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Subscribe to RSSHere’s one of the eternal truths of American politics: The stories never stop, even after a presidential election.
So next month in South Carolina, former Republican Gov. Mark Sanford will run in a primary for his old congressional seat. Yes, that's the same Mark Sanford who was once supposed to be hiking the Appalachian Trail. Instead, he was with his Argentine mistress, sparking quite a scandal.
Then, later this spring in Massachusetts, there will be the race for the Senate seat vacated by new Secretary of State John Kerry. Yet with former Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., declining to run, the seat will likely remain in Democratic hands.
And between now and the summer, there will be plenty of other races, legislative fights and controversies across the country to follow.
But as the political world begins turning its attention to the next presidential race -- still more than 1,300 days away -- no state will be more important to watch over the next four years than Florida.
It will be important to watch because of next year's gubernatorial race, which could be a contest between current Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Charlie Crist, a Democrat who once served as the state’s Republican governor.
It will be important to watch because two high-profile Floridians -- Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Jeb Bush, another former governor -- could very well run for president in 2016.
And it will be important because Florida, with its growing Latino vote, has emerged as a state that Republicans have to win in order to triumph in future presidential elections.
Demography is destiny in Florida
The Sunshine State consists of different geographic regions, each with their own politics. There’s the conservative-leaning Panhandle, as well as the liberal-leaning southern part of the state (mixed with its fascinating Cuban-American politics).
And then there's that swing I-4 Corridor -- Orlando, Tampa, and St. Petersburg -- although the most recent elections have suggested the region might be less swing (and more Democratic leaning) than in past cycles.
But the most fascinating part of Florida isn't geography; it's its demography.
To understand Florida’s changing demographics and the growing power of the Latino vote, consider these statistics.
In 2012, Barack Obama won just 37 percent of the white vote in the state, which was five points worse than John Kerry in 2004.
But unlike Kerry, Obama won Florida. How did he do it? For one thing, the Latino population increased from 15 percent of Florida’s electorate in 2004 to 17 percent in 2012.
More importantly, Obama won 60 percent of those voters, versus Kerry losing them in ’04. Obama also won a majority of the Cuban-American vote.
That’s the demographic reality now facing the Republican Party, and why some national Republicans like Rubio and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., are working to pass comprehensive immigration reform. (It’s also why Florida has wanted to have an early role in GOP presidential nominating contests.)
As McCain recently said, “The Republican Party is losing the support of our Hispanic citizens."
And if Republicans can’t win Florida in presidential elections, it’s next to impossible to win the White House.
After all, a Democratic candidate winning just the three states of California, Florida and New York gets 113 electoral votes -- more than 40 percent of the necessary 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
Scott vs. Crist?
After its losses in 2012, the first test of how the Republican Party is faring in Florida will be its competitive gubernatorial contest next year.
While the race is more than a year away, here are three sets of figures to keep in mind.
The first is 31 -- that’s the percentage of Floridians holding a favorable view of Republican Gov. Rick Scott, according to a December Quinnipiac poll. Compare that with 54 percent for President Obama and 47 percent for Republican-turned Democrat Charlie Crist.
The second number is 8.0 percent -- that’s Florida’s current unemployment rate. It’s a high number, slightly above U.S. average. But it’s down from the 10.9 percent it was when Scott first took office. That’s progress Rick Scott can point to.
The third and final number is 80 -- as in the $80 million Scott spent in his successful gubernatorial bid in 2010. That’s a lot of money, and money Democrats won’t be able to match. And it’s now being reported that Scott could spend as much as $100 million in next year’s race.
In addition to those three sets of numbers, there are three unresolved questions:
-- Does Charlie Crist run? If he does, he’d be the Democratic front-runner, despite his recent conversion to the Democratic Party.
-- Can Scott improve his standing with independent voters? In that December Quinnipiac poll, just 25 percent of independents had a favorable view of the governor.
-- And can Scott and Republicans make better inroads with the growing Latino vote?
2016: Rubio and Jeb
So that’s for 2014. But there’s another story already developing involving the Sunshine State – the 2016 presidential election.
Yes, it’s early. Yes, things are fluid. And, yes, everything right now is speculation. But it’s also clear that freshman Sen, Marco Rubio is more than eyeing a potential presidential bid.
As one Florida Democratic strategist told First Read: “I believe [Rubio] runs in 2016 for the same reason that President Obama ran in 2008 -- you never know when the window opens and closes.”
