Florida GOP Candidates Take Gamble

As reported by the Orlando Sentinel: "Republican candidates are walking a fine political line this year, as many continue to accept campaign contributions from the well-heeled gambling industry even as they try to woo conservative voters who bitterly oppose gaming.

"Four GOP state lawmakers are already in trouble within the party for taking an industry-paid junket to Canada, and candidates for governor and the Cabinet have begun tarring one another about ties to tracks and frontons.

"Even Gov. Jeb Bush last week tried his hand at the tricky balancing act.

"'I think gambling stinks,' he said. 'And I think gambling contributions stink, too. But it doesn't mean that if you accept gambling money, you're for expanding gambling.'

"The issue of gambling could make or break candidates in next year's primaries. At least one-third of voters in Florida Republican primaries describe themselves as evangelical conservatives who view gambling as inherently bad social policy, pollsters say.

"…Even so, horse and dog tracks, along with the state's jai-alai frontons, have poured at least $1.2 million into the Florida Republican Party during the past three statewide elections, state records show.

"…The industry began stepping up its lobbying efforts after Floridians last November approved a constitutional amendment giving voters in Broward and Miami-Dade counties the right to decide if pari-mutuels can introduce lucrative slot machines…"