Five of today’s top Florida political stories at your fingertips:

Jeb Bush talks presidential run, Common Core in Nashville – Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, speaking in Nashville on Tuesday as he weighs a run for president, discussed his positions on Common Core and immigration, two stances that might complicate his candidacy in a GOP primary. He also took on the question of the Oval Office itself, setting a deadline by the end of the year to decide whether he’ll seek to be the third Bush to capture the presidency. He plans to spend the next few months pondering the decision with his family before ultimately choosing “what’s in my heart.” “If it’s a ‘yes,’ I guess you go into the Bat Cave,” Bush said with a laugh. “I don’t know. I’ve never done it before. … Try to parse superhuman skills, which I will definitely need because I’m imperfect in every way.” Read more

At Tallahassee concert, Jimmy Buffett rallies voters for Gwen Graham – Gwen Graham’s closing statement to the voters of the 2nd Congressional District begins with Jimmy Buffett. The quintessential Floridian, as one Parrothead described him, entertained about 1,500 people Wednesday at a get-out-the vote rally held in a Tallahassee nightclub. “Politics and music, my two favorite things,” whooped Marty Monroe, a Tallahassee resident, before Buffett took the stage. “Jimmy Buffett’s commitment to the environment is my kind of politics.” Buffett may have been born in Mississippi, reared in Mobile and is famous for singing about the Keys but many in Tallahassee consider him one of their own. Read more

Governor Scott targets Hispanic community in Miami – Most pundits would agree that the outcome in next week’s election may come down to how heavily populated South Florida votes, which is why Florida Gov. Rick Scott returned to South Florida Wednesday. Scott visited Pueblito Viejo in Southwest Miami-Dade and delivered the first minute of his speech in Spanish to help drive home his point, urging citizens to get out and vote. “What do you want for your family? My family? We want jobs. My family? We want to make sure we get an education to live the dream of America, sueño Americano, that’s why we live here,” said Scott. “We want to have the dream of our lives.” Read more

The Florida GOP is using Charlie Crist’s own words against him – The Florida GOP went up with a brutal attack ad on Wednesday that uses Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist’s own words to undermine an endorsement from President Bill Clinton. “I think that if Bill Clinton would go ahead and resign we’d all be better off,” a younger Crist is seen telling cameras in the ad. In the next frame, an older Crist is shown praising Clinton as “a great president.” The new spot is a direct response to a home-stretch TV ad in which Clinton urges voters to support Crist. The GOP ad appropriates footage taken during then-Republican Crist’s 1998 campaign to unseat Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Graham, juxtaposing those clips with more-recent interviews in which Crist speaks highly of the former president. Read more

All Aboard Florida begins construction on Fort Lauderdale station – All Aboard Florida began construction on its first station to be built in South Florida on Wednesday. “Today marks the start of progress on what will be one of the most transformative, history-making endeavors for Fort Lauderdale and the state of Florida,” said Michael Reininger, president and chief development officer of All Aboard Florida. “Now that construction has begun, Broward County is one step closer to becoming a more mobile, connected region that will realize the economic and environmental benefits from the creation of thousands of jobs during construction, expanded business opportunities and an enhanced quality of life.” The passenger train service from South Florida to Orlando released photos of what the new Fort Lauderdale station will look like a few months ago, and Wednesday officials were finally able to break ground. Read more

BONUS: Wife of Alan Grayson, named 17th richest member of Congress, receiving food stamps to feed his kids

For more Florida political news, visit BPR’s FLORIDA NEWS page

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Cheryl Carpenter Klimek

Administration
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