Rubio has assembled a top-notch staff. What’s more, he’s part of a group of bipartisan senators pushing for comprehensive immigration reform, whose principles are broadly supported by President Obama.
Rubio’s current task is selling this reform to prominent conservative voices like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity.
And on Tuesday night, Rubio will be delivering the Republican response to President Obama’s State of the Union on Tuesday, which is a huge platform for the Florida senator.
But here’s the question for him: Does he run if another Floridian -- former Gov. Jeb Bush -- runs? Is there enough space for two Florida Republicans in a potential 2016 GOP primary?
As Buzzfeed recently wrote, “With their shared passion for immigration reform, overlapping donor networks, and long, healthy alliance, Rubio and Bush have put Miami's political class in the improbable position of having two ‘favorite sons’ in the top tier of 2016 speculation — and sources say both men are actively mulling it.
Indeed, there are indications Bush is at least considering a presidential run. Next month, he is scheduled to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC, an annual cattle call that’s a must for potential Republican presidential candidates. And this will be the first time Bush has spoken to this group.
Jeb Bush. Marco Rubio. Rick Scott. Charlie Crist. Demographics. Close races (some decided by hanging chads).
Florida has been the place for some of America’s best political stories for more than a decade. And, it’s safe to say, that will continue over the next four years.
Editor’s note: This article was adapted from a recent speech the author gave at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla.
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Florida?
You mean the state which hasn't managed to hold a fair and honest election for the past 12 years?
Bring on Bush "light", the name alone remains as toxic as Chinese dog food...
As for Rubio, he isn't the first man of color the GNOP has exploited and he certainly won't be the last!
Thankfully, minorities are much smarter then the party of pale, male & stale give them credit for! ;o)
Scott or Christ? An obvious choice!
On any given day, Christ is always my choice. We are witnessing the second coming of Christ. Crist will try the second time to take the governor's mansion. The Second Time is always a charm. Good luck..
Besides, GOV. Rick Scott will decide soon if Florida will go along and go ahead to expand Medicaid to accommodate ObamaCare.
.
In Christ We Trust.
Rubio's problem is that Cuban Latino's are not well liked by a large number of Latino's worldwide.
Jeb Bush is more popular with Latinos than Rubio.
Why does it always have to be Florida. I wish we could stay out of the news for one whole day. Nope, not gonna happen. It's just too weird down here!
This state reads like a Carl Hiaasen novel. That's for sure!
Until the GOP 'moderates' (are there any actually left? LOL!) can drive the TP crazies out, not even immigration reform is going to make them attractive to minorities.
And putting Karl Rove in charge of that is another unfathomable mystery....
Pretty impressive Mark! ☺
Fuzzy...yup...we can't seem to stay out of the news can we. But hey, all I have to do is walk out the door to realize why I love living down here...especially this time of year!! So where in our great state are you? :-)
For the record...I strongly supported Bill McCollum in the GOP Gubernatorial primary in 2010. Wasn't a Rick Scott fan. Wouldn't mind seeing McCollum take another shot at it.
The GOP/TEA has destroyed so many things in Florida.
Rick Scott approval rating is now about 17%.
ANYBODY could beat Rick Scott in the next gubernatorial election in Florida.
Charlie Crist will win but not before a massive battle of outside money coming in.
.
Bring on Bush "light", the name alone remains as toxic as Chinese dog food...
Last thing this country needs is another bush (no pun intended)
As for Rubio, he isn't the first man of color the GNOP has exploited and he certainly won't be the last!
Ironic you say that as the democrat party continues to exploit people of all colors. In fact I just read an article yesterday about blacks that are pissed at obama for forgetting about them and catering to the latinos even though black unemployment remains much higher than latino unemployment.
Thankfully, minorities are much smarter then the party of pale, male & stale give them credit for! ;o)
It's been pleasing to see the number of minorities that are waking up to obama's lies, they are getting smarter.
Grimey,
So who did you support in the general?
AlexM - what rightwing site did you read the article on? The Republicans had the whitest and oldest convention I have EVER seen last year and yet you want people to believe it's the Democrats who are racists? Can you say Idiot? Clearly you are one!
Feisty you mean unlike the honest elections held in Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California? The Liberals wouldn't think of having unfair elections now would they? They wouldn't think of voting for dead people or having illegals vote.
OK, I have lived in Florida for 13 years now and I will TELL you, right now, that elections here are a joke. Since I moved here there hasn't been a single election that I wasn't ashamed to see headlines about.
