A.G. Gancarski
The interest of national media in the high-wattage race for Florida Governor may have faded in recent days; however, Democrat Andrew Gillum keeps banking big dollars from global players.
The latest luminary to give to Gillum: Actor, playwright and filmmaker Tyler Perry, who ponied up $100,000 to Gillum’s Forward Florida committee on Sept. 13.
For Perry, the six-figure check amounts to a rounding error in his personal finances. The man behind the commercially reliable Madea character was worth $600 million, according to Bankrate.com, as of last year.
What’s clear: Gillum’s inspirational story, along with his presence and viability as a candidate, resonate with deep-pocketed celebrities just as they do the George Soros- and Tom Steyer-types who played a major role in pushing the Tallahassee Mayor to a primary victory the pundits never saw coming.
As of Sept. 7, the last date for which finance reports for the candidates’ political committees and campaign accounts have been fully filed, Gillum had just over $5 million between his campaign account ($2.17 million) and Forward Florida ($2.84 million). Between Sept. 8 and Sept. 14, Forward Florida took in more than $1.75 million from 196 different donors, including a $1 million contribution from the Democratic Governors Association.
Republican Ron DeSantis is somewhat farther behind, with $662,000 in his campaign account and an additional $1.86 million in his Friends of Ron DeSantis committee.
DeSantis has been buffeted by difficult news cycles since winning the nomination, with liberal groups calling him racist.
He spent over a week walking back a contention that electing Gillum would “monkey this up,” ultimately calling the “phony controversy” a “nothingburger.”
Polling — including from the GOP-friendly Florida Chamber — suggests that the oppo is leaving a mark. Gillum was up 47 to 43 in the Chamber survey, a margin that also GOP-friendly Rasmussen affirmed with its own poll.
DeSantis also has incurred the ire of his political patron, President Donald Trump, who reportedly thinks him “disloyal” after the Republican candidate did not affirm Trumpian contentions that the death toll in Puerto Rico wasn’t inflated for political purposes.
This weekend, Gillum will be raising money with another luminary — U.S. Sen. Cory Booker — at an event in Edison, New Jersey. According to POLITICO, the host committee includes Sen. Booker, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Donald Milford Payne, both New Jersey Democrats. The Pines Manor party will also benefit Forward Florida, with tickets ranging from $250 to $5,000, according to the invitation.
39 comments
Anm
September 19, 2018 at 12:51 pm
Tyler will you help my little church?
TK
September 19, 2018 at 3:25 pm
My church too please. We are still trying to recover since Katrina!
Sandra Smith
September 19, 2018 at 1:18 pm
Love, love, love you Tyler. May God continue to bless you. Thanks for paying hlit forward. We need more supportive people like you. Love you.
Julie
September 19, 2018 at 3:17 pm
What a hating hippocrit Tyler Perry is! What goes around, comes around.
Bonita Morales
September 19, 2018 at 3:56 pm
Hypocrite**
Learn to spell if you want an insult to be taken seriously..
Would be nice if you also explained why you feel he is one.. lol
Versa Murphy
September 19, 2018 at 11:57 pm
Exactly I don’t think she/he knows Mr Perry that well I think it a jealous thing.
GOLDEN DART FROG
September 20, 2018 at 12:57 am
Haha. Who is the he/she commenter or the one they talking about. Madea slash mrs. Perry?
Dedicated
September 19, 2018 at 6:46 pm
You’re a 45/orange supporter, we understand. Get on a winning team. Just Tyler Perry will you some attention.
BC
September 19, 2018 at 7:00 pm
Why are you here then?🤔 Bye👋🏽
Dorthey
September 19, 2018 at 7:16 pm
Don’t hate because you support the most ignorant, most immoral, most corrupt, most narcissistic, most buffoonish president in history. Plus he’s a disgusting sexual predator. Tyler knows how to pick’em. Thanks Tyler! Love you for all you do.
Percetia West
September 20, 2018 at 5:22 am
Blessed Stop Hating U Stucked On Stupid & Paused On Dumb Mr Perry Keep Making It Do What It Do Another Blessing Handsome King Tyler Perry
Tondlea N Brown
September 19, 2018 at 2:22 pm
Mr tyler you are a God send wonderful man thanks God for you
Glenda
September 19, 2018 at 2:47 pm
Tyler Perry you’re Awesome!!!!
Shanty Irish
September 19, 2018 at 2:56 pm
Guess I’ ve seen my last Madea movie. Ta- ta, Tyler.
Ray
September 19, 2018 at 4:42 pm
Learn how to spell before you criticize idiot
Ray
September 19, 2018 at 4:46 pm
Bye Felecia. He don’t need your dumb ass anyway
Maybe
September 20, 2018 at 12:01 am
By Felicia, Becky or whatever……
Alice
September 19, 2018 at 3:15 pm
Gillum has has contributed nothing to Tallahassee. He gives contracts to all his friends. Tallahassed has the highest crime, he’s done nothing. http://tallahasseereports.com/2018/09/16/gillums-lg-pick-chris-king-made-millions-with-government-subsidized-housing/
Sarah Sanders
September 19, 2018 at 4:10 pm
funny you said that because TPD has been touting a decreasing crime rate on the local news (WCTV Channel 6) I guess you can’t trust the media or the police. #smh
Earnest LEON Stein
September 20, 2018 at 4:47 am
Shit Ass
4E
Vagarri Craig
September 19, 2018 at 3:29 pm
Awesome Job Tyler
Gretchen Graff
September 19, 2018 at 3:29 pm
Way to go Tyler Perry..👏👏👏✊✌✌✌💙💙 ..let’s bring this home @Andrew Gillum.. You have mine and my families vote.. And many more keep up the good work and positive energy
Ron Bledsoe
September 19, 2018 at 3:44 pm
Gillum is not an appropriate candidate for governor. He’s under investigation for his actions as mayor of Tallahassee. When he was on the city commission he voted to give himself a raise. He doesn’t not have the experience either to hold the job as governor. Also, how are the citizens of Florida gong to pay for Medicaid for all, college education for all, and an education system overhaul especially when corporations move out of state because of tax increases. As to Mr. Tyler Perry, keep your money in liberal California. We don’t need you or George Soros in our state. I’m not a fan of DiSantis, but Gillum is not the answer.
