Bondi, Gelber in attorney general race

TAMPA - Pam Bondi and Dan Gelber will go up against each other in the battle to replace Bill McCollum as Florida's next attorney general.

In a three-way race, Bondi beat opponents Jeff Kottkamp and Holly Benson for the Republican nomination.

Kottkamp, who was ahead of Benson, conceded the race, and Bondi accepted the nomination.

Late Tuesday, Bondi had 38 percent of the vote to Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp's 33 percent. The third candidate, former state official Holly Benson, had 29 percent with 93 percent of the vote counted.

Bondi rode a wave of anti-incumbent sentiment and says she's spent her career prosecuting, not politicking. Bondi says she will continue a lawsuit trying to repeal the federal health care program if elected. She also supports Arizona's immigration law.

"Tonight is a win for every Floridian who objects to the government takeover of our healthcare system," Bondi said to cheers and applause, "and for someone who will fight to protect our borders and our state. Score one for freedom."

Her campaign got a boost with an endorsement from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Dan Gelber beat Dave Aronberg for the Democratic nomination, with 59 percent of the vote.

Gelber had 58 percent of the vote to Sen. Dave Aronberg's 41 percent with about 65 percent of precincts reporting late Tuesday.

The veteran Miami Beach politician was elected to the state Senate in 2008 after eight years in the House. He served as chief counsel and staff director for the U.S. Senate's investigations committee, focusing mainly on terrorism and domestic security.

Gelber says he'd establish a public corruption task force and has personal experience from prosecuting corrupt public officials.