Manatee elections office makes it easy to follow the campaign money

Want to know who is contributing how much money to which Manatee County commission candidate?

And how they are spending that money?

The Manatee County elections office makes it easy to track right from your computer.

With a few clicks of a mouse, you'll find a list of donors, amounts contributed, what they do for a living and how the candidates are spending the money to get elected.

That's how we compiled the numbers that served as the basis for the Page 1 story Sunday on contributions so far to candidates seeking one of three seats on the Manatee County commission in this year's election.

As of March 31 -- the end of the most recent quarterly reporting period -- eight candidates had raised a total of more than $225,000 in cash and in-kind contributions. (The total also includes loans some of the candidates have made to their respective campaigns.)

With a limit of $500 per contribution, the total given represents the political preferences of scores of local residents and businesses, as well as the support of interests from outside Manatee.

As for possible connections between the contribution and how the candidate will govern if they win, that's for you, the voter, to conclude.

In wake of hometown loss, Crist goes on attack (UPDATED)

The home fires, at least when it comes to the race for the Republican Party's U.S. Senate nomination, are not burning for Charlie Crist.

Pinellas County native Crist on Monday was dealt an embarrassing - albeit only symbolic - blow Pinellas GOP activists gave Crist's rival Marco Rubio a big - albeit only symbolic - win in a straw poll.

"I volunteered for Charlie for nine years. I love Charlie as a person. If he was here, I would give him a big hug. He actually called me about this (straw poll) yesterday," said Wilna Varney of Largo, who voted for Rubio. "But I'm a more conservative person, and I'm going to support the more conservative candidate."

Brushing off the defeat, Crist this morning unveiled a new Web ad that alleges that when it comes to issues conservatives like Varney care about, Rubio is flip-flopper:



On Wednesday, Rubio responded:

Steube raised more than $150K for campaign in '09 (UPDATED)

The Florida Division of Elections has begun posting the latest campaign finance reports from candidates running for state offices this year.

Here is what we know so far about the Manatee County races:

• In the Florida House District 67 race - the seat is now held by the term-limited Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton - Greg Steube raised $26,625 during the final quarter of 2009, bringing his fund-raising total for the year to more than $150,000. Steube finished the year with almost $130,000 in the bank, as he so far has spent a little more than $21,000 on his campaign.
  
• Also in District 67, Robert McCann reported collecting $3,075 in contributions during the final quarter of 2009, bringing his fund-raising to a total of more than $68,000 for the year, not including $25,000 he loaned his campaign. McCann had a little less than $32,000 in the bank. Jeremiah J. Guccione reported collecting $10,500 in the fourth quarter, bringing his total take so far to a little more than $50,000 and had more than $42,000 in the bank. He also has loaned $50,000 to his campaign. A fourth candidate, Marie Nisco, reported no financial activity by her campaign last year.
• The lone Democrat in the District 67 race, Z.J. Hafeez, reported collecting $30,840 in contributions during the final three months of 2009, and spending only $85.43.
• In House District 68, the sole candidate, Republican Jim Boyd, reported collecting $10,100 during October-December, bring his total for the year to $81,420. So far, he has spent more than $37,000. (Incumbent Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, is term-limited, but we will be interested to see how much he has raised for his 2012 campaign for Florida Senate from District 21.)
  
• In House District 69, incumbent Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota, collected more than $17,500 in contributions during the fourth quarter, bringing total for the year to more than $52,400. He had more than $47,000 in the bank. Republican challenger Ray Pilon reported collecting $5,645 in contributions during the final three months of 2009, bringing his total haul for the year to almost $27,000. He had about $19,000 in the bank.
• In House District 55, Democratic challenger Martha Allen reported no activity. The report from incumbent Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, had not been posted.
  

The deadline to file the latest quarterly finance report is today so keep checking back here or at the Division of Elections Web site for the latest filings.