Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJuly 15, 2015

The topsy-turvy 2016 Senate election in Florida welcomes a new edition Wednesday in the persona of one Carlos-Lopez Cantera, the man plucked by Rick Scott from the Miami-Dade County property appraiser’s office a year and a half ago to help him win re-election. Yes, mission accomplished, but what has he done for us lately? For […]

Mitch PerryJuly 14, 2015

George W. Bush had “Rangers” and “Pioneers” in 1999-2000. Now, Jeb Bush will use NASA related nomenclature such as “Apollo,” “Endeavor” and “Voyager” to signify high-level financial bundlers bringing large contributions to his campaign. The Jeb Bush donor program is being called Mission 2016 JEB, and it will have three distinct tiers for top bundlers […]

Mitch PerryJuly 13, 2015

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A Jacksonville-based conservative group named Grassroots For Victory USA led by former First Coast Tea Party founder Billie Tucker will soon begin a national tour touting conservative values before the upcoming election year. Among its members is former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, who will be political and government affairs adviser for the group. Grassroots For Victory USA was […]

Mitch PerryJuly 10, 2015

It was just an average Thursday in the Florida political world. But first a note about Jeb Bush, who announced that through his own campaign and his Super PAC Right to Rise, he’s raised $114 million this year, with all but $11 million coming from Right to Rise, which began fundraising for the “non-candidate” in […]

Guest AuthorJuly 9, 2015

When I taught high school, several students believed the Confederate flag to be a symbol of Southern pride. They wore it on t-shirts, belt buckles, or flew it from the back of their pickup trucks. These were someone else’s children, so what they wore or waved was not necessarily my concern. I did encourage them, […]

Mitch PerryJuly 6, 2015

In an interview with the conservative Daily Caller regarding his foreign policy views, Jeb Bush says that unlike when the U.S. re-established relations with communist governments in China and Vietnam, the U.S. is getting “nothing” out of its rapprochement with Cuba. “The difference between, say, China or Vietnam is we got something in return when we […]

Mitch PerryJune 19, 2015

Although he was criticized earlier on Friday for seeming to downplay the racial aspect of 21-year-old Dylann Roof’s murdering nine people in a historic black church in Charleston on Wednesday night, Jeb Bush had no problem acknowledging that fact while addressing approximately 500 people at the Hillsborough County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner in Tampa on Friday night. […]

Associated PressJune 17, 2015

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush says there’s “not a reason in the world” why the U.S. economy can’t grow at 4 percent annually. Actually, there are a bunch of reasons it probably can’t. Many economists say the U.S. economy is ill equipped to grow consistently at even close to 4 percent. Current forecasts put growth […]

Associated PressJune 15, 2015

Jeb Bush launched a Republican presidential bid months in the making Monday with a vow to get Washington “out of the business of causing problems” and to stay true to his beliefs: easier said than done in a bristling primary contest where his conservative credentials will be sharply challenged. “I will campaign as I would […]

Peter SchorschJune 14, 2015

More than a mere declaration on entering the race, presidential announcement speeches offer a glimpse of a candidate’s priorities, principles, and views on the state of the country. Barack Obama talked of a new generation of leadership, George W. Bush argued for “prosperity with a purpose.” Each speech sets expectations and tone for the campaign […]

Tag: George W. Bush
Elon Musk. Image via AP.

Mitch Perry Report for 7.15.15 — Forget about 2016; 2018 Florida politics is up and running

Jeb Bush breaks out NASA nomenclature to signify top level bundlers

Former LG Jennifer Carroll going on road with Tea Party group’s national tour

Mitch Perry Report for 7.10.15 — A whole lotta political stuff

Catherine Durkin Robinson: There are Southerners worth knowing about, who bring pride to our region

Jeb Bush says U.S. getting “nothing” out of restored relations with Cuba

In Tampa, Jeb Bush says post-Charleston: “We need to bring love back into our society”

Is Jeb Bush’s economic growth goal realistic?

Jeb Bush has optimistic message, faces challenges in ’16 bid

Presidential announcements set 2016 campaign priorities, tone