Charlie Christ is the only half decent one in that bunch, and I will tell you that even though he is a democrat now, he is still conservative. Not Rick Scott/Rubio crazy, but conservative
Safe guess, Briebart.com - when he finished - his dog took a dump on it!
Dontcha just love the "I heard or I read" crowd!
I've lived in FL 57 years (yes all my life) . So nice for them to not mention the crackers.
I've seen the state go from (D) to (R) and back again. It is a state that will continue to do so.
It is populated by moderate (D)'s and (R)'s , and obviously don't mind voting out of party at all. The Cuban population tends to be conservative (R) but will easily wander.
The NE of the country tends to bad mouth the state. While forgetting the largest demographic
is from people who resided in the NE.
Any policy too far left or right with kill the respective parties involved chances.
Thats why Crist is staying so quiet on the Second Amendment issue. And you can bet Scott will not be loudly cheer any Social Security & Medicare changes. You don't step on either, in FL., and get elected.
The election problems are the same as in the North (example ,cough Chicago) .They just haven't become such a legend, thanks to the Presidential screwup .
If the political pendulum goes too far left, the state tends to compensate to the right. Been like that for decades.
Jersy Girl---in the litigation over the Pa. voter suppression law last summer, the GOP conceded that it could not identify one case of vote fraud in Pennsylvania. They were on record as saying that the point of the law was to suppress Democratic votes.
What would Jeb Bush's campaign slogan be---"I won't be as bad as my brother"
JERSY,
Funny … the only case of voter fraud actually filed from
the 2012 elections was filed against a Republican.
Greetings from Ohio Jersey Girl. I assure you that our dear Rethug Gov. Kasick and his lapdog Husted made sure that any advantage was tilted in the GOPs favor even though Mr. Obama still won. To their credit, although they trimmed voting hours, shortchanged Democrat-leaning polls on voting machines (supplied by a company Romney has a stake in, no less) and generally fought tooth and nail to disqualify as many voters as possible, they still ran a fairer campaign than in 2000-2004 under former Gov. Taft.
Rubio’s current task is selling this reform to prominent conservative voices like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity.
I can't believe that these two pundits are still controlling the talking points and who will be running. They do enough damage to their parties when they open their mouths. Unbelievable.
Approximately a month ago, according to the Miami Herald Blog Rick Scott would lose very badly to Charlie Crist.
Rick Scott would get killed by Charlie Crist, could lose to Alex Sink, Pam Iorio, Debbie Wasserman Schultz
From Public Policy Polling, which typically surveys for Democrats and liberals. Note: It looks like it didn't poll a Charlie Crist-Alex Sink Democratic match-up:
Raleigh, N.C. – While Floridians might not be familiar with some of the potential Democratic candidates running against Governor Rick Scott for the Governor race in 2014, poll numbers show that they are not happy with Scott’s job performance.
Florida voter approval of Rick Scott’s job performance is 33% with 57% disapproving.
When asked about the favorability of newly turned Democrat Charlie Crist, the former Republican Governor of Florida, voters have a 49% favorable opinion while 38% have an unfavorable opinion of him.
Among Republican primary voters, Governor Rick Scott has a 56% approval rating and 32% disapproval rating. When pitted against Republican Pam Bondi for Governor in 2014, Rick Scott leads (49-25). If challenging Republican Allen West, Rick Scott trails (37-38).
Among Democratic primary voters, Charlie Crist has a favorable rating of 73% and an unfavorable rating of 17%. When asked which Democratic candidate they would like to see run for governor next year, Crist won with 52% followed by Alex Sink (18%) and Pam Iorio (13%), among others.
Pitting the former Governor against the current Governor, Floridians said they would vote for Charlie Crist over Rick Scott (53-39). Other possible Democrats running for the Governorship are either not as well known as Crist or not as favorable.
“Rick Scott continues to be one of the most unpopular Governors in the country and most Democrats are embracing Charlie Crist now that he’s officially joined the party,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “It’s early but Crist looks like the favorite if he tries to get his old office back next year.”
