Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerrySeptember 28, 2016

During the first half-hour or so of Monday night’s presidential debate, there was plenty of chatter on Twitter on what appeared to be a case of the sniffles being suffered by Donald J. Trump. Former Vermont governor and NBC News commentator Howard Dean speculated it might have to do with cocaine use. “Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke […]

Associated PressSeptember 27, 2016

She was at her best. He was not at his worst. Weeks of Super Bowl-style hype aside, Monday night’s 90 minutes of heated clashes between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump probably didn’t shove many undecided voters off the fence. If Clinton aimed to push her famously unpredictable opponent into a made-for-sharing disqualifying moment, she didn’t […]

Associated PressSeptember 27, 2016

In a combative opening debate, Hillary Clinton emphatically denounced Donald Trump Monday night for keeping his personal tax returns and business dealings secret from voters and peddling a “racist lie” about President Barack Obama. Businessman Trump repeatedly cast Clinton as a “typical politician” as he sought to capitalize on Americans’ frustration with Washington. Locked in […]

Associated PressSeptember 26, 2016

Everyone’s aware of the stakes for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump during the first presidential debate, but there’s a third person in the equation who faces a different pressure: Lester Holt. The NBC News veteran is moderating his first general election debate, making him solely responsible for the questions asked each candidate and for steering […]

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. […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 26, 2016

Everyone loves a great show; tonight, we are sure to get one. In what is the most highly awaited political event in modern history, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump square off Monday evening in the first presidential debate from Long Island’s Hofstra University hosted by Lester Holt of NBC News. However, with the bar set exceedingly high for Clinton (and low, […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 26, 2016

With this being a presidential election year, when Democrats historically show up in greater numbers at the polls, the Florida Democratic Party is targeting several key legislative races in Hillsborough County which they hope to flip from red to blue. One of them is the House District 59 seat in Eastern Hillsborough County currently held by Dover Republican Ross […]

Associated PressSeptember 26, 2016

After months of tangling from afar, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will confront each other face-to-face for the first time in Monday night’s presidential debate, laying out for voters their vastly different visions for America’s future. The high-stakes showdown — the first of three presidential debates — comes as both candidates are viewed negatively by […]

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 PerrySeptember 24, 2016

With his twice-weekly forum on The New York Times Op-Ed page, along with weekly gigs on NPR’s All Things Considered and the PBS NewsHour, David Brooks is regarded as one of the pre-eminent political pundits in the country. So when I had the opportunity to speak with him about an hour-and-a-half before his scheduled appearance at the Palladium […]

Tag: Barack Obama
Image via Rick Scott Senate office.

Mitch Perry Report for 9.28.16 — Our bodies, our politicians

Analysis: In debate, Hillary Clinton was prepared, Donald Trump was Trump

Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump battle fiercely over taxes, race, terror

Moderator Lester Holt under scrutiny during debate

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

Thoughts on tonight’s debate: Could Donald Trump really win this thing?

Ross Spano feels confident about challenge to retain his HD 59 seat in Hillsborough County

Debate Night: Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump set for high-stakes showdown

Mitch Perry Report for 9.26.16 – Keeping everything in perspective

David Brooks on Donald Trump voters, Colin Kaepernick and growing loss of connection in U.S.