Bonita Morales
September 19, 2018 at 4:03 pm
Where do you get your information? He is NOT under investigation. He NEVER voted to give himself a raise. He has more experience than Rick Scott did when he became governor.
Go to his website and actually read what he would like to do to help the uninsured as well as education instead of listening to the alt-right rhetoric being peddled.
And Tyler Perry doesn’t even live in California..
Going places
September 20, 2018 at 12:09 am
Doesn’t not, ( it’s either doesn’t or does not) and (going not gong). If you’re going to criticize someone spell it right
Eddie Harris
September 20, 2018 at 10:04 am
Neither are you , I’ts so much hatred in the world it’s unreal people have lost all manners and respect for one another . Just rude and disrespectful love don’t live in this world anymore it’s gone . WHERE IS THE LOVE?
Eddie Harris
September 20, 2018 at 10:09 am
Thank You Mr.Tyler Perry for all that you do especially putting God in the forefront of your life , and not ashamed to let the whole world know it.
Karen Hinson
September 20, 2018 at 11:41 am
And Rick Scott is?? 😂🤣😂 Rick Scott stole millions of dollars from Medicaid and Medicare and was the governor for too long. Andrew will be fine a governor.
Kam
September 19, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Thank you, Mr. Perry for contributing to Gillum so we can finally have a Governor that cares and will try to promote positive change that will make a difference here in Florida.
L G Scott
September 19, 2018 at 4:51 pm
Thank you for lending your help to someone else. As you have noticed only those who opposed it the critics or speaking out because the $100,000 wasn’t deposited in their account. Oh well, I’m sure there’s a lot of us can use $100,000 however that doesn’t justify criticizing someone else for receiving it or for that matter giving to someone. We all will have to give an account one way or the other for what we do in this life. It is very unfortunate that when someone like Mr. Perry shares his wealth not everybody is going to be on board with that simply calls they’re not on the receiving end. It would be nice if more of those who are well-to-do which year their wealth to improve Society at Large. I believe there is over 4500 billionaires and millionaires throughout the world and if just half of them would share their wealth in order to eradicate poverty, homelessness, famine I will will be a lot better off, there would be less crime, that would be more productive citizens throughout our communities, cities, states instead what we do is we spent a lot of finances that could be used to improve those areas spending it on jails and Rehabilitation programs. This I believe could be helped with the right people in office the right leaders in place people who are for the people listen to the people willing to work with the people who love the people who have trust in them who have voted for them and gave them a place and Leadership a voice that can be heard and getting things done for the people would make a great difference in our world today. Time out for living on Royal Street it’s been long overdue that we must find a way to work with those who are willing to work with us. We must stand for something or we will fall for anything.
Thank you Mr. Perry for thinking about someone else more than yourself and your spirit of giving, your tenacity for trying to make a difference in someone else’s life. United we stand or divided we fall. Respectfully,
L. G. Scott
Jane Wash
September 20, 2018 at 6:34 am
Good Lawd, that was a speech!
Robert Hugh Wilkes
September 19, 2018 at 5:43 pm
Tyler Perry you are doing excellent as usual. That was generous of you donating towards Gillums campaign. You did not have to do it. But you did. Hurray!
Rue
September 19, 2018 at 6:22 pm
Lord all I want is a job at the studios , jesus christ. I’ve drove to the studio and still couldn’t see the man.
NHC
September 19, 2018 at 7:07 pm
Long time fan and supporter of your work and your mission. I pray that God will continue to bless you and everything about you as you continue to bless and support and uplift others along your journey. Thank you Mr Perry for the wonderful things that you do such as giving us entertainment, encouraging us to keep our eyes, hearts, and spirit rooted in the Lord. Thank you for your support of Mr Gilliam. Your support provides strength and unity to a candidates campaign, a States way of life, and a Nation’s ideals of how the people are viewed in the political process and arenas. And how they want to be viewed and included in the process and the decisions which are made that will govern their lives.
Donna Harrelson
September 19, 2018 at 8:32 pm
Thank you Mr. Perry for all you do. You are every where…think about this…
Let’s do Aretha Franklin story. Your number one fan Donna Harrelson…
Jane
September 20, 2018 at 6:35 am
Thanks Tyler!!
Ms. Jane
September 20, 2018 at 6:46 am
While you’re in a giving mood I’m sure Colin Kaepernick and the rest of us black folks who still live in the hood, and I know whom you appreciate for putting you on top, could use some moral support from someone like you and your celebrity friends whose voices won’t be ignored. PLEASE!!
TMcGill
September 20, 2018 at 7:18 am
People are hungry for change. They want representatives you provide solutions for their problems and issues, not focus on themselves. Andrew and R. Jai Gillum are like a breath of fresh air after all the garbage.
Peaches
September 20, 2018 at 11:30 am
Good morning, I wish we all could just get alone and pray for better days! Let Go and Let God!!!!!
Comments are closed.