Last Call – A primetime read on current political events in Florida.

First shot

The delegates have already voted for the appointment of the Vice President Kamala Harris the Democratic candidate, but tonight she will make it doubly official with an official acceptance speech.

Harris’ remarks will cap a four-day convention that is far more confident and exuberant than it was five weeks ago, when a stumbling president Joe Biden insisted that he was still determined to win and that only divine intervention would change his mind.

What a difference a month makes: Harris now leads the former president Donald Trump Trump is ahead in most national polls, and in most of the Rust Belt states that will likely decide the succession to the Oval Office, Trump is showing cracks – and in some cases has even collapsed completely.

Harris’s surge, however, was largely due to (or, some argue, because) the fact that she kept a low profile and kept media interviews to a minimum. Similar to her opponent’s strategy, she relied on campaign rallies to get her message across to voters.

For many Americans, tonight will be the first time they’ve heard the vice president speak at length as a serious presidential candidate. Harris has been a gamble in the past when the shin-breakers go off — she quit in 2020 before a single vote was cast in the primary — but her 2024 candidacy has a pulse, and Florida Democrats hope to prove that to as many Sunshine State voters as possible with a series of election parties across the state, each one featuring local electors as guest stars.

Each event begins at 8 p.m. Venue details will be provided after registration. The list:

— DNC Watch Party in Orange Countywith the Mayor of Orlando Buddy DyerSenator. Geraldine ThompsonSenator-elect Carlos Guillermo Smith and Rep. Rita Harris.

— DNC Watch Party in Leon Countywith the former US representative. Al LawsonRep. Allison TanMayor of Tallahassee John Dailey and Commissioner of Tallahassee Jack Porter.

— DNC Watch Party in Broward Countywith actor and singer Frankie GrandeProsecutor Harold PryorMayor of West Park Felicia Brunson and Mayor of Fort Lauderdale Dean Trantalis.

— DNC Watch Party in Miami-Dade Countywith the Mayor of Miami-Dade County Daniella Levine CavaCandidate for the US Senate Debbie Mucarsel-PowellMember of the Miami Gardens Council Linda JulienCandidate for Sheriff of Miami-Dade County James ReyesCandidate for Miami-Dade Clerk Annette TaddeoCandidate for Miami-Dade Election Commissioner JC PlanasCandidate for Miami-Dade Tax Collector David Richardson and candidate for real estate appraiser in Miami-Dade Marisol Zenteno.

Bill Day’s Latest

Evening reading

—”Why Democrats stopped asking if a woman could win the White House” via Jennifer Medina of the New York Times

—”The reinvention of Kamala Harris“via Cleve R. Wootson Jr. of the Washington Post

—”The asterisk in Harris’ poll numbers” via Gilad Edelman of The Atlantic

—”How Harris needs to be more like Joe Biden” via Zach Beauchamp from Vox

—” Tim Walz and JD Vance are leading the battle that matters” via Matt Bai of the Washington Post

—”The 25 strangest lines from Donald Trump’s “Fox and Friends” interview” about Chris Cillizza from So What

—”Against historical revision to Biden 2024” via Nate Silver of Silver Bulletin

—“Maxwell Frost will deliver the keynote address at the DNC tonight” via Max Greenwood of the Miami Herald

—“The decisive moment that will determine the fate of the economy” via Nick Timiraos of the Wall Street Journal

—”Ron DeSantis wants to build golf courses and hotels in Florida’s state parks” via Craig Pittman of Florida Phoenix

—“Florida Cabinet members alarmed over development plans for state parks” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—”AFP Action FL-backed candidates won 11 of 12 Republican primaries” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

Quote of the day

“If your house was on fire, would you call the arsonist to put it out or would you actually try something else?”

— Governor. Ron DeSantisand questions whether the Vice President can fix an economy that he believes is Joe Biden The government has collapsed.

Put it on the tab

Look left, then right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour joint, flag down the bartender and add one to your bill. Recipes included, in case the Cocktail Codex falls down the fountain.

We hope to never know what artichoke liqueur tastes like, but it is the most important ingredient in a Depth SixGovernor. Ron DeSantis’ latest descriptor about what impact a Harris presidency would have on the US economy.

Increase Slippery slope to CFO Jimmy Patronis and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson for publicly question DEP plans to build cabins, pickleball courts and other infrastructure in Florida’s state parks.

Order a round Rum & Smokes for the Smart & Safe Florida crew that landed Supporting SEIU in their push for the recreational cannabis change. And yes, that’s Rum & Smoke, not Coke – we’re not sure Florida will ever be ready for that change.

Groundbreaking insights

Turn on

Football is back in full swing

Attention football fans! Starting this weekend, there will be major college and/or NFL football games every weekend through February.

The college football season begins Saturday at noon ET when Florida State faces Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland (ESPN).

The Seminoles are ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press Top 25 and will face two ACC opponents to start the season. After playing the Yellowjackets, FSU returns to Tallahassee to host Boston College.

Three more college football games are scheduled for the weekend, including Montana State vs. New Mexico and SMU vs. Nevada, both on Saturday. Then on Sunday, Delaware State travels across the Pacific to face Hawaii in Honolulu.

The Florida State-Georgia Tech game is clearly the highlight of the opening weekend, usually known as Week Zero in college football. After having their playoff chances snatched from them last year despite an undefeated regular season, the Noles are looking to prove they’re back in the running for the national title. And with a 12-team playoff introduced for this season, they should be able to do just that.

This weekend, all three Florida professional teams have their final preseason game on Friday night. The Jacksonville Jaguars play the Falcons in Atlanta at 7:00 p.m. ET, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Miami Dolphins at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The NFL regular season begins on September 5th.

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Last Call is published by Peter Schorschcompiled and edited by Phil Amman And Drew Wilsonwith contributions from Florida Politics staff.

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