Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJune 4, 2015

Good morning, everybody. Props to the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald for their world exclusive giving us the date when Jeb Bush finally ends his “exploring the waters” phase and officially enters the GOP presidential race: June 15. Meanwhile, Lincoln Chafee announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination Wednesday and Rick Perry will later Thursday, if […]

Mitch PerryJune 3, 2015

At Rick Scott‘s cattle call in Orlando Tuesday (I refuse to call it the Happiest Place on the Earth), the six (potential) presidential candidates were told by the governor to stick to the economy, so the only time they could speak about other issues were generally if they came before reporters after their session on […]

Mitch PerryMay 31, 2015

This past Saturday afternoon, two dozen supporters of Dr. Ben Carson gathered at the Quality Inn and Suites in East Tampa to hear how they can help get the recently declared Republican presidential candidate elected president – or at least much better known in Hillsborough County. And while the retired neurosurgeon may not be as well known or […]

Mitch PerryMay 5, 2015

Monday night in Miami, Alan Gross, an American citizen held in Cuba by the Castro-led government for five years, spoke at the inaugural fundraiser for New Cuba PAC, a political action committee created to push for the end of the 53-year U.S. economic embargo against the communist island nation. “It was a magical night,” said […]

Mitch PerryMay 5, 2015

Don’t tell Laura Ingraham, Steve King, or some other Republican immigration hardliners, but Jeb Bush is commemorating Cinco de Mayo. Bush recorded a video message Tuesday to the entire U.S. Hispanic community, “and especially to our fellow Americans of Mexican origin,” as he says in the video. “Cinco de Mayo is an honorable date when Mexico, […]

Staff ReportsApril 21, 2015

According to a new poll released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, more Americans like President Barack Obama‘s signature health care legislation than dislike it. By a narrow margin — 43 percent in favor versus 42 against, with the margin undecided or unsure — a plurality of U.S. citizens say they view the law favorably for the first […]

Mitch PerryApril 6, 2015

It was a big Easter weekend full of news. The top local story is penned by Caitlin Johnston in the Tampa Bay Times regarding the treatment and working conditions at the Tampa Fire Department. Sort of embarrassing that a majority of the city’s fire stations still lack designated women’s bathrooms and private changing areas. Rolling […]

Ryan RayMarch 13, 2015

Ah, brothers. Such an embarrassment sometimes. Jimmy Carter had Billy the beer-swilling redneck, Bill Clinton had Roger the cocaine distributor and Lyndon Johnson had Sam Houston, the other beer-swilling redneck. The conventional wisdom is that Jeb Bush will have something of an albatross around his neck owing to his brother’s relatively unpopular tenure in the White House — so then why […]

Ryan RayMarch 13, 2015

Ah, brothers. Such an embarrassment sometimes. Jimmy Carter had Billy the beer-swilling redneck, Bill Clinton had Roger the cocaine distributor and Lyndon Johnson had Sam Houston, the other beer-swilling redneck. The conventional wisdom is that Jeb Bush will have something of an albatross around his neck owing to his brother’s relatively unpopular tenure in the White House — so then why […]

Mitch PerryMarch 9, 2015

Florida lawmakers last year approved a plan to set aside $7 million in sales-tax revenue to help pay for building or renovating sports stadiums. Last month, though, the Joint Legislative Budget Commission punted on the decision on whether or not to fund the four stadium projects before them: EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Daytona International Speedway, Sun […]

Tag: Wall Street Journal

Mitch Perry Report for 2.4.15 — Hillary Clinton to rally base on voting issues

Mitch Perry Report for 6.3.15 — Could rising crime become political issue in 2016?

Ben Carson supporters meet in Tampa to spread the word about his candidacy

Engage Cuba group starts effort to end U.S. sanctions

Jeb Bush sends out Happy Cinco de Mayo message en Español

For first time since 2012 majority of Americans support Affordable Care Act, says Kaiser poll

Mitch Perry Report for 4.6.15 — Play ball (a little quicker, please)

Charlie Cook on Jeb’s national favorability problem

Charlie Cook on Jeb's national favorability problem

Obama budget would bar tax-exempt bonds to finance stadiums