Associated Press, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressOctober 19, 2015

The top two GOP presidential hopefuls, Donald Trump and Ben Carson, have requested protection from the U.S. Secret Service, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security said Monday. The taxpayer-funded agency said the two campaigns have submitted requests, which kick off an evaluation period during which Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson consults with five […]

Associated PressOctober 19, 2015

News organizations that plan to cover next summer’s convention are protesting a move by the Republican National Committee to charge them $150 for seats on the press stand. Seats on risers built for newspapers, magazines, wire services and online print publications have been awarded without charge in the past. Representatives for daily and periodical press […]

Associated PressOctober 19, 2015

Months before the first primaries, Jeb Bush and his allies are building a data-driven operation to turn out voters in the general election much later, spending heavily on the assumption he’ll overcome his sluggish start and win the Republican presidential nomination. It’s a strategy aimed at avoiding a 2016 repeat of the GOP’s glaring deficiencies […]

Associated PressOctober 19, 2015

Donald Trump likes to boast about his enormous wealth and how he doesn’t need anyone else’s money to pay for his presidential campaign. That hasn’t stopped tens of thousands of people from chipping in with checks as small as $10 to let the Republican candidate know they’re behind him. Trump has taken in 73,942 contributions, […]

Associated PressOctober 19, 2015

Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio are on course for a collision. There once was mutual public deference. But that has eroded as the Florida Republicans battling for the presidential nomination have come to see the other as the main threat to lofty ambitions: Bush claims the party establishment’s mantle, Rubio wants be the party’s fresh […]

Associated PressOctober 18, 2015

No matter how they exited – a loss, a resignation, a retirement – former members of Congress can pretty much do whatever they want with leftover campaign cash as long as it’s political or charitable. Evan Bayh has kept $10 million in campaign contributions since leaving the Senate in 2011, raising plenty of questions about […]

Associated PressOctober 18, 2015

Guest lineups for the Sunday TV news shows: ABC’s “This Week” — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders; Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson; Reps. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., and Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii. ___ NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz; Reps. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Mike Pompeo, R-Kansas. ___ CBS’ “Face the Nation” — […]

Associated PressOctober 17, 2015

Joe Biden is sending out an unmistakable “forget-me-not” plea for 2016, brushing past signs of a Hillary Rodham Clinton resurgence with fresh and direct suggestions he could be on the verge of entering the presidential race. The vice president’s political team broke its months-long silence on the subject with a letter circulated by one of […]

Associated PressOctober 16, 2015

The board chairman at Bethune-Cookman University is defending the school’s decision to honor Gov. Rick Scott during an upcoming gala, amid online protests by some alumni and students. In an open letter Friday, Chairman Joe Petrock says that Scott was selected as one of five to be honored at the third annual Mary McLeod Bethune […]

Associated PressOctober 16, 2015

Jeb Bush appears to be healthy and wealthy, based on a batch of records released by the Republican presidential candidate Thursday. As for wise? Voters have time. Bush also listed each of the people, called bundlers, who have helped raise campaign dollars in groups of contributors. The 62-year-old former governor of Florida is “in excellent […]

Associated Press

Ben Carson, Donald Trump request Secret Service protection

Republicans to charge media for seats to cover 2016 convention

Already looking to general election, Jeb Bush builds data operation

Small-dollar donors flock to Donald Trump, help power his campaign

Cold war between 2016 GOP rivals Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio heating up

Leftover campaign cash? Ex-lawmakers find plenty of uses

Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows

Breaking silence, Joe Biden team leans in on potential 2016 run

Bethune chairman defends selection of Rick Scott for award

Records show Republican Jeb Bush healthy, wealthy