PPP surveyed 501 Florida voters, including an oversample of 401 usual Democratic primary voters and 436 Republican primary voters, from January 11 to 13th. The margin of error for the overall sample is +/-4.4%, +/-4.9% for the Democratic portion, and +/- 4.7% for the Republican portion. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
Posted by Marc Caputo at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 in Alex Sink, Charlie Crist, Polls, Rick Scott | Permalink
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/01/ppp-rick-scott-would-get-killed-by-charlie-crist-could-lose-to-alex-sink-pam-iorio-debbie-wasserman-.html#storylink=cpy
I voted for Charlie when he ran for Governor and when he ran as an Independent for the Senate against Marco Rubio in a 3 way race. I plan to vote for Charlie again should he decide to run again for Governor.
Jeb Bush will never run for President, apart from the fact of his last name, he has many family issues that he wont expose to the limelight of national elections. He will be mentor to Rubio and elder statesman to the party. Also, the majority of Hispanics in Fl are not Cuban, they are mostly Puerto Ricans and are largely Democrats. The younger generations of Cuban are not nearly as conservative as their parents and grandparents so there is no guarantee they'll vote Republican in addition, Marco Rubio is not beloved by Hispanics in Fl due to his paying fast and loose with his family's biography.
We have one thing to worry about in Fl as we endeavor to hold elections is how much Republicans will try to suppress the vote they sure gave it a good try during this past election.....we will be watching.
I wonder if any Republicans are secretly over "former governor" rich guys who haven't held jobs in years but still think they're qualified to be POTUS?
AlexM - what rightwing site did you read the article on? The Republicans had the whitest and oldest convention I have EVER seen last year and yet you want people to believe it's the Democrats who are racists? Can you say Idiot? Clearly you are one!
Hmmmm.... once again, your lack of reading comprehension has gotten the better of you SeekABrain. No where in my post did I mention racism, nor even hint at it. I also never mention the republican party (which I don't belong to), I only mention the democrat party. Here's a few links from this idiot since you have yet to figure out google (just google 'obama ignoring african americans' will give you a few). Maybe one of these days you can get over your pms and become a productive poster on these forums.
www dot solidarity-us dot org/ site/ node/ 3766 (fix formatting)
Safe guess, Briebart.com - when he finished - his dog took a dump on it!
Dontcha just love the "I heard or I read" crowd!
I seriously hope you're safer with continuing your gene line than you are with assumptions on these forums since I rarely rarely ever go to briebart. It's the opposite side of huffpost, both are political rags. And don't ever mention my dogs again, they are so far ahead of you in the iq pool you cease to even exist.
Statewide successful Democrats?? Do not fit the same mold as Democrats in some states.
Examples:
1. Senator Bill Graham(D) . Moderate/conservative/ Rancher/ Hunter /
2. Late Governor Lawton Chiles(D) Moderate/conservative / down home handshake type guy /Turkey hunter
3.Former Governor Martinez (R) Moderate/conservative/ established the Florida prepaid college program .
Formerly moderate Republican, Crist , would do well to emulate them, and run on his former term in office as well. One of the few to stand up for teachers in the state, while they were being attacked. I bet they will remember, regardless of party they may be in..
Florida is a DINO/RINO state.
The last time I visited Florida, I was in Jacksonville. Its at about the same location as Tallahassee.
In both cities, you have the hot, hot sun, beating down on your head, frying your brain, 27 out of 30 days each month.
The difference is, in Jacksonville, they are closer to the ocean and get nice cool breezes that tend to cool the minds.
The current and former Republican governors don't appear to get much of that. Their attitudes and actions seem to reflect the GOP fried brain mentality.
Other than that, Florida is a wonderful place to visit.
Florida is a DINO/RINO state.
This country as a whole is a (D/R)INO country. It would be really nice if term limits would be established so that our politicians would actually work for the betterment of the people/country, and not be so concerned about their re-elections.
This could possibly work in a couple of ways. Maybe the corporations wouldn't sink as much money into politicians that wouldn't be as concerned in pleasing the money donors. Since they can't run for re-election, they don't have to worry about pissing off the rich and corporations. Also, the politicians could work on eliminating the entitlement crowd by not having to cater to them for votes. Lets find the truly poor in our country and help them instead of helping everyone who feels it's owed to them.
And yes, both parties are neck deep in the corporations and catering, it is not even just republicans.
feisty said,
"You mean the state which hasn't managed to hold a fair and honest election for the past 12 years?"
This comes from a low information voter who's last FIVE governor's have been in jail...
Yeah tell us all about it miss high and mighty...
Pathetic just pathetic
You got a valid source for this, smart-ass?
I'd watch who you're calling pathetic... little man, your slip is showing!
