2010 elections

Alan Grayson's Political Career Dies Quickly

Eric Kleefeld | November 2, 2010, 8:48PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the freshman Democrat who defeated a Republican incumbent in 2008, and then became a star of the blogosphere and cable TV for his full-throated attacks against Republicans, has now gone down in crushing defeat, so soon after he burst onto the national scene.

With 160 of 239 precincts reporting, Republican former state Sen. Dan Webster leads Grayson 57.4%-39.2%, and has been projected as the winner by CNN and the Orlando Sentinel.

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FL-08

Susquehanna (R) Poll: Alan Grayson Trails By Seven Points

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2010, 3:55PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

A new Susquehanna (R) poll, commissioned by the conservative Florida news site Sunshine State News, has first-term Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson trailing his Republican opponent, former state Sen. Dan Webster.

The numbers: Webster 48%, Grayson 41%, Tea Party candidate Peg Dunmire 4%, and independent George Metcalfe 1%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3.46% margin of error. In the previous poll from a month ago, Webster had 43%, Grayson 36%, Dunmire 6%, and Metcalfe 3%.

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FL-08

NRCC's Anti-Grayson Ad Stars Creepy Clown (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 18, 2010, 3:18PM

NRCC ad attacking Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

The National Republican Congressional Committee has a new attack ad against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the fiery liberal who is being challenged by top-tier GOP recruit Dan Webster. And while this ad seeks to obviously turn voters against Grayson, it might especially alarm a particular sub-group of the electorate: People with clown-phobias.

The ad goes after Grayson's rabble-rousing image by having a person dressed up in clown makeup and a business suit, possibly meant to be a stand-in for Grayson. (From a distance, you can't tell if the clown actor is a man or a woman -- but the whole scene sure is creepy.) The ad also goes after the recent news over Grayson's "Taliban Dan" ad, which led to attacks that Grayson was selectively quoting Webster out of context.

"You've seen the headlines. Freshman Congressman Alan Grayson is a national embarrassment," the announcer says, as the clown comes into view. "But it's not just Grayson's behavior that's out of line -- it's his votes. Grayson backed a government takeover of health care. Grayson wanted a more radical takeover than the plan Congress passed. Grayson pushed a national energy tax that would cripple Florida's economy. We can't let Alan Grayson embarrass Florida anymore."

An interesting part of the ad, of course, is that the news quote about Grayson's anti-Webster spot being "one of the worst ads I've ever seen, one of the most dishonest," was cited to Sean Hannity -- who as we all know, is a paragon of honesty and virtue when it comes to using quotes from those he opposes.

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Alan Grayson

New Grayson Ad Hits Opponent On Women's Issues, Eschews Taliban Comparison (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | October 6, 2010, 4:49PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Here's that new ad Alan Grayson was talking about on CNN last night.

As promised, the spot steers clear of comparing his Republican opponent Daniel Webster to the Taliban, but it does focus on the same issues his previous "Taliban Dan" segment addressed.

The ad notes the following Webster positions:

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Acknowledges 'Taliban Dan' Moniker May Have Gone Too Far (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | October 6, 2010, 12:24PM

On CNN last night, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) acknowledged that his use of the nickname "Taliban Dan" to describe his Republican opponent Daniel Webster may have gone too far. But he defended the thrust of the ad, which depicts Webster as a Christian extremist.

"I know you disagree with your opponent, and -- and certainly you disagree with his views," said host Anderson Cooper. "But calling him Taliban Dan, I mean, it's equivalent to somebody -- calling somebody a Nazi or, you know, a Maoist. I mean, why go down that road?"

"Well, in a way, you're right," Grayson admitted. "We let that ad run and die a natural death. Now we're running an entirely different ad on the same point, because people need to know Dan Webster's record."

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Institute for Basic Life Principles

Inside The Institute For Basic Life Principles -- The Organization That Inspired 'Taliban Dan' Ad

Brian Beutler | October 4, 2010, 8:40AM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

"Wives, submit yourself to your own husband."

