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

Joe HendersonOctober 10, 2016

The unmoving needle: It generally is conceded Donald Trump’s fervent base will be ecstatic with his performance. Breitbart.com, for instance, declared in a giant headline on its home page — Clinton Crash: Trump dominates. It highlighted a quote from Rudy Giuliani declaring, “Biggest knockout I’ve seen in a presidential debate.” Breitbart ran one of those quick-click polls […]

Joe HendersonOctober 8, 2016

Many Republicans have distanced themselves from Donald Trump after crude sexual remarks about women he made surfaced on tape Friday, but stopped short of saying they won’t vote for him in November. David Jolly is not one of those. His anti-Trump chops can no longer be debated. He is all-in on being all-out on Trump. […]

Joe HendersonOctober 8, 2016

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If Republicans were honest, many would admit they have been looking for the right chance to bail on Donald Trump without looking disloyal to the party. He just gave it to them after the Washington Post reported Friday about a crude, vulgar conversation he had a decade ago. This isn’t just a chance to run […]

Joe HendersonOctober 7, 2016

It seemed like Gov. Rick Scott was everywhere in the days and hours leading up to the impact on our state by Hurricane Matthew. His face was on nearly every news show, local and national, warning the people of Florida “this storm will kill you.” He pleaded, “If instructed to evacuate, don’t wait. You can […]

Joe HendersonOctober 6, 2016

Although Hurricane Matthew is not projected to strike Hillsborough County, public school classes are canceled for Friday so multiple buildings can be used to shelter evacuees from other areas. Designated evacuation centers include Brandon, Strawberry Crest, and Riverview high schools; along with Summerfield Crossing Elementary in Riverview; Pizzo Elementary near the University of South Florida, […]

Joe HendersonOctober 5, 2016

About halfway through the vice presidential debate Tuesday, I wonder how many Republicans were secretly (or maybe not so secretly) wishing Indiana Gov. Mike Pence was at the top of their presidential ticket. On my scorecard, Pence was the clear winner over Democrat Tim Kaine — not on policy so much, as I doubt the debate […]

Joe HendersonOctober 3, 2016

Ken Hagan has been elected five times to the Hillsborough County Commission. That ought to say something about the way voters feel he takes care of both his and the public’s business. Headlines tend to find him because he always seems to be involved in something important, but I wouldn’t say he seeks out publicity. […]

Joe HendersonSeptember 29, 2016

I think we have one of our first major campaign issues for the 2018 race to succeed Rick Scott as Florida’s governor. Any serious candidate who doesn’t come out strongly in favor of seriously beefing up the state Department of Environmental Protection will miss a great opportunity. In just the last couple of months alone, […]

Joe HendersonSeptember 27, 2016

During Monday’s presidential debate, I kept waiting for a moment that never came. Donald Trump had 100 million sets of eyeballs focused on him. What better time to prove he is not, as Hillary Clinton paints him, a racist, sexist, selfish jerk from an alternate universe. Trump was combative, but that’s who he is. Clinton […]

Joe HendersonSeptember 26, 2016

Things we are curious about for the Trump-Clinton I: The Debate. The television audience How many people will be watching? Well, a lot – that’s for sure. Some predict the audience could exceed 100 million people. The record audience for a presidential debate is 80 million people for Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter in 1983. […]

Joe Henderson
Image via WUFT News.

Joe Henderson: 5 post-debate points to ponder

Joe Henderson: GOP is distancing from Donald Trump. Except David Jolly; he was already there.

Joe Henderson: Republicans wonder how quickly they can get as far away from Donald Trump

Joe Henderson: Rick Scott again passes the ‘hurricane test’

Hillsborough schools cancel classes to be shelters for Matthew evacuees

Joe Henderson: Tim Kaine, Mike Pence clash in downcard, ‘diluted’ debate

Joe Henderson: Hillsborough rideshare decision could rest with ‘problem solver’ Ken Hagan

Joe Henderson: Issue 1 in 2018 Gov’s race, fixing Florida’s environment

Joe Henderson: Donald Trump’s curious debate strategy — ‘he blew it’

Joe Henderson: 5 things we’re curious about the Hillary Clinton-Donald Trump debate