Term limits are the worst thing that could ever happen to any state or legslative body. What occurs is a braindrain from the legislative body which dessimates any institutional memory except for the lobbyists that sniff around the Capitols. Lobbyists become even more powerful and influential for a term limited legislative body because: 1. the legislators are constantly looking for their next elective seat and are continually fund raising; and, 2. legislators rely more on the lobbyists for information rather than their own staff or their own experience. They HAVE no experience! So you get folks on their second two-year stint in the Assembly becoming Speaker! The term limited legislator is also always looking for a big legislative splash. They have a short time to make a mark so they run bills that are just plain stupid. Even with all its current ills (many brought on by the term limited State Legislators that gerrymandered after the last Census), thank God the Constitution doesn't allow term limits for Congress.
Just to throw some fodder into the fire here, why don't the libs read this article, give them a real bone to chew on against special interest republicans and the Boneta Bill. (remove spaces and dot)
www dot americanthinker dot com/ 2013/ 02/ a_property_rights_revolution_for_2013 .html
This is a good example of politicians (republicans in this case) that need to be replaced with politicians that are there for the people.
For those libs here that think I frequent fox or briebart, americanthinker is a site I DO frequent. While some of the articles do go off the farm, there are quite a few excellent articles by some of our more intelligent citizens. It is, for the most part, a conservative site though, so be warned :)
@Ceelle,
You make some excellent points against term limits. So I'm curious what your thoughts are on how the lack of term limits harms the intentions of politicians currently and how to resolve that?
Fisting Redhead....Talk about exploiting a person of color??? the dem's have the gold medal for that one with Obama (even though there isn't much color). You put in a token person of color and talk about Rubio? You are truly a specimen. Don't post after your 3rd glass of wine next time...you embarrass yourself.
From the article, Point the 1st:
"And it will be important because Florida, with its growing Latino vote, has emerged as a state that Republicans have to win in order to triumph in future presidential elections."
Point the 2nd:
"As McCain recently said, 'The Republican Party is losing the support of our Hispanic citizens.'"
Conclusion:
Sorry, Mr. McCain, but you can't "lose" what you never had.
Result:
Game, set, and match: Democrats.
Ceele, et al -- You make a good point about the brain drain resulting from term limits. Perhaps that could be remedied and still have the benefits of term limits by forbidding more than two consecutive terms. That would allow new people into the political process without forcing the experienced people out completely.
Yes. That would be the state Feisty. This is the same state that has produced such Teabeggers as "Rude Rubio," and his 'special' friend "Sewer Boy Scott. These very mentally ill Teabeggers have managed to screw up the state of Florida big time! It will be interesting to observe.
Nice knowing you President Obama.
Pat - what does your post mean?
Speaking Insanity...If you can't understand the post...go back to school, you obviously didn't get past the 7th grade.
In Crist We Trust.
Florida is a blue state in the last two presidential contests. Christ is always a Democrat.
Gov. Scott recently stated that Florida's teachers need a raise. Strange of him to say that, since the first thing he did after getting elected was gut education!
Is Tricky Ricky trying to buy a few votes?
He also cut funding for injured warriors, i believe it was $2m dollars' in a state that relies heavily on the military.
I'm 50/50 on Rick Scott, but I definitely don't like Crist...he's a political opportunist that will do and say anything to get himself elected. I'm not opposed to Scott losing, but I won't vote for Crist.
Read and Research what "Sewer Boy Scott" is doing to disabled children in the state of Florida. This Governor is just unethical on so many levels.
I thought I read Jeb was planning on buying the baseball team down in Florida? What's Jeb been up to all these years? Sitting by doing nothing.
Hillary Clinton has served our Nation well.
The Bushes never do.
I hoping Rick Scott will get his justice for Medicare fraud.
If Rubio is nominated in 2016 will the righties claim that all Latinos will vote for him only because he's Latino since they swear the only reason African Americans voted for Obama is because..........
Editor's note: This article was adapted from a recent speech the author gave at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla.
LOL, no wonder he said Florida has been the place for some of America's
best, most bizarre political stories in the past decade! He was giving a speech IN FLORIDA.Little Marco lost what little credibility he had when he appeared on the Bigot's talk show.
Scott will not be re elected.Scott will be on the unemployment line soon
He beat Alex Sink pretty decisively. And if the economy continues to improve, Charlie Crist won't have anything to run on in 2014.
The anti-math crowd strikes again!
