Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressNovember 9, 2015

Jeb Bush has a plan for the Republican presidential debate in Wisconsin on Tuesday night: Don’t treat it like, well, a debate. While he acknowledges he’s “gotta get better” on the debate stage, he says he’s spending less time rehearsing and sees the prime-time forum as more of a moderated conversation than a real debate. […]

Peter SchorschNovember 9, 2015

As Douglas Adams wrote in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!” That pretty much describes Florida’s political landscape right now, with a year until Election Day (and, perhaps more astonishingly, just four months to the Presidential Preference Primary). A slew of key state races are as yet unformed, with breakout […]

Jim RosicaNovember 8, 2015

Rhea Chiles, widow of former Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles, died Sunday, according to a statement from her family. She was 84. Chiles, who was being attended by hospice workers, died at her home on Anna Maria Island along the coast of Manatee County. Mrs. Chiles was known for her efforts in 1973 to create Florida […]

Associated PressNovember 7, 2015

For months, Republican presidential candidates with dwindling bank accounts and negligible support in polls have been finding reasons to stay in the 2016 race. Now, a few must weigh whether they can keep competing after being downgraded or excluded from Tuesday’s fourth GOP debate. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee […]

Bob SparksNovember 7, 2015

Political opinion polls can be useful, but they can also be dangerous in a figurative sense. Those thinking the election is over because a poll says so can be in for the shock of their lives. Polls can get it wrong in a big way. We have some recent examples. Going into Tuesday night’s statewide […]

Associated PressNovember 6, 2015

There’s been a little more shouting this week from Jeb Bush, and a little more salty language, too, as the Republican candidate for president tries to reboot a campaign that’s fallen from front-running to middle of the pack. But what hasn’t changed is the message. And, Bush says, it won’t. In an interview with The […]

Peter SchorschNovember 6, 2015

A leading Florida fundraiser who initially backed Jeb Bush‘s campaign is publicly withdrawing support over Bush’s ongoing attacks on Sen. Marco Rubio. Brian Ballard, a lobbyist in Tallahassee who donated $20,000 to the pro-Bush super PAC Right to Rise USA, told Politico on Thursday that he had privately abandoned Bush earlier but wanted to make his concerns […]

Bob SparksNovember 5, 2015

Political opinion polls can be useful, but they can also be dangerous in a figurative sense. Those thinking the election is over because a poll says so can be in for the shock of their lives. Polls can get it wrong in a big way. We have some recent examples. Going into Tuesday night’s statewide […]

Peter SchorschNovember 5, 2015

For anyone who appreciates presidential politics, it would be a fool’s errand to write off Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign. In a new email update from Right to Rise PAC – providing exclusive information from the campaign trail – the former Florida governor is far from finished, despite “lagging national polls” and receiving less airtime than […]

Phil AmmannNovember 4, 2015

Now it’s a Baker’s Dozen. Retired pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson will be the 13th candidate to appear at the Republican Party of Florida’s Sunshine Summit, scheduled next week in Orlando. “We are excited to welcome Ben Carson to our list of presidential candidates speaking at the Sunshine Summit in Orlando,” said a statement Wednesday from […]

Tag: Jeb Bush

Jeb Bush aims to debate on his terms, after poor start

A year out from Election Day in Florida, confusion, uncertainty reigns

Rhea Chiles, former Florida first lady, dies at 84

Unpopular GOP candidates mulling when to pack it in

Bob Sparks: Polls have recently missed the mark; how about the GOP presidential field?

Jeb Bush: Voters will “adjust their thinking” as primaries near

Jeb Bush fundraiser Brian Ballard defects over attacks on Marco Rubio

Bob Sparks: Polls have recently missed the mark; how about the GOP presidential field?

Email insights: Counting out Jeb Bush is big mistake

Now it’s 13: Ben Carson latest to attend Florida GOP Sunshine Summit