The kickoff event — a Florida Senate face-off — was to have been held tomorrow, featuring Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek and Republican Marco Rubio (Independent candidate Charlie Crist had declined to participate).

“We have to cancel our Florida Senate Debate this Sunday,” reads an update on MTP‘s Facebook page. “Sadly, Marco Rubio’s dad is very ill. We’ll try to reschedule.”

The Miami Herald reports that Rubio’s 83 year-old father has emphysema and lung cancer and that his health deteriorated this week. “As a result,” a Rubio spokesman says, “Marco plans to stay with his father and family during this time, and will be unable to participate in this Sunday’s debate on Meet the Press.”

Instead tomorrow, MTP will feature its main guests — Sen. Lindsey Graham and political strategist David Plouffe — and a new “all-star roundtable” featuring CNBC’s Erin Burnett, among others.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Then later on CNN’s State of the Union with John King, which, about the broadcast network Sunday shows likes to use that dismissive line: “we watch so you don’t have to,” the husband-wife, left-right team of James Carville and Mary Matalin weighed in on what Beck means. Matalin’s analysis was measured and thoughtful; Carville’s was, not surprisingly, a bit more blunt: “I think he’s nuts!”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The blog is also asking, “Who wore it better?” Right now 71.5% are going with the Fox Newser.

And on Day 2 – they didn’t get the same memo. Sotomayor is in red and Kelly is wearing white.

> Update: Apparently, CNN’s Dana Bash did get the memo. Ruby Tuesday blazer day…

Tomorrow, watch as Chris Wallace and Sen. Lindsey Graham wear the same crimson Countess Mara done in a Half Windsor.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The most talked about tea party quote came from President Obama’s senior adviser David Axelrod on CBS’ Face the Nation. “The thing that bewilders me is this President just cut taxes for 95% of the American people, so I think the teabags should be directed elsewhere,” he said. Later in the morning, Axelrod’s comments were discussed on CNN’s State of the Union.

On ABC’s This Week, the panel spent nearly nine minutes discussing the parties. “The coverage itself was so politically charged,” said Peggy Noonan. “Liberal newspapers were subtly dismissive, conservative cable news houses were more than subtly supportive.”

David Gregory brought the tea parties up several times on NBC’s Meet the Press, including during his interview with National Economic Council director Larry Summers. “I’ve been surprised by these tea parties,” he said.

On FOX News Sunday, Chris Wallace asked his guests, Sens. Lindsey Graham and Claire McCaskill, for their take, but also brought it up during the panel.

Brit Hume noted it was “ignored by some in the media,” while Juan Williams said, “I think a lot of it is media generated.”

And on Reliable Sources, a heated debate took place over the tea parties. Click continued to see the clip…

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.