McCain has said he would instead bring industry and government together to protect homeowners. His spokesman, Tucker Bounds, said Thursday that the government-run fund would ignore the need for reforms of the private insurance market to make sure everyone can get coverage." [Miami Herald, 6/5/08]

McCain Withholds Backing For National Disaster Fund. Concerning the proposed national disaster fund, McCain "is resisting calls to back the program. 'This is a very large federal program,' and the only state currently in a position to benefit is Florida, said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Mr. McCain's policy director. … Mr. McCain, who opposed the federal catastrophe plan, received $690,000 from individuals in the insurance industry, $9,000 from Allstate employees and $21,000 from employees of State Farm." [Associated Press Financial Wire, 6/2/08]

April 2007: Bush Administration Stated Opposition to National Catastrophic Insurance Fund. The Tampa Tribune reported in April 2007 that the Bush administration opposed the creation of a national catastrophic insurance fund: "The Bush administration said Wednesday it opposes a national catastrophic insurance fund, even as Gov. Charlie Crist and Florida's two U.S. senators urged a congressional panel to help create one. … But Edward Lazear, chairman of the White House's Council of Economic Advisers, testified that the Bush administration thinks catastrophic risk insurance at the federal level, 'although well intentioned, would have significant adverse consequences on the economy, and would be unfair.'" The Tribune's editorial board later wrote that "the administration's uncompromising opposition is disappointing. The creation of an emergency fund deserves a hearing in Congress, and the president need not get in the way." [Tampa Tribune, 4/12/07; "President Should Stay Out Of Fight To Create Federal Disaster Fund," Editorial, Tampa Tribune, 4/14/07; Testimony of Edward P. Lazear, Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers Before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, 4/11/07, http://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/lazear20070411.pdf]

CRIST CHAMPIONS NATIONAL CATASTROPHIC INSURANCE FUND

Crist Cites Cat Fund as Way to Ensure "Protection for American Homeowners." In April 2007, Gov. Charlie Crist testified before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee where he called for the creation of a national catastrophic insurance fund: "The work of the Florida State Legislature has begun to address the insurance crisis in our state, but federal action is also necessary. I implore Congress to take the next step to ensure the affordability and availability of property insurance. … A federal catastrophe fund would provide protection for American homeowners throughout the nation. A national program would spread the risk across the country, thus strengthening our insurance markets. Capital for the plan could come from a portion of the property insurance premiums already collected by insurance companies. The funds could grow tax-free, provide the financial capability to cope with the catastrophic risk and allow affected regions the ability to recover more quickly from natural disasters. This federal backstop for insurers is an essential step to addressing the insurance crisis." [Testimony of Charlie Crist, Governor of Florida, before Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, 4/11/07, http://banking.senate.gov/public/_files/crist.pdf]

Tampa Tribune: "Crist Leads Push For U.S. Disaster Fund." "The Bush administration said Wednesday it opposes a national catastrophic insurance fund, even as Gov. Charlie Crist and Florida's two U.S. senators urged a congressional panel to help create one. 'We have a national defense in this country to protect us from foreign invasion. That makes sense,' said Republican Crist, pressing his case before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Development. 'Wouldn't it make just as much sense to have a fund to protect us from natural disaster?' Crist said. 'Don't we have a duty to protect our people, whether it's from a foreign invasion or from a natural catastrophe?' But Edward Lazear, chairman of the White House's Council of Economic Advisers, testified that the Bush administration thinks catastrophic risk insurance at the federal level, 'although well intentioned, would have significant adverse consequences on the economy, and would be unfair.'" ["Crist Leads Push For U.S. Disaster Fund," Tampa Tribune, 4/12/07]

MCCAIN BRINGS MORE OF THE SAME FAILED BUSH-MCCAIN POLICIES TO FLORIDA

Unemployed Up 61%. The number of unemployed workers in Florida has increased by 61% under President Bush. The number of unemployed has gone up from 316,059 in January of 2001 and preliminary figures for June of 2008 are 507,582, an increase of 191,523 workers, or 61%. The unemployment rate similarly increased from 4% to 5.5%. [Local Area Unemployed Statistics, (Seasonally Adjusted), Bureau of Labor Statistics, accessed 7/20/08, data.bls.gov]

