Joe Henderson, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonNovember 5, 2016

I just watched about the billionth TV ad for the Senate District 18 race with Dana Young and Bob Buesing. I thought the one she ran in the primary with all the adorable puppies couldn’t be topped, but she outdid herself this time. This one features her two daughters defending their mom against all the […]

Joe HendersonOctober 31, 2016

Thanks to the always-working, never-sleeping Mitch Perry, readers of this site are aware of the controversy about a mailer from the Republican Party of Florida supporting Ross Spano in the House District 59 campaign. After the mailer labeled Democratic opponent Rena Frazier’s experience as “INSUFFICIENT” — in all caps, big red letters — the House […]

Joe HendersonOctober 28, 2016

Since Bob Henriquez took over as Hillsborough County’s property appraiser four years ago, he has taken several steps to modernize the office. There are nine fewer employees than the office had before Henriquez arrived, and the department’s budget is lower. Most important, though — Henriquez hasn’t had a batch of negative headlines. That’s no small matter. […]

Joe HendersonOctober 27, 2016

Earlier this week, NBC political chief Chuck Todd was chatting with Republican strategist Jeff Roe, picking out three places around the country where election geeks should focus special attention. Hillsborough County topped the list. Are we surprised? Todd noted that Roe considered it “the bellwether county in the country” and added, “you could make that […]

Joe HendersonOctober 24, 2016

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One of the themes of Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the presidency has been her opposition to Citizens United. From the podium, she preaches that she doesn’t like the idea of the wealthy few using their money to buy influence over policies that determine the future for the rest of us. She says he wants to […]

Joe HendersonOctober 19, 2016

Game-changer? Or victory lap? That’s two potential outcomes for tonight’s third, and final, presidential debate. The first one applies to Donald Trump. If he fails to change the election narrative in his last head-to-head face off with Hillary Clinton, his White House aspirations likely are finished (if they aren’t already). Clinton, ahead in the polls, […]

Joe HendersonOctober 18, 2016

In the game of chess, it is called “checkmate.” It is that moment when a player realizes their opponent just cut off their last route of escape. I think that’s the gambit Marco Rubio sprung on Democrat Patrick Murphy during their U.S. Senate debate Monday night. One of the best lines of attack for Murphy […]

Joe HendersonOctober 17, 2016

When the candidates in one of the strangest U.S. Senate races in Florida’s history finally meet at 7 tonight in Orlando at the University of Central Florida in their first of two debates, it will come down to this: It’s the last big chance for Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy to make up what polls say […]

Joe HendersonOctober 14, 2016

As we approach the home stretch of ShameFest 2016 — otherwise known as the election — we should take a moment to ponder one of the great moments the last time the nation chose a president. It was election night 2012 and Fox News, accurately as it turned out, declared President Barack Obama had won […]

Joe HendersonOctober 12, 2016

I can’t believe I am saying this, but Donald Trump was right – at least about Marco Rubio. He is “Little Marco.” He is terrified in the face of potential retaliation from Trump’s legion of loon if he publicly abandons the Republican nominee for president. In a statement released Tuesday, Rubio continued trying to have it […]

Joe Henderson

Joe Henderson: State Senate race was better when it was just about puppies

Joe Henderson: Ross Spano mailer in HD 59: Tacky? Yes. Sexist? No.

Joe Henderson: Bob Henriquez, Todd Jones spar over issues in Hillsborough property appraiser race

Joe Henderson: Buckle up, Hillsborough, you’re the big political prize

Joe Henderson: Hillary Clinton, Citizens United and ‘never-ending’ thirst for cash

Joe Henderson: Predicting Donald Trump in final debate is risky business

Joe Henderson: ‘Checkmate’ in the Marco Rubio-Patrick Murphy debate

Joe Henderson: To catch up, Patrick Murphy needs knockout debate against Marco Rubio

Joe Henderson: Assault on polling begins in ‘ShameFest 2016’

Joe Henderson: Donald Trump was right about Marco Rubio