Those words, spoken by Tea Party backed Republican Daniel Webster, were spliced into a September campaign ad called "Taliban Dan," produced by Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), who is in danger of losing his conservative-leaning Congressional seat.

The problem for Grayson was that those words were taken out of context. Speaking before a gathering of a fundamentalist group called the Institute for Basic Life Principles, Webster said "[First] write a journal, second, find a verse. I have a verse for my wife. I have verses for my wife. Don't pick the ones that say she should submit to me. That's in the Bible. But pick the ones that you're supposed to do. So instead "love your wife, even as Christ loved the church he gave himself for" as opposed to 'wives, submit yourself to your own husband.' She can pray that if she wants to."

Webster's been with IBLP in its various forms for decades. After he released the full footage of his remarks, many critics indicted Grayson for dissembling. It appeared, after all, as if Webster had repudiated female submissiveness to husbands. So Grayson took his lumps. And the underlying claims in the ad -- including that Webster opposes all abortion, even in cases of rape -- went largely unaddressed.

However, the distorted remarks notwithstanding, a former member of IBLP told TPMDC last week that Grayson has every right to compare the organization's mores -- and Daniel Webster's as well -- to those of the Taliban.

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FL-08

Alan Grayson To TPM: That Poll Is Bogus, I'm Totally Winning

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 1, 2010, 10:41AM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Progressive firebrand Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) told me last night that rumors of his political demise have been greatly exaggerated.

"We're winning," Grayson told me during a long phone call.

For the past week, bad news has been mounting for Grayson, first in the form of a lawsuit that re-raised rumors that he's behind a mysterious "Tea Party" in Florida -- which real movement tea partiers say is a hoax designed to split the GOP vote. Second -- and potentially worse for the first-term Grayson -- was the release of a public poll earlier this week that showed Grayson trailing Republican nominee Daniel Webster by seven points.

Grayson categorically dismissed the poll, which was published in the right-leaning Sunshine State News and was conducted by a firm owned by Republican pollster Susquehanna.

"This is a consistently biased pollster that comes up with polling that is not believable," he said. Grayson pointed to the internal poll he released last month showing him ahead of Republican nominee Webster by 13 points.

"I don't know how anybody could possibly believe we've dropped 20 points," he said.

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FL-08

Susquehanna Poll: Alan Grayson Trails By 7 Points

Eric Kleefeld | September 29, 2010, 9:52AM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

A new Susquehanna (R)/Sunshine State News poll of Florida's 8th District shows fiery liberal Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson trailing his Republican opponent, former state Sen. Dan Webster.

The numbers: Webster 43%, Grayson 36%, plus 6% for Tea Party candidate Peg Dunmire and independent George Metcalfe. The survey of likely voters has a ±4.14% margin of error. There is no previous poll of this race by this firm for direct comparison

The pollster's analysis finds that Grayson's unfavorable rating is at 51%: "He's even more unpopular than the president, which is not surprising given how controversial he has been with his rhetoric, overall style and TV ads."

Grayson's district has historically voted Republican, but swept him into office with the 2008 Obama wave. Since then, he has distinguished himself mainly by his over-the-top attacks on Republicans. In some ways, it seems like he's made a point of attacking Republicans with the same vitriolic rhetoric they use against Democrats. For example, he famously said the Republican health care plan is for people who get sick to "die quickly," imagined Dick Cheney as a vampire, and recently released an ad dubbing Webster "Taliban Dan," declaring that Webster is out to oppress women -- and in the latter case, appearing to take Webster's full comments out of context from the original video.

FL-08

Webster: Wives Should Submit Themselves To Their Husbands -- If They Want To (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | September 28, 2010, 11:03AM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

This weekend Alan Grayson went live with a striking ad, bringing to light his opponent Daniel Webster's extreme religious views. The ad, called "Taliban Dan," highlights Webster's positions on divorce (against) and abortion (not even in cases of rape), but it also spliced in footage of Webster telling an audience "wives submit yourselves to your own husband," and "submit to me."

