Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryNovember 5, 2015

After it became clear Marco Rubio wasn’t running for re-election, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater immediately became the odds-on favorite Republican to run for the to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat. Everything changed, though, after the CFO stunned the Florida political world in April when he said he wouldn’t run for the office. Since then, four lesser-known Republicans: U.S. Reps. David Jolly and Ron […]

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 […]

Mitch PerryNovember 5, 2015

I received a text message Wednesday night saying that the Tampa Bay Sierra Club had embraced Hillsborough County Commission Chairwoman Sandy Murman‘s late-hour plan to fund transportation projects, which sounds like a larger-size version of what the club sought this past summer. You remember, it asked the county to began raising mobility fees and the […]

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 […]

Mitch PerryNovember 4, 2015

U.S. Senator Jim Risch of Idaho became the third Republican senator this week to endorse Marco Rubio on Wednesday. Risch says he’s been impressed with Rubio’s communication skills and understanding of serious issues while working together in the Senate. His endorsement comes a day after Rubio received a similar voice of approval from Montana Senator Steve […]

Phil AmmannNovember 4, 2015

In opposing the bankruptcy filing for Puerto Rico, Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio said he does not believe in a “silver bullet.” Puerto Ricans should tighten their belts, he declared. According to Casey Tolan of Fusion, what Rubio fails to mention is that he received thousands of dollars in campaign cash from individuals – particularly […]

Mitch PerryNovember 4, 2015

While appearing on Fox News Wednesday morning, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio again downplayed stories that are again circling about his finances. They include his issues with a Republican Party of Florida credit card when he was speaker of the Florida house. “It’s actually a discredited attack,” Rubio told Fox’s Martha MacCallum on Wednesday, referring to […]

Mitch PerryNovember 4, 2015

Donald Trump has a narrow, 1-point lead over Ben Carson in the latest Quinnipiac poll of Republican presidential candidates, 24-23 percent. But Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are rising. Rubio is third in the national survey with 14 percent support, and Cruz is right behind at 13 percent. Jeb Bush is fifth with 4 percent. No […]

Mitch PerryNovember 4, 2015

A friend of mine asked me Tuesday night whether Ben Carson is doing any fundraising in Tampa. It would certainly make sense if he were since the GOP presidential front-runner (in some polls) is spending this week in Florida on a book-selling tour. There’s no indication, though, that such an event is planned. Carson is running a campaign […]

Associated PressNovember 4, 2015

Jeb Bush is charging back into early-voting states with a can-do message aimed at winning over primary voters and reassuring anxious donors. The former Florida governor, who has struggled to stand out in televised debates and whose campaign for president has cut costs, headlined events in South Carolina and New Hampshire on Tuesday with a […]

Tag: Marco Rubio
The port strike is over — Christmas is saved! Image via AP.

Jeff Atwater still not running for U.S. Senate

Email insights: Counting out Jeb Bush is big mistake

Mitch Perry Report for 11.5.15 – A Hillsborough transportation plan without a sales tax?

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

Idaho’s Jim Risch becomes the 3rd GOP Senator in three days to back Marco Rubio for president

After taking donations from hedge funds holding Puerto Rican debt, Marco Rubio opposed bankruptcy

Marco Rubio again downplays stories about use of RPOF credit card

Marco Rubio leads Hillary Clinton by 5 points in new Quinnipiac Poll

Mitch Perry Report for 11.4.15 – Figuring out Ben Carson

Jeb Bush tries can-do message as campaign competes for attention