Darryl Paulson, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Darryl PaulsonMarch 27, 2016

(First of three parts) The Anti-Masonic Party held the first national political convention in Baltimore in 1824. Eight years later the Democrats held their first convention, also in Baltimore. Two years after its formation, the Republicans held their first convention in Philadelphia. The sole purpose of the national convention is to rally the party faithful […]

Darryl PaulsonMarch 24, 2016

I have been a Republican my entire life, which has not been easy as a university professor. Not only am I a Republican, I consider myself to be a conservative. I have served as a Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, America’s leading conservative think tank. I will never vote for Donald Trump. Never! Why won’t […]

Darryl PaulsonMarch 20, 2016

Marco Rubio has had a meteoric political career. From winning a seat on the West Miami City Council in the 1990s, to winning a special election by 64 votes to earn a seat in the Florida House, to his stunning victory over Republican Gov. Charlie Crist in the 2010 U.S. Senate race, Rubio’s political career […]

Darryl PaulsonMarch 6, 2016

I know! I know! Everyone’s first thought is that there is nothing in common between Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. After all, the two belong to different political parties and certainly have differing views on the major political issues. But I would argue that there is a real connection between these two politicians and it […]

Darryl PaulsonMarch 3, 2016

Chris Christie had a distinguished political career as a federal prosecutor who put organized crime members and terrorists in federal prisons. Elected as governor of New Jersey in 2009, Christie was easily elected in 2013 in a state that has been hostile to Republicans. Christie’s 2013 re-election automatically thrust him to the front of the […]

Darryl PaulsonMarch 2, 2016

In a recent interview with Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Donald Trump was asked if he would disavow David Duke, the KKK and other white supremacist groups. The week before, former Klansman and white supremacist Duke urged his supporters to back Trump, saying that voting for anyone but Trump “is really treason […]

Darryl PaulsonFebruary 23, 2016

Recently, a prominent individual chastised another prominent individual for his behavior and accused him of not being a Christian. No, I am not talking about Pope Francis. I am talking about Little Donnie Trump. Little Donnie attacked Ted Cruz’s religious credentials on Feb 12. “How can Ted Cruz be an evangelical Christian when he lies […]

Darryl PaulsonFebruary 16, 2016

The passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on Feb. 3, has created an opportunity for both the executive and legislative branches to work together. If they can’t, American politics will face a crisis of enormous magnitude. That is how serious the situation has become. Whether liberal or conservative, most agree that Scalia was a […]

Darryl PaulsonJanuary 21, 2016

In many respects, Sarah Palin and Donald Trump have little in common. She is a small-town girl from Alaska who hunts moose and any other creature on hooves. Trump is a big-city boy from Manhattan who hunts fortunes. While Palin has ties to conservatives and evangelicals, Trump is neither conservative nor evangelical. In the 21st […]

Darryl PaulsonJanuary 10, 2016

As we rapidly approach the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, speculation increases that Donald Trump will likely be the Republican presidential nominee. I believe Trump has no better than a 20 percent chance of winning the nomination. We all know the common criticisms of Trump. He has made outrageous statements about Mexicans as […]

Darryl Paulson

Darryl Paulson: Nasty disputes common at national political conventions

Darryl Paulson: The case against Donald Trump

Darryl Paulson: The rise and fall of Marco Rubio

Darryl Paulson: Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders: Birds of a Feather?

Darryl Paulson: The shame of Chris Christie

Darryl Paulson: Donald Trump, David Duke and the KKK

Darryl Paulson: Little Donnie gets little respect

Darryl Paulson: The Antonin Scalia battle: The stakes have seldom been as high

Darryl Paulson: Will the Sarah Palin endorsement of Donald Trump matter?

Darryl Paulson: Why Trump won’t win the GOP nomination