The first Negron misstep?

From today's Palm Beach Post-

STUART — Before state Rep. Joe Negron could start campaigning for Congress, he had to be released from a high-profile murder trial in Martin County.

"I didn't ask to be excused," Negron said Tuesday. "I was prepared to remain on the jury until my service was no longer needed."

Negron was the alternate for a 12-member jury that turned in a guilty verdict in the two-week-long "Salerno Strangler" case last week. Jurors returned to the courthouse Tuesday to determine how Eugene McWatters, 28, should be punished for the rapes and murders of three women.

But the judge and prosecutors agreed Tuesday the Stuart Republican would not be needed for the remainder of the case.

Prosecutor Tom Bakkedahl told Circuit Judge Larry Schack in court that he was getting pressure from Negron's publicist, but Bakkedahl later said he was joking.

Courtrooms aren't the usual place to make jokes. Even if true, this story may prove to be ammunition for Tim Mahoney in his race against Negron for the Florida 16th Congressional seat. Before Foley's resignation, the race had been pretty ugly over heftier matters than one person serving or not serving jury duty.

My impression- The Negron campaign is not getting off to a good start.

Linked to- TMH's Bacon Bits, Bright & Early, Right Wing Nation,