Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2016

Brandon state Sen. Tom Lee, conspicuously missing on a list last fall of Florida state senators backing Jeb Bush‘s presidential aspirations, said Monday he’s foursquare behind Marco Rubio for the GOP presidential nomination. “Beyond being a good friend, Marco Rubio is a committed conservative leader with a unrivaled record of accomplishment in Florida and Washington,” Lee said […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 22, 2016

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A trio of South Florida congressional leaders have officially backed Marco Rubio, Florida’s junior U.S. senator in his 2016 presidential bid. U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Carlos Curbelo said Monday they were endorsing Rubio. “From his leadership on foreign policy to his focus on improving our economy, Marco understands our country’s needs. From […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2016

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio always had an uphill battle to win Florida’s Republican Hispanic support away from Jeb Bush in the 2016 presidential race, and now that Bush is gone there appears to be no automatic switch. Bush, who dropped out after a disappointing showing in South Carolina Saturday, had developed powerful loyalty among a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 22, 2016

If you already cast your ballot for Jeb Bush, there’s no going back now. Thousands of ballots have already been returned to elections officials across Florida in advance of the March 15 presidential preference primary. Once those ballots have been cast, voters can’t change their mind because their candidate dropped out. On Saturday, Bush said […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2016

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Jeb Bush’s disappointing fourth place finish in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary wasn’t stunning, but his decision to announce he was leaving the presidential race immediately after the results came in was. “The people of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken,” he told a crowd of supporters in Columbia less than two hours […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 22, 2016

As Marco Rubio continues to gain steam in the race for the Republican nomination, a leading political expert is looking into his crystal ball to make a few predictions. Larry Sabato, the director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and editor-in-chief of “Sabato’s Crystal Ball,” suggested Rubio “consider a daring gambit.” The bold […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2016

Sorry, GOP Establishment, but Ben Carson and John Kasich aren’t shutting down their campaigns. Those rallying around Marco Rubio Monday morning are hoping they would, two days after Donald Trump‘s decisive victory Saturday night in South Carolina forced Jeb Bush out of the race. Rubio says it’s a three-man race between himself, Trump and Ted […]

Associated PressFebruary 21, 2016

Republicans Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz battled to emerge as the true anti-Trump on Sunday as the billionaire businessman took an ever-so-brief break from his trademark braggadocio to say his drive for the GOP nomination isn’t unstoppable — yet. Fresh off a commanding victory in South Carolina, Donald Trump declined to say the nomination was […]

Bill RuftyFebruary 21, 2016

State Rep. John Wood, a Winter Haven Republican, endorsed U. S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida’s Republican junior senator, for president on Saturday. A recent statewide Florida Southern College opinion poll showed Rubio running second to Donald Trump heading toward Florida’s March Presidential Primary. In the South Carolina Republican Primary, Rubio made a strong showing. Wood, […]

Associated PressFebruary 19, 2016

Jeb Bush has long kept his family at arm’s length in his effort to become commander-in-chief, but with the South Carolina primary looming, he’s embracing them like never before in the state that has historically stood by the Bush family in its previous White House bids. It’s a drastic shift from the approach he took […]

Tag: Jeb Bush
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Image via Florida State Parks.

Tom Lee is now backing Marco Rubio for president

South Florida Republican congressional delegation throws support behind Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio not yet locking in Jeb Bush’s Florida Hispanic backers

Votes cast for Jeb Bush will still be counted in March 15 primary

Jeb Bush becomes the latest former Florida Governor to strike out in a run for president

“Crystal Ball” suggests Marco Rubio offer John Kasich VP spot in exchange for his backing

Mitch Perry Report for 2.22.16 – Rubio’s narrow pathway

Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz jostle to claim ‘alternative-to-Donald Trump’ vote

Winter Haven state Rep. John Wood endorses Marco Rubio

Jeb Bush, seeking a much-needed revival in SC, calls in family