The Webster campaign points out that the remarks are taken out of context. Webster actually said husbands and wives should dedicate Bible verses to one another. Men should use them to reinforce their commitment to their wives. Women should use them to submit themselves to their husbands... if they want to.

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2010 elections

AFL-CIO Drops Millions Of Mailers In Key Races

Eric Kleefeld | September 27, 2010, 4:50PM

Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO

The AFL-CIO is continuing to throw its weight into the midterm elections, Politico reports, with a whole new load of mailers in different key races.

All in all, the AFL-CIO is dropping 3.5 million mailers into 66 races this week. Among the key picks:

• A mailer in the Connecticut Senate race, featuring a pro-wrestler in a mask, with the text proclaiming: "Don't let Linda McMahon put the smack down on Connecticut workers.

• A mailer in the West Virginia Senate race, hammering Republican businessman John Raese and promoting Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin: "After the deadliest mining disaster in 40 years, one Senate candidate wants to 'unshackle' management from safety regulations, and one is fighting to make them stronger."

• A mailer in Florida's 8th District, home to the fiery liberal Dem Congressman Alan Grayson, attacking Republican candidate Dan Webster for wanting to renew the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy: "Wall street wrecked our economy, and America's middle class paid the price. Now, Daniel Webster wants to repeat the past."

Alan Grayson

Grayson Ad Hits "Taliban Dan Webster" For Demanding Submissiveness From Women (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | September 27, 2010, 9:40AM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

A tough new ad by Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) has his Republican opponent Daniel Webster on the defense just weeks before the election. The segment focuses on Webster's extremely conservative religious views, and concludes by calling him "Taliban Dan Webster."

"Religious fanatics try to take away our freedom: In Afghanistan, In Iran, and right here in Central Florida," the narrator begins.

Though reporters and partisans argue about dubbing a Congressional candidate a member of the Taliban, perhaps the most damning portion of the ad comes from multiple pieces of footage Grayson has unearthed of Webster referencing and endorsing parts of the bible that instruct women to be submissive to their husbands.

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2010 elections

Tea Party Fakers? Dems Blamed For Co-Opting 'Tea Party' Label To Split Conservative Vote

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 27, 2010, 8:22AM

At a tea party rally.

In many ways, 2010 will be the Year of the Tea Party. The angry conservative movement has bumped off a number of moderate and establishment Republicans in the primary season, packed huge rallies across the country and provided most of the best drama of the political year. But the success and prominence of the tea party movement has led to another trend: across the country, Democrats have been accused of helping get phony "Tea Party" candidates on the ballot in competitive races, in an attempt to split the vote between the Republican and fake "Tea Party" nominee so the Dem can cruise to victory.

It all made a lot of sense at the start. Back at the beginning of 2010, the tea party movement was showing real signs of splitting off into a separate political party. This was before the tea partiers set their sights on remaking the GOP with Senate nominees like Sharron Angle, Ken Buck and Christine O'Donnell, and, in turn, the GOP embraced the movement with both arms. A few clever Democratic activists, it appears, set about to take advantage of the schism between the GOP and tea party.

Evidence of the alleged plan has popped up in Florida, Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania this year. Time will tell how successful it's been, but so far it's had very little effect.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Opponent Supports Indefinite Occupation In Afghanistan (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | September 17, 2010, 4:45PM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

Florida Republican congressional hopeful Daniel Webster has a 2003-era view of American wars. A source sends over video footage of a Webster campaign event where he advocates that U.S. troops stay in Afghanistan indefinitely at the military's discretion, and use it to create a series of democracies in the Muslim world.

"Our national interest is this: We need a beachhead in the Middle East, that is a democratic beachhead, not a party but a form of government," Webster told voters. "And to me, if we have a democracy in several countries there, it become a beachhead. It also protects us because once that beachhead is established it can move further and further and hopefully free up the people of the middle east."

Webster was asked specifically how long he believed U.S. forces should remain in Afghanistan. He says that's none of voters' business. "However long we stay is a military decision that should not be shared with the public," Webster insisted, to a round of applause.

