Sen. Al Lawson, right, talks with former Rep. Curtis Richardson, left, of Tallahassee, who is running for the Senate; state Sen.Charlie Justice, second from left, of St. Petersburg; and lobbyist Patrick Bell, second from right, at a Florida Democratic Party fundraiser in Tallahassee. (Bill Cotterell/Democrat)
Lobbyists and legislators munched hors d'oeuvres and sipped scotch in a rooftop ballroom with a nice view of the Capitol last week in an annual ritual as important to Florida politics as mass mailings and attack ads.
Forbidden to raise money when the Legislature is in session, members are passing the hat now for a hot summer campaign season costing millions. For all the money that will be spent, Republican control of the House or Senate is unlikely to change.
