By James Call
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-977286.mp3
Tallahssee, FL – The latest Campaign Finance Reports for the 2012 election show the Florida Republican Party raised more than three times as much money as the Democratic Party in this year's second quarter. James Call reports the GOP raised 3.4 million dollars to the Democrats 1.1 million.
The reports are for three months ending in June and includes when Florida lawmakers passed policy changes in healthcare and prisons. Large contributions from those two industries helped the GOP, the majority party at the statehouse, collect more than Democrats.
Incumbents traditionally have an edge in fundraising, because of among other things, according to Florida State university political science professor Charles Barrieaux, people generally like their representative.
"I mean some stuff in legislative races is decided by the economy and all that but its very hard to get an incumbent out. And the reason for that is partly you know like your doctor. People are mad about healthcare but they say my doctor is okay. And so it is the same way with congress in a way."
Merrit Island Republican Steve Crisafulli collected the most money among Florida House candidates. He reported 110 thousand dollars. Jared Moskowitz, running for a Broward County seat raised the most among Democrats. He reported 58-thousand dollars.