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Marco Rubio

Rubio Appears With Far Right Evangelical, Revisionist Historian

Brian Beutler | September 17, 2010, 11:16AM

Marco Rubio

Republican Senate hopeful Marco Rubio is getting a little help on the campaign trail from a questionable customer.

At an event Wednesday near Orlando, Rubio was introduced to a crowd of 200 by evangelical David Barton, whose claims to fame include orchestrating the push to change Texas textbook standards to paint the far right in a positive light and helping to develop the radical Texas constitution.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson's Opponent Boasts Support From Far Right Texas Conservative

Brian Beutler | August 31, 2010, 9:00AM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

Alan Grayson's GOP opponent Daniel Webster has a thorn in his side. Listed in his official voter guide as a top supporter is a right wing activist named David Barton, who has already come under scrutiny for addressing two white supremacist organizations.

Barton claimed in both circumstances that he was unaware of the group's white supremacist ties. But that doesn't mean he's not possessed of extreme views of his own. From 1998 to 2006, he served as vice-chair of the Texas Republican party, which is notorious for having one of the most zealously conservative platforms in the country.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Knocks 'Taliban Dan' Webster For Supporting 'Covenant Marriage'

Brian Beutler | August 23, 2010, 10:23AM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) isn't taking any chances with his re-election, attacking all of his potential opponents as they fight each other in the GOP primary. But he's saving his harshest line for his likely rival, Daniel Webster -- or, as Grayson calls him, "Taliban Dan." Why? Because in 1990, Webster sponsored and supported legislation in Florida that would have made it much more difficult for people to divorce -- a policy called "covenant marriage."

In a letter to supporters, Grayson described it like this: "Dan Webster's bill reduces the institution of marriage to a roach motel: You can check in, but you can't check out."

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FL-08

How The Florida Tea Party Might Help Alan Grayson In November

Jillian Rayfield | June 18, 2010, 5:32PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

As election day approaches, Republicans have lost some of their bravado when it comes to possibly taking control of the Senate from Democrats.

But down in Florida's 8th district, Tea Party candidate Peg Dunmire is crushing the dreams of some Republican hopefuls who want to take over Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson's House seat as well.

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FL-08

GOP Candidate Advocates Racial Profiling At Airports In TV Ad (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | May 5, 2010, 11:18AM

Florida congressional candidate Dan Fanelli (R)

One of the Republican candidates seeking to run against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), Navy veteran and former airline pilot Dan Fanelli, has a new ad openly advocating the use of racial profiling at airports.

"Does this look like a terrorist?" Fanelli says, pointing to an elderly white man. "Or this?" he asks, turning to a burly tan-skinned man with facial hair.

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FL-SEN

Big-Name GOPer Running Against Grayson -- Six Months After He Previously Opted Out Of Race

Eric Kleefeld | April 23, 2010, 12:18PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Republicans have landed a top-tier candidate candidate to run against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the fiery liberal best known for his over-the-top comedic insults against the Republicans. But before this new candidate, former state Sen. Dan Webster, can take on Grayson, he'll first have to make it through a crowded Republican primary -- which is itself full of candidates who got in when they thought Webster wasn't running.

Webster announced in October 2009 that he would not run, declaring at the time: "When in doubt, don't." Six months later, he enters the race saying that his family had previously not been united on the idea of running, but now are behind him.

Webster has the endorsements of former Gov. Jeb Bush and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. He must still run in a Republican primary against businessman Bruce O'Donoghue, state Rep. Kurt Kelly and others who might not have run if Webster had gotten in six months ago.

Alan Grayson

Grayson Raises Over $800K In First Quarter

Eric Kleefeld | April 12, 2010, 7:09PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the fiery liberal best known for his insults and punchlines against the Republicans, has sure been able to parlay his notoriety into financial support.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that Grayson's campaign expects to report raising an astonishing $803,000 in the first quarter of 2010, and that he has $1.5 million on hand. (Over half appears to have come from a March 27 money-bomb online fundraiser, which took in $470,000.) Grayson's campaign said that the donations came from approximately 25,000 individual donors, with an average contribution of $32.

