Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania intends to rally conservatives for the man who defeated him for the Republican presidential nomination -- former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts -- when the GOP holds its convention in Tampa later this month.
On Wednesday, a day after it was announced that Santorum would address the convention, the former presidential candidate said that Patriot Voices, an organization that he chairs, will hold an event for Romney in Tampa on Wednesday, Aug. 29.
Despite initial buzz, national pundits insist that U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is not a top tier candidate to end up as Mitt Romney’s running mate on the Republican ticket. But that is not stopping Barack Obama’s team which is taking aim at Rubio, insisting he still has a chance of winding up on the ticket.
On Tuesday, Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), unveiled the second round of speakers who will address the GOP’s convention in Tampa later this month. Priebus announced that former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, Gov. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who ran for the party's nomination earlier in the election cycle, will address the convention.
U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams is battling U.S. Rep. John Mica in the Republican primary next Tuesday for a congressional seat in Central Florida. On Tuesday, Adams unveiled the support of two fellow congressional freshmen from the Sunshine State -- U.S. Rep. Rich Nugent and U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross.
While both Nugent and Ross praised Adams, neither of them took aim at Mica on Tuesday.
While his chances of ending up as Mitt Romney’s running mate continue to dim, Marco Rubio continues to take a high-profile role in praising the presumptive Republican presidential candidate and taking aim at President Barack Obama.
Rubio appeared on “Kilmeade and Friends” on Fox News Radio on Thursday and ripped into Obama on economic issues.
Ron DeSantis, an attorney and veteran from the First Coast who is running in a crowded Republican primary for an open congressional seat, announced on Thursday that he had won the backing of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Arizona law enforcement officer who has won national notice for his stances ranging from immigration to President Barack Obama’s birth certificate.
Arpaio pointed to DeSantis' record on immigration and military service as reasons he was backing him.
A survey of likely Florida voters released on Tuesday from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to prominent Democrats, shows a tight battle to control the Sunshine State with President Barack Obama barely ahead of former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, the presumptive Republican candidate -- but the poll also finds that Romney could help win the biggest swing state in the nation with the right vice presidential candidate.
The poll shows Obama taking 48 percent while Romney is right on his tail with 47 percent with 5 percent remaining undecided.
House Speaker Pro Tempore John Legg, R-Port Richey, continues to gain the support of the Republican leadership for his bid for a seat in the Florida Senate. On Thursday, state Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that she was backing Legg over former Rep. Rob Wallace and security consultant John Korscak in the Republican primary on Aug. 14.
On Thursday, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) used its political action committee to back Republican candidates who are running for seats in the Florida Senate. The group did not endorse any Democrats.
On Wednesday, former Gov. Jeb Bush waded into one of the most competitive legislative primaries in Florida when he backed Rep. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, over Rep. Jim Frische, R-St. Petersburg, for the GOP nod for an open state Senate seat.
"Jeff Brandes has the right stuff to lead in the Florida Senate," Bush said. "Jeff has the courage and real-world experience to tackle the complex issues facing the state of Florida. Having Jeff in the Florida Senate will ensure the residents of the bay area have strong, principled leadership in Tallahassee."
