* U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek released his first TV ad on Monday. The 30-second spot, titled “He’s the Man” goes after Democratic rival Jeff Greene’s past as a Republican in California and contends that “he helped fuel the economic meltdown.” In other Meek news, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will host a fundraiser for Meek in Washington D.C. on the night of August 2, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

* Marco Rubio, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, on Monday released “12 Simple Ways to Cut Spending,” which is a part of his “Ideas to Reclaim America.” Among the 12 ways, Rubio suggests cutting the White House and Congress budgets by 10 percent, stopping the federal stimulus program, and banning all earmarks, which he says could save $15-20 billion annually.

* Republican Todd Long, candidate for the 8th Congressional District, announced that results of a Zogby International poll paid for by his campaign paid show him wotj am eight point lead - 46 percent to 38 percent - over incumbent Democrat Alan Grayson. The poll surveyed 500 likely voters within the 8th District on July 13-15. The Orlando Sentinel reported that Long announced the results in front of Grayson’s office in Orlando.

* Pam Bondi, Republican candidate for attorney general, has announced that she won the Olde Fashioned Republican Rally straw poll on Sunday in Orlando. Bondi won the poll of 126 people with 70 percent of the vote, while Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp received 22 percent and Holly Benson received 8 percent.

* Republican candidate for attorney general Holly Benson announced her statewide county leadership team. The 28-member team has been enlisted to support and promote Benson’s campaign in 16 of Florida’s largest counties.

* Karen Harrington, Republican candidate for Florida’s 20th Congressional District, released a new TV/web advertisement. The ad, titled “Out of Touch” is almost a minute long and goes after Harrington's Democratic rival, incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz. The commercial states that Harrington will create jobs by lowering taxes and cutting government spending.

* In endorsement news, Ray Pilon, Republican candidate for House District 69, was endorsed by the Republican Party of Sarasota and Reps. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, Chris Dorworth, R-Heathrow, and Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring.

Originally published in the Florida Current - exclusively distributed via Lobbytools  - Florida's Premiere Legislative and Media Monitoring Service.