Beyond his grassroots fundraising, it should also be noted that Grayson himself is a multi-millionaire, and self-financed his 2008 campaign with about $2.6 million of his own money. But he could very well end up needing all of those small donors plus some of his own cash, hailing from a swing district that voted narrowly for Barack Obama in 2008, after a previous history of supporting Republicans.

Alan Grayson

Grayson Crashes Local GOP Meeting, Blasts Them For Infiltrating Pro-Obama Group (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 9, 2010, 6:09PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) paid a visit to an audience that wouldn't be a natural venue for a fiery liberal such as himself: A meeting of the local Orange County Republican Executive Committee.

Grayson told the Orlando Sentinel that he was attending a local home-owners association meeting in the same restaurant, and then went over to the Republicans to express his displeasure about a flier promoting a recent infiltration by Republicans of a local pro-Obama group.

"That's political dirty tricks," Grayson said. "I went over to find out what their side of the story was, and whether they approved of that."

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2010 elections

First-Quarter Fundraising Roundup -- Day One

Eric Kleefeld | April 1, 2010, 6:43PM

Fmr. Nevada GOP Chair Sue Lowden and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Here are some of the latest pieces of fundraising news in races from across the country, as the first-quarter money results start to come in:

• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who is in danger of losing his seat this year, raised $1.5 million, and has over $10 million on hand.

• Former Nevada GOP Chair Sue Lowden, one of the candidates for the Republican nomination against Reid, raised $500,000. She has pledged to self-finance to match her individual donations, so this would bring in another $500,000 for a total of $1 million.

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2010 elections

Howard Dean Pens Fundraising E-mail For Alan Grayson

Eric Kleefeld | March 25, 2010, 12:09PM

Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean and Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), who is known for his fiery and comedic attacks on the Republicans, is getting some help in his re-election from former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who has written a fundraising letter for the self-proclaimed "Congressman with guts."

"Congressman Alan Grayson is a healthcare hero," Dean says, going on to explain that Grayson focused the health debate by "going on offense" against the GOP.

"He exposed the Republican healthcare plan as Don't Get Sick, and if you do, Die Quickly. Grayson changed the debate and put the Republicans on the defensive right before the first House vote in November. He's never been afraid to call Republicans out on their obstructionism and he isn't going to start now," Dean writes. "Alan Grayson is standing up for us. Now, we need to stand up for him."

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Alan Grayson

Report: Grayson Raised $850,000 In Last Quarter

Eric Kleefeld | January 8, 2010, 1:12PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the freshman Congressman best known for his bombastic attacks against the Republican Party, had a very good fundraising quarter in the last three months of 2009, taking in $850,000.

The last three months have really been the period when Grayson's fame took off among the liberal blogosphere, and much of his money came from online. His fundraising immediately picked up after he declared that the Republican health care plan was for people who get sick to "die quickly," which happened just as the third quarter was about to end. He also heavily promoted a one-day "money-bomb" fundraiser in November, which brought in over a half-million dollars.

Grayson now reportedly has roughly $1 million cash on hand. Grayson's re-election is not assured, as he represents a swing seat that narrowly voted in 2008 for Grayson and Barack Obama after years of favoring Republicans.

Alan Grayson

Florida GOP State Rep. Plans Run Against Alan Grayson

Eric Kleefeld | January 5, 2010, 3:47PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the fiery liberal best known for his frequent insults against the Republicans, has just attracted another GOP opponent, with state Rep. Kurt Kelly getting into the race this morning.

Republicans have had some problems finding a candidate to run against a high-profile liberal in what is very much a swing seat, with previous top prospects ultimately deciding not to run. One possible factor could be the need to raise a lot of money against Grayson, who self-financed with $2.6 million of his own money in 2008, and on top of his own wealth has been able to raise quite a bit of money from liberals across the country.

