Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerrySeptember 29, 2016

Dr. Jill Stein, the 66-year-old Green Party presidential candidate, brought her campaign to Tampa Wednesday night, where she spoke to a packed house in the second floor ballroom of the Cuban Club in Ybor City. Stein is currently averaging around 2.5 percent in the national polls, not that dissimilar to the 2.7 percent Ralph Nader ultimately earned in […]

Martin DyckmanSeptember 27, 2016

Your vote is a terrible thing to waste. That lesson was demonstrated 16 years ago, when his contested margin of 537 votes in Florida made George W. Bush president of the United States. From that came the invasion of Iraq and the present turmoil and bloodshed in the Middle East, the Supreme Court nominations of […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 26, 2016

I’m not about to be a spoilsport and say that presidential debates are overrated, but the history shows there have been very, very few since they began being held regularly 1976 that have significantly moved voters. The first debate in 2000 between Al Gore and George W. Bush definitely changed some things. That’s the one, you might recall, where Gore was okay on substance […]

Mitch PerryJuly 28, 2016

Howard Dean is a pivotal figure in recent American politics. Although his insurgent run for president in 2003-2004 died an ignominious death in Iowa, his campaign was influential in a number of ways to current politics. As Time magazine reported two years ago, the campaign began collecting the biggest lists of offline volunteers and online donors in […]

Peter SchorschJuly 25, 2016

Former Vice President Al Gore is endorsing Hillary Clinton for president, but he says he is “not able” to attend the Democratic National Convention this week. In a trio of tweets Monday, Gore said he’s voting for Clinton “given her qualifications and experience — and given the significant challenges facing our nation and the world.” […]

Associated PressJuly 21, 2016

Hillary Clinton‘s vice presidential search is centering on three main contenders, with an announcement expected as soon as Friday as the Democrat prepares for her party’s national convention next week in Philadelphia. Clinton’s campaign has focused in recent days on Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, a former governor, mayor and one-time Catholic missionary fluent in Spanish; […]

Mitch PerryJune 30, 2016

Battling in an extremely competitive election this fall against Lisa Montelione, House District 63 Republican Rep. Shawn Harrison has procured another Democrat to back his re-election campaign. It’s former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco. “I’ve had the honor to serve our city and region for four terms as mayor, over several decades. During that time, I’ve had the privilege to work with […]

Peter SchorschJune 9, 2016

It’s a cold case. It’s an old case. And it may not amount to a hill of beans. But now that Irv Slosberg is contemplating a run for the state Senate, local chatter about a 16-year-old matter is making the rounds once again. We all remember the 2000 presidential election and the razor-thin victory by George W. Bush over Al […]

Mitch PerryMay 9, 2016

Joseph “JB” Bensmihen hasn’t been in Pinellas County very long. In fact, he officially became a resident only within the last week. So while you might consider that fact alone makes him a decided underdog in the now wide-open Pinellas County state House District 68 seat, he doesn’t. And he has an impressive history of exceeding people’s […]

Darryl PaulsonApril 27, 2016

Few things divide voters more than giving criminals the right to vote, even if they are former criminals. The issue will likely receive additional attention with the decision by Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe to use his executive power to extend voting rights to all 206,000 felons in his state. Even murderers, rapists and other […]

Tag: al gore
Joel Rudman with wife Sophie. Photo via Rudman.

Jill Stein tells Tampa: ‘This is the perfect storm for a voter revolt’

Martin Dyckman: Now is no time for exalted idealism

Mitch Perry Report for 9.26.16 – Keeping everything in perspective

Howard Dean blasts Rick Scott, Donald Trump as ‘Neanderthal nincompoops’

Al Gore tweets endorsement of Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton VP search focus is Tim Kaine, Tom Vilsack, Tom Perez

Dick Greco is backing Shawn Harrison in the HD 63 race

Palm Beach County, Irv Slosberg and the case of the missing voting machine

Pinellas newcomer Joseph ‘JB’ Bensmihen is convinced he will win the HD 68 seat this fall

Darryl Paulson: It’s time to let more felons vote in Florida