Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryNovember 24, 2015

If you’re a reporter, you didn’t have to be in Jacksonville Monday to learn the details of Gov. Rick Scott‘s $79 billion budget. That’s because the governor’s press office helpfully sent out email after email to highlight aspects of the vast budget throughout the day, where the highlights include $1 billion in tax cuts and cutting […]

Mitch PerryOctober 29, 2015

The immediate reaction as most Americans hit the sack Wednesday night from the political cognoscenti was that Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz were the big winners from Wednesday night’s two-hour GOP debate from Boulder, Colorado. The big losers? Jeb Bush and CNBC. That sentiment seemed to congeal Thursday morning. “For most of this year, Rubio and Cruz have been lurking in […]

Mitch PerryOctober 29, 2015

There’s lots to unpack from Wednesday night’s two-hour GOP presidential debate, but the most important thing to remember is that there still are three full months before any voter decides on anything. Unlike 2011-2012 when GOP primary voters through the polls bounced from Michele Bachmann to Rick Perry to Herman Cain to Newt Gingrich to […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 17, 2015

CNN, of course, with probably the highest ratings in its history. As in the Fox News debates, the ratings can be attributed to Donald Trump, who took center stage. I still believe Trump was correct in asking the network to donate money from the profits of the telecast for a charity, such as for our […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 15, 2015

First off, don’t expect a loud verbal tirade against Donald Trump on Wednesday by any of the other candidates. They now know if they offer a visceral attack, and Trump returns fire, Trump’s ratings will go up, not theirs. That’s because the public now perceives Trump as the voice of the people, a group mad […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 13, 2015

Watching Best of Enemies, the new movie about the series of debates Gore Vidal and William Buckley had at the 1968 Republican Convention in Miami and Democratic Convention in Chicago, is a lesson in parallelism. Despite their deep differences, the two were like “matter and antimatter,” or as my wife said, “two models wearing the […]

Jac VerSteegJune 8, 2015

One result of former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s indictment is that Wheaton College has removed Hastert’s name from its J. Dennis Hastert Center for Economics, Government, and Public Policy. In a news release the college, in Wheaton, Illinois, said: “In light of the charges and allegations that have emerged, the College has re-designated the […]

Mitch PerryMay 13, 2015

In Washington Tuesday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled his progressive “contract with America,” a 13-point liberal platform in which every child has free kindergarten, wages start at $15 an hour, there would be national paid sick leave and family leave, higher taxes on the wealthy, opposition to unfair trade laws (such as the Trans […]

Phil AmmannMay 12, 2015

Although several conservative political committee have already come out for Ron DeSantis in his bid for the U.S. Senate, now a super PAC is supporting him. Service.Honor.Country. Action Fund (SHCAF) is a newly-minted group that can raise unlimited campaign cash, as well as independent payments on behalf of DeSantis, as he seeks Marco Rubio’s soon-to-be-open […]

Associated PressApril 9, 2015

If he runs for president as expected, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio will have a political committee ready to raise and spend unlimited cash on his behalf. Rubio is set to announce his 2016 campaign plans in a speech Monday in Miami and would become the third major candidate to declare his White House ambitions. A […]

Tag: Newt Gingrich

Mitch Perry Report for 11.24.15 — Did Rick Scott release something Monday?

Post-debate winners are Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz

Mitch Perry Report for 10.29.15 – Marco Rubio scores in debate, but will it boost his polling?

Tim Bryce: So, who won Wednesday's GOP debate?

Tim Bryce: The not-so-great expectations for the GOP debates

A.G. Gancarski: Gore Vidal, William Buckley play as “2 models in same dress” in new movie

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Dennis Hastert teaches a lot about economics, government and public policy

Mitch Perry Report 5.13.15 – Bill de Blasio unveils a progressive contract with America

Ron DeSantis picks up new super PAC support

Marco Rubio, set to launch 2016 campaign, gets a super PAC