The only significant candidate so far has been real estate developer Armando Gutierrez, who moved from Miami to Orlando just to run against Grayson and is opposed by many in the GOP. With Kelly, however, Republicans could finally have what they want -- a credible candidate from the local area.

The St. Petersburg Times points out that Kelly comes in with high name recognition in Ocala, but most of the district is in Orlando -- so he still has a lot of work to do.

Alan Grayson

Why Does The GOP Not Want Their Current Candidate Against Grayson?

Eric Kleefeld | November 12, 2009, 6:12PM

FL-08 Candidate Armando Gutierrez (R) and Rep. Alan Grayson (D)

The Republican efforts to find a candidate against the fiery liberal Democrat Alan Grayson continue -- with a focus on finding someone else besides the current de facto frontrunner, 28-year old real estate developer Armando Gutierrez. So what exactly is their problem with him?

Gutierrez, who comes from a politically well-connected family in the Miami Cuban community, has picked up some decent endorsements so far, including Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL), several state legislators, and George P. Bush, the son of former Gov. Jeb Bush. However, other candidates could still get in -- state Rep. Kurt Kelly says he might get in if nobody better opts for it, and Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, who previously shied away from the race, now says he's staying out "for now."

A Republican source told us that local GOPers aren't accepting Gutierrez, due to youth and inexperience, and the fact that he is seen as having moved into the Orlando district from Miami to buy the nomination. "A lot of people think you need an adult to contrast with Alan Grayson's childish behavior," the source said. "So let's be honest, Armando Gutierrez is 28 years old, and doesn't have much of a résumé in terms of creating jobs or influencing public policy or anything like that."

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Alan Grayson

Report: GOP Candidate Against Grayson Alienating Local Republicans

Eric Kleefeld | November 11, 2009, 12:57PM

FL-08 Candidate Armando Gutierrez (R) and Rep. Alan Grayson (D)

Republicans could still be having trouble with candidate recruitment against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), The Hill reports -- specifically, from local Republicans who are unhappy with the current de facto frontrunner for the nomination.

Grayson, of course, is the fiery liberal best known for saying the GOP's health care plan is for sick people to "die quickly," and who also called former Vice President Dick Cheney a vampire, and referred to a female lobbyist as a "K Street whore." Although Grayson represents a swing seat, Republicans have had trouble recruiting a top-tier challenger, with many potential recruits shying away.

Into the void has stepped Armando Gutierrez, a 28-year-old real estate developer who has moved to Orlando from Miami, in order to run for the seat. "He's pissing people off a lot," said an anonymous local GOP operative. "He's very pushy and is an unknown commodity, and people are jealously guarding their prerogatives."

Gutierrez brushed off the criticism. "As long as I keep getting calls and people want to meet me in Central Florida, I'm happy," said Gutierrez. "As long as that continues to happen, the momentum and the will of the people is going our way."

Alan Grayson

In Crowded Field, GOP-er Focuses All On Grayson

Rachel Slajda | November 4, 2009, 12:54PM

FL-08 Candidate Armando Gutierrez (R) and Rep. Alan Grayson (D)

With one year to go, the field of challengers to Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) is becoming a crowded place. Seven Republicans have filed paperwork with the FEC, and a handful more have reportedly been meeting with the NRCC as national Republicans try to vet a competitive candidate.

Grayson, of "die quickly" and "K Street whore" fame, is a juicy target for Republicans, especially the relatively unknown who can make his comments an issue. Cue real estate developer Armando Gutierrez Jr., who has based his entire early campaign around defeating Grayson.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Raises Half-Million In 'Money-Bomb' Fundraiser

Eric Kleefeld | November 3, 2009, 10:52AM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) was able to raise a half-million dollars in his "money-bomb" fundraiser -- a single day of massive online donations -- a solid amount that ought to go a long way towards him fighting out his 2010 campaign, in which the Republicans have had trouble recruiting a big-name candidate to oppose the fiery left-winger.

According to Grayson's official page for the fundraiser, he has taken in $507,125.