Income Stagnant. Median household income in Florida only increased from $44,415 in 2000 to $45,038 in 2006, a difference of $623 per household. [Joint Economic Committee Fact Sheet, 8/29/07, (Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce), jec.senate.gov]

Some Floridians' Property Insurance Rate Tripled from 2004 to 2007. As reported by the New York Times, "But while Mr. Crist, a Republican, and the Republican-dominated Legislature said last week that they were committed to significant across-the-board rate reductions, reality proved more complicated. South Floridians covered by the state-run insurer of last resort because private companies refuse to insure their homes will see the smallest savings -- as little as 8 percent. Their insurance costs have as much as tripled since 2004, forcing many people to consider leaving Florida." [New York Times, 1/27/07]

DNC Chairman Howard Dean said the sum is unprecedented for a presidential campaign and represents a show of Democratic confidence that Latino voters could prove pivotal in states including New Mexico and Michigan. [...]

Targets will include Florida; Western states such as Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico; and Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, industrial battlegrounds with sizable Hispanic populations. The money will be spent on niche advertising and other outreach, along with mobilization efforts aimed at identifying, registering and turning out new Democratic voters.

Over the weekend, the campaign held a training session in Las Vegas to teach local organizers how to canvass Hispanic communities. A similar forum will be held soon in Florida, Dean said, and sessions in other states are in the planning stages.

These efforts do not bode well for John McCain. His team says "we've already been doing all that." Whatever it is they are doing, it is not working at all.

Although Republican rival John McCain represents Arizona, a state with a strong Hispanic presence, Dean cited a poll last week by the Pew Hispanic Center showing Obama's approval rating with registered Latino voters at 66 percent nationwide, compared with 23 percent for McCain.

The numbers are ominous for Republicans: Through May, Democratic voter registration in Broward County was up 6.7 percent. Republican registrations grew just 3 percent while independents rose 2.8 percent.

Democrats have posted even greater gains statewide, up 106,508 voters from January through May, compared with 16,686 for the Republicans.

"It's a huge swing," says Marian Johnson, political director for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. "I looked at that and said, 'Wow.'"

Chat away...

But with John McCain flip-flopping on the off-shore drilling moratorium, Vice President Dick Cheney and a slew of House Republicans decided to add yet another myth to their bag of tricks.

What do the following Republicans have in common?

Vice President Dick Cheney
Representative Michele Bachmann (MN-06)
Candidate Brian Davis (MN-01)
Candidate John Gard (WI-08)
Representative Sam Graves (MO-06)
Candidate Melissa Hart (PA-04)
Candidate Luke Puckett (IN-02)
Representative Jean Schmidt (OH-02)
Representative Tim Walberg (MI-07)

They're all making the same false claim that China is drilling for oil off the coast of Florida in Cuban waters.

It is silly, I know, but that is the latest talking point Republicans are pushing. Even former Republican National Committee chair and sitting Florida Republican Senator Mel Martinez knows just how silly that claim is:

The renewed efforts prompted Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, who opposes drilling off Florida's coast, to take to the Senate floor Wednesday to -- as his office put it -- ''debunk the myth'' of China drilling in Cuban waters.

''Reports to the contrary are simply false,'' Martinez said, his remarks delivered just before Cheney spoke. "They are akin to urban legends. China drilling off the coast of Cuba only 60 miles from the Keys, that is not taking place. . . Any talk of using some fabricated Cuba-China connection as an argument to change U.S. policy has no merit.''

During his last run for the presidency, in 1999, McCain supported the drilling moratorium, and he scolded the “special interests in Washington” that sought offshore drilling leases. Yesterday, he announced that those very same “moratoria should be lifted” and proposed incentives for the states “in the form of tangible financial rewards, if the states decide to lift those moratoriums.”

McCain caves, once again, to the special interest.