I wanted to thank you for dropping by, it’s Memorial Day Weekend.
That means very little local original content. There will be some original content from me but everybody is taking it easy. It’s time to shut it down and go home for the weekend.
The long weekend is almost upon us! What will you do?
Good political stories will be hard to come by this weekend but we’ll move forward. Today we’ve got more Citrus Bowl drama (more coming on that today) and Stand Your Ground Law
All of this and the Rubio Bio lead off your Friday morning political headlines.
It’s a new day and the first day where Mitt Romney is a clear frontrunner in Florida. Expect both sides to dig in for a long fight over the summer.
What’s going on in Seminole County? State house members Chris Dorworth and Jason Brodeur both draw Republican opponents. Inter-party challenges at the state level aren’t unheard of but going after the future house speaker is. What’s up with that?
These stories lead off your Thursday morning Political headlines
The latest Quinnipiac poll has Mitt Romney up by six in the Sunshine State and the lead jumps up to eight points with a Senator Marco Rubio VP nod. This means so many things that we’re going to use an entire post to break it down.
So, why is Romney ahead in Florida?
Because we’ve accepted him and boring might be better
It wasn’t as hard here in Florida where Republicans let Romney cruise to a double digit primary win over Newt Gingrich but, all Floridians are starting to prefer the boring former Massachusetts Governor’s careful approach with economic recovery. And in Florida where unemployment is higher than the national average, we’re not sold on the President’s progress.
The President’s ads aren’t working and Romney’s are:
Take a look at Romney’s first general election ad.
Low hanging fruit. Jobs, tax cuts for job creators, and replacing an unpopular healthcare plan.
It’s also what he didn’t do, like passing on that ridiculous Jeremiah Wright angle.
The President has gone with the Bain attack strategy and it hasn’t worked. In fact, the latest Corey Booker blowback has all but sunk that avenue of attack for the President.
The President’s stance on Gay Marriage hasn’t responded well:
The poll states that Obama’s support of Gay Marriage makes Independents less likely to vote for him.
Vice-President Biden didn’t do his boss any favors by putting President Obama in a position that forced him to roll his support in a rushed and uncalculated fashion, that made it look like the President was pandering.
Just like the Bain attack strategy. it all but takes this social issue out of play.
Rubio-mania is running wild and this poll might take him out of consideration for VP:
What? Doesn’t the lead go up to 8 points with Rubio?
It does but 6 points might be enough of a lead that it convinces the Romney campaign to pick Ohio Senator Rob Portman or New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte over Rubio.
Why take one Battleground state when you can have two?
Will a lead in Florida take Rubio out of VP Consideration?
We’ve still got a long way to go:
One bad debate performance, a few mistakes on the trail, a clumsy VP or VP nominee move and this lead could flip or extend.
Yesterday, Orange County approved the Domestic Partnership Registry. The vote passed 5 to 1 with only Commissioner Fred Brummer voting against it. This registry would allow same sex couples similar privileges to married couple. An angle often overlooked is that the registry could be used by seniors who need support but don’t always have family close by.
This story leads your Wednesday morning political headlines.
Never mind the non-political subject of Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy and GM Otis Smith being released (actually it’s more political than you think), there was a lot going on yesterday.
Former Congressman Alan Grayson will open up his campaign headquarters in Kissimmee today.
The escalating subject of term limits in Orange County is in the spotlight. Will the voters get their voices heard?
Strong Content today in your Tuesday Morning Political Headlines.
Earlier today, Orange County Mayor Jacobs welcomed former “Today” and CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric to Orlando. Couric was in the area promoting her new daytime talker that will debut in the fall on the local NBC affiliate.
Mayor Jacobs and Couric during the latest stop on her press tour
Couric recently anchored the CBS Evening news for the last few years before seeking out other projects.
These stories are always a lot of fun. Watching local leaders interact with celebrities from sports, entertainment, or in this case the media is a great change of pace from budgets and PIP auto insurance.
If you’re running for office and your campaign hasn’t been walking then, I hope you’ve got a lot of money laying around because normal campaigns that are watching the balance on those bank accounts should be sending out volunteers to GOTV.
It’s this happy time of the year in which we center this edition of political stocks
Who’s Up:
Paul Ryan: The Wisconsin Congressman and Chairman of the budget committee was showcasing his money smarts and media poise on two networks at the same time Sunday morning. They ran both taped interviews simultaneously and for 15 solid minutes voters got to see Ryan knockdown every question asked and easily dispatch of the anti-Romney rhetoric Economist and former Obama cabinet member Austan Goolsbee used.
If he is still being considered for Vice President, there was no better audition than yesterday morning
Bill Nelson: When Dave Weldon entered the race Friday afternoonit meant two things. George Lemieux’s standing as the alternative to frontrunner Connie Mack IV was in danger and Mack IV was going to have to answer the same questions from two opponents with the former Brevard Congressman now in the race. Mack IV is still the favorite but he’s going to have to spend more money fighting off another challenger.
This works in Bill Nelson’s favor. Already the frontrunner in general election polls, Mack IV’s lighter warchest will benefit him in November.
Chris Christie and Cory Booker*: This video has gotten a lot of positive press and it’s helped both the Newark Mayor and New Jersey Governor.
It’s earned Booker nationwide publicity and it’s reinforced Christie’s intentions that he wants the VP nod.
*Booker is taking a beating over his criticism of Obama’s Bain attack strategy but, he’s right.
Holding Steady:
Dan Webster and Val Demings: Both candidates very quiet in recent week. No serious primary challenges will ensure both campaigns save their energy to roll into their eventual collision.
Who’s Down:
Political Operatives: The two biggest stories over the last week have been the re-emergence of the President’s relationship with Reverend Jerimiah Wright and Mitt Romney’s history with Bain Capital. Both attacks fell flat when used in the past so it has many asking, Why are there organizations trying to roll this failed material out again?
George Lemieux: More Florida Senate GOP primary fallout from Weldon’s late entry. The former Senator has thrown every kind of attack possible at Connie Mack IV and he can’t even Mack’s lead. Now, Weldon in the race, Lemieux could watch his support dwindle even further.
Romney’s fallen foes: Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul all reportedly have significant campaign debt and all have become after thoughts in the political landscape.
Ryan’s poise in the media and economical smarts should keep him in the VP conversation
Very little local content as always on Monday morning, in fact it looked liked the entire post would be “piped in”.
Then came the enemy of pants that dare to hang lower than they should.
Gary Siplin will be sponsoring job fairs in the area, you’ll recall the State Senator championed the droopy drawers bill that cracks down on loose pants promote doing the opposite. Anyhow, have a read.