Let's compare that to another recent money-bomb, by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), who urged her supporters to "send the left a message." In her case, Bachmann only took in about $100,000.

Grayson had a definite public-relations strategy for his money drive, having spent about two weeks promoting the scheduled fundraiser in his TV appearances and other venues, and he built up pledges that could be quickly collected in the morning. Bachmann did not have any similar pledge operation, and as a result Grayson outdid her by a five-to-one ratio.

Alan Grayson

Grayson Conducting Money-Bomb Fundraiser, To Reward 'Congressman With Guts'

Eric Kleefeld | November 2, 2009, 11:50AM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) is conducting a "money-bomb" fundraiser today -- a single day of big fundraising -- in an effort to show that Americans support him as a self-proclaimed "Congressman With Guts."

Grayson had promoted this fundraiser for the last two weeks, and was building up pledges that could then be quickly collected in the morning.

So far, he's at $354,307, closing in on his official goal of $400,000. Let's see how he does for the whole day.

Alan Grayson

Grayson's Office: Let's Be Clear About Context of 'K Street Whore' Comment

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 1:10PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson's (D-FL) office is making clear that when he referred to a female lobbyist a "K Street whore" during a radio interview, he was only referring to her professional career, not her personal life.

CBS News reports that Grayson spokesman Todd Jurkowski told them:

"Let's be clear about the context," he said. "The attack was on her professional career, not her personal life."

"She attacked the Congressman and his efforts to promote a Republican bill to audit the Federal Reserve," Jurkowski said. "She actually questioned his understanding of the difference between fiscal and monetary policy. She had the audacity to attack a Congressman who used to be an economist. She's a career lobbyist who used to work for Enron and advocates for whatever she gets paid to promote."

Alan Grayson

Grayson Opponent Attacks 'K Street Whore' Comment

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 12:46PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

One of Rep. Alan Grayson's (D-FL) Republican opponents is seizing on his newly-unearthed comment, in which he called a female lobbyist a "K Street whore."

Armando Gutierrez, a real estate developer who moved from Miami to Orlando in order to run against Grayson, has a new press release:

The tragedy of this is that the gross recklessness of statements such as this seems to be lost on Grayson.

From accusing Republicans of murder on the scale of Holocaust to labeling an honorable public servant a "whore," Grayson has once again shown America that he is, to borrow the words of his fellow Democrat, Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York, "one fry short of a happy meal."

Grayson seems to be giving Republicans no shortage of opposition-research material against him for 2010, and this latest episode is no exception. The full press release is available after the jump.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Calls Lobbyist 'K Street Whore'

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2009, 9:49AM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) -- the man best known for saying that the Republican health care plan is for Americans who get to "die quickly," and for calling former Vice President Dick Cheney a vampire with blood dripping from his teeth -- may have gone a bit too far in one of his latest rhetorical excesses, calling lobbyist Linda Robertson, who used to advise Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, a "K Street whore."

The comments were made a month ago, when Grayson appeared on the radio show of right-wing talker Alex Jones, and was just discovered and circulated by the NRCC. "Here I am, the only Member of Congress who actually worked as an economist. And she's, this lobbyist, this K Street whore, is trying to teach me about economics," said Grayson.

Grayson spokesman Todd Jurkowski stood by the Congressman's comments, telling the Orlando Sentinel in an e-mail: "She attacked the Congressman and his efforts to promote a Republican bill to audit the Federal Reserve. She actually questioned his understanding of the difference between fiscal and monetary policy. This is [a] person who used to be the chief lobbyist for Enron attacking the intelligence and motives of a Congressman who used to be an economist."

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Alan Grayson

GOP Candidate Filing Ethics Complaint Against Grayson

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2009, 10:54AM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Patricia Sullivan, a Tea Party organizer seeking the Republican nomination against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), is filing a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics over Grayson's use of the House floor to promote his "Names of the Dead" Web site:

As a Mom, Patricia has learned to apply swift correction to bad behavior. She will be filing a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics later today. It is her hope and desire that the OCE will forward the complaint to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

If the committee sees fit to censure the violations of Representative Grayson, perhaps the residents of the 8th Congressional District will no longer be subject to the constant embarrassment they have endured over the last few months.

Grayson's office did not have any comment on Sullivan's press release. A source in the office said that they've reached out to the Ethics Committee and the House Administration Committee for their opinion, and are also speaking to their FEC attorney.

Check out the full Sullivan statement after the jump.

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Alan Grayson

GOP Candidate Switches Districts, To Run Against Grayson

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 6:14PM

FL-08 Candidate Ken Miller (R)

Ken Miller, a Republican House candidate who had been running against freshman Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL), has announced that he's switching out of that race -- and will instead be seeking the GOP nomination in an adjacent district, to go up against none other than Rep. Alan Grayson.

Miller said that he made his decision after the previous top GOP prospect for the Grayson race, former state Sen. Dan Webster, opted against running. "I have tremendous respect for Dan Webster and when he announced that he would not run against Alan Grayson, I decided that I could not let Grayson go without a credible challenge," Miller said in a statement, also adding: "My decision was influenced by Grayson's incendiary and disingenuous comments relative to Republican plans for healthcare reform."

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Alan Grayson

Will Grayson Get Away Without A Real Opponent In 2010?

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 12:53PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Could it be that Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) -- the freshman Congressman who has become a celebrity for calling Republicans "knuckle-dragging neanderthals" who want people who get sick to "die quickly" -- could end up with only a bottom-tier Republican opponent for his swing district in 2010?

As the Orlando Sentinel reports, top potential Republican candidates have been opting out of the race: Former state Sen. Daniel Webster, Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, state Rep. Steve Precourt, and businessman Jerry Pierce.

"That leaves a pair of Tea Party activists -- Patricia Sullivan from Eustis and Dan Fanelli of Orlando -- and transplanted Miami developer Armando Gutierrez Jr., as likely Grayson foes," the paper says. "Others are considering bids, but it seems unlikely the GOP will get someone with elected experience."

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Alan Grayson

Top GOP Prospect Dan Webster Not Running Against Grayson

Eric Kleefeld | October 13, 2009, 5:52PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Republicans just lost their top prospect to run against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), with former state Sen. Dan Webster announcing that he won't make the race.

"This has been a very difficult decision for me personally, especially because of the tremendous outpouring of support that has flooded me from all sides," said Webster, a big name among the state's religious conservatives. "However, in spite of this incredible encouragement, I still have a certain check in my spirit, prompting me to follow a principle that has always served me well: 'When in doubt, don't.'"

Grayson, of course, is the Democratic Congressman who has attacked the Republicans as having a health care plan for Americans to "die quickly," called them "knuckle-dragging neanderthals," and even borrowed the late GOP Vice President Spiro Agnew's words and called the GOP "nattering nabobs of negativism." The national GOP does not have a candidate yet, but has set up a special fund to raise money for the eventual opponent.

Florida's 8th District historically voted Republican, but went 52%-47% for Barack Obama in 2008, and elected the now-famous Grayson by 52%-48% over a Republican incumbent.

Alan Grayson

Grayson Plays It Low-Key At Town Hall

Eric Kleefeld | October 13, 2009, 12:41PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) held a town hall meeting on health care in his district last night -- and seemed to be doing his best to avoid controversy.

Grayson stuck to policy specifics -- though at one point he was confronted by a man who tried to turn Grayson's "die quickly" attack on the Republicans right back at him. "I'd like to know if he's aware that it was actually Richard Lamm, Democratic Governor of Colorado, in 1984, who said it's your duty to die if you get sick," the man said. "And I think that that's a hypocritical statement of yours, to tar other people with something that the Democrats said."

"You have mischaracterized what I said, you've mischaracterized what Gov. Lamm said," Grayson replied. "Our time is limited tonight, and I'm not gonna debate politics, I'm gonna debate health care. So we're gonna go on to the next question." He then proceeded to talk about the need for a public option to create health care competition:

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