Scandal rocks Cuban-American congressional race in Florida

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Scandal rocks Cuban-American congressional race in Florida

By David Adams

MIAMI | Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:13pm EDT

(Reuters) - A campaign finance scandal involving a South Florida Republican could open the door to a surprise congressional victory for his Democratic party challenger, resulting in the election of Miami's first Cuban-American Democrat.

The race for Florida's 26th district between two rival Cuban Americans is setting a new standard for dirty tricks, even for Miami's politically passionate Cuban exile community.

The electoral shenanigans, which have dominated local news and prompted an FBI probe, went viral nationwide in a video when a local TV reporter knocked on the door of a candidate involved in the scandal and was doused with a jug of water.

David Rivera, a one-term Cuban-American Republican and hardline crusader against Cuba's communist government, is seeking re-election in a rematch against Joe Garcia. Before being elected to Congress, Rivera served eight years in the Florida Legislature, sharing a house in Tallahassee with fellow Republican and rising political star Marco Rubio.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/13/us-usa-campaign-florida-rivera-idUSBRE89C01A20121013?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&rpc=401

[Judi Lynn]

1. Completely unusual background information posted earlier in the Latin America forum by Flamingdem:

The Rep. David Rivera and Conservative "Dirty Harry" Bad Girl Ana Alliegro story grows
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11085738

[flamingdem]

2. So Joe Garcia would be the first? That's quite a milestone

I think there is no way for Rivera to win now, unless he has an even more creative shenanigan in mind, but the feds are surely watching his every move.

[hrmjustin]

3. remember the Buchanan race in 2006. He won by 300 votes but thousands of missing dem votes...

... never registered on the machines.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. "...doused with a jug of water."

....musta thought it was Ryan....

[UTUSN]

5. R#28 & K n/t

[desertduck]

6. his wife threw the water at the reporter....wow. that's...classy.

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