SARASOTA, FL (NS) -

You could see the Vice President's plane coming in for a landing at SRQ International Airport. Blue and White colored with an American flag on the planes tail, known by its code sign "Air Force 2"...

From there, Vice President Dick Cheney came off the plane and made his first official visit to Sarasota in support of Florida's 13th Congressional District candidate Vern Buchanan...

The Vice President spoke to a crowd of about 200 people at a fundraiser for Vern Buchanan that "voting for Democrats in November threatens the economic and military security of the country."

Poeple had paid $1,000 per person to attend the event. The purpose of this visit by the Vice President was fund raising...

Vice President Cheney, told the group at the Sarasota Hyatt, “President Bush’s tax relief plan was right for America and it is working,” Cheney said. “If Democrats take control and the tax cuts expire, American families will face and immense tax increase and the economy will sustain a major hit.”

The Vice President, also warned the partisan Republican crowd that Democrats would relish a chance to repeal the Patriot Act, which he said would make it harder to fight the war on terrorism...

Vice President Cheney is currently on a nationwide campaign blitz trying to help Republicans retain their hold on both chambers of Congress...

The Vice President was greeted by about 150 protestors who lined U.S. 41 with their anti-war protest signs. For the most part the crowd was orderly and followed Police instructions as they were told to stay back several times and some were warned they'd be arrested if they didn't follow the orders given...

Many Political pundits expect Democrats to regain control of the House, which could make it harder for the Bush Administration to push its agenda in the last two years of the Bush presidency...

However, the Sun Coast area of Florida is unique in that there are more registered Republicans than there are Democrats...

Vern Buchanan is running for the 13th District, which has become one of the Democratic Party’s top pickup opportunities in the nation. His opponent is Democrat Christine Jennings, a retired Sarasota banker, and she is being helped by the National Democratic machine...

Ms Jennings yesterday withdrew one of her false Political ads attacking local Businessman Vern Buchanan. She had already attempted to go negative, but many local residents are fed up with the negative ads and have told both candidates to stop using them...

Although poll numbers show Vice President Cheney has low approval ratings, Buchanan said his visit was important to help reunify the party after a bitter primary in the 13th Congressional District, and to help raise money for his campaign...

There is a 'unscientific poll' on the Politics page of News Sarasota.com in which you can participate in and cast your vote for who you are going to vote for in the 13th FLorida Congressional District race...

As of this writing, Vern Buchanan was leading by 8% over Christine Jennings with over 1600 votes being cast...

It will be up to the Voters to ultimately decide and the Party that better rallies their base and turns out the voters, will win the 13th Florida Congressional District race...

There will be more National Republican names coming to the District 13 race and one name being mentioned the most is former New York City Mayor Rudy Guliani...

Local Businessman Republican Conservative Vern Buchanan, well known for his multiple Car Dealerships, is running a campaign strong on Local and National issues...

Democrat Christine Jennings appears to be running on most of the same issues Mr. Buchanan is, but with a more Liberal twist...

There most certainly is a difference in the 2 candidates styles and positions. A recent debate between the candidates was clearly won decisively by Mr. Buchanan who answered questions in a straight forward manner...

It will interesting to see what transpires the final 30 days in these mid term elections. Will there be another 'October Surprise'???

For Now, That's Just 'OUR' Opinion...

Matt Bruce
Managing Editor
News Sarasota.com
Host Of "The Captain's AMERICA" Radio Show
Heard 12 Noon To 1 PM ET On
1490 WWPR Radio
Bradenton-Sarasota-Tampa Bay-Venice, FL...