1.2% is now considered decisive?? LMFAO!
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/
Then you wonder why you're called low information voters...
We can only hope, he's better suited to serving donuts than the people of Florida.
Feisty: In Florida, 1.2% is decisive. It might not be a lopsided victory like the Cook County Daley Machine can deliver, but it is a clear win.
Hey, Rick Scott stole that election, fair and square.
Rubio is DONE on the national stage once his history with the RPOF credit card comes out nationally.
Marco has enough problems with his own people. His original stance on immigration will come back to bite him in the caboose especially with Cubans.
My parents are both Cuban and I was born in Miami Beach. I would never vote for Rubio
I have that same hope, he forgets that while their political spectrum may run from far left to far right, many Cubans have a BS meter that would shame a bloodhound.They're also smarter than they're given credit for.
I find it telling that Marco Rubio's current task related to Immigration Reform is to sell the bipartisan agreement to Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh and not to his congressional peers. Does this mean that Rush and Sean dictate Republican policy and that their approval is required to allow general Republican support?
Unfortunately yes. Remember a couple years back when RNC chair Michael Steele had to apologize to Rush for speaking the truth - saying that Rush was mostly an entertainer?
4 years is plenty of time to research, develop, and implement voting machines that will accomodate the galactic stupidity present in a large number of Floridians. Fix your voting, jackweeds. If chads confuse you...just do us all a favor and stay home on voting day.
The Republicans thought they had the election fixed this past November.
Then the voters did something unexpected, they showed up to vote and stayed in line until they could vote.
I wonder if the GOP will have plan B figured out in time for the next election.
The Republican party is going to try to kiss up to the Latino population and will not succeed. Actions speak louder than words. Since the Republicans have a bad record on immigration reform and their general stand against poor people, two things the Hispanic Community is interested in, and considering Rubio is Cuban where most Latinos in this Country are not Caribbean Latins but from Mexico or South America, they aren't easilly fooled and Rubio will lose big time outside of Florida.
baldeagle: I'm so impressed...from whom and when did you receive the authority to speak for the entire "Latino" community?
Everyone ready to declare Rick Scott dead needs a reality check.
1. He's got a huge, huge war chest. What he lacks in finesse he will make up with bucks.
2. He won't be running for election, he'll be running for re-election. Incumbent governors who seek re-election in Florida rarely lose. The last was Bob Martinez, moderate Republican from Tampa, who got run over by Lawton Chiles in 1992 during a recession, after caving on the services tax and appearing to be indecisive. Scott won't make those kinds of mistakes.
3. Unemployment is down. It's not great, but there has been definite improvement since 2010. In 2014 Scott will be able to point to the record and ask: "Are you better off now than you were in 2010?" Most Floridians will say "yes."
4. The budget is balanced and state employee pensions are funded. The courts and government offices are open and operating. Everyone saying that he "gutted" spending fails to appreciate that he and the Republican Legislature managed to avoid the budget catastrophes that hit other states like California WITHOUT resorting to massive tax increases. As a result, rich, overtaxed Californians are eyeing relocation to Florida, and Florida's population continues to grow. Which means the Florida economy will continue to improve during the time leading up to 2014.
5. Additional tax revenues from the expanding economy will let him modestly raise spending in certain key areas. In 2014, he'll be able to tell you he raised teacher's salaries.
6. Charlie Crist has jumped the shark. I liked him, but only up to a point. He is the quintessential waffler and opportunist. Floridians will see right through him. Sorry, Charlie.
7. Scott killed the bullet train. History will probably prove him right, that it was an expensive white elephant. Any challenger who takes him to task on this will look like a big spender, and Scott will look like the fiscal conservative, backed up by mountains of cost projections and ridership studies from other expensive systems.
8. If Scott can at least keep himself from looking like an idiot on social issues, he will be able to paint himself as the fiscal conservate who worked to get the economy on track.
I am not a great Rick Scott fan. But don't count him out yet. He's got a lot going for him, and, after all, this is Florida we're talking about. The political climate changes like the weather.
yes..watch them vote in the first spanish president....
It better not be Rubio.
hmmm...how about the first indigenous American President?
While Jeb Bush remains inexplicably popular here in my home state of Florida, I think it is highly unlikely that the Republican Party, after two consecutive losses in presidential politics, would wish to run the brother of what is arguably the worst president in modern times. I realize that conservatives are fond of looking backward rather than to the future, but putