As the clock continues to count down toward the end of the election, candidates crossed Florida at a maddening pace on Friday trying to get supporters out to the polls.

With all polls showing a close battle to be the state's 45th governor between Democratic nominee state CFO Alex Sink and Republican businessman Rick Scott, both candidates burned up the campaign trail on Friday.

Sink started the day in Miami with former U.S. Senator and Gov. Bob Graham who remains popular in the Sunshine State after his more than three decades on the public stage.

The Democratic candidate unveiled the endorsements of 12 state attorneys from across Florida at a media event in Miami.

“I'm proud to be supported by law enforcement organizations statewide,” said Sink.  “It’s the first time in 20 years that law enforcement has endorsed a Democrat, because they know they can trust me.”

Sink continued to stump in South Florida for votes in the afternoon, campaigning in Miami and attending a rally in Miami Beach with Mayor Matti Bower and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schulz, a rising star in the national Democratic party. She headed up to rallies in Pompano Beach and Hollywood to close the day.

Scott focused on the Panhandle on Friday, starting the day with a breakfast in Panama City before speaking to the Walton County Chamber of Commerce in Santa Rosa Beach. Scott spent the afternoon hitting Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola and Molino before attending rallies in Pensacola during the evening. 

With the Panhandle being a traditional bastion of Republican support, the Scott camp made it clear that the candidate was trying to maximize Republican turnout as much as possible. This was evident in a video the campaign released on Friday with Scott calling for his supporters to get out to the polling places.

 

Ahead in the polls in the U.S. Senate contest, Republican candidate Marco Rubio showed no sign of slowing down as he focused on voter-rich Central Florida on Friday. Rubio attended rallies in Palm Beach Gardens, Melbourne and Daytona Beach before finishing the day in Orlando.

Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running for the U.S. Senate without party affiliation, traversed the state by bus -- which his campaign has labeled the “People’s Express.” Crist started at a pancake breakfast in Panama City before hitting Destin and Pensacola. Leaving the bus behind in Tallahassee, the governor flew down to Orlando to speak to the Florida Education Association (FEA).

Trailing in third place, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the Democratic candidate in the race, also spoke to the FEA in the morning before hitting high school football games in Miami to meet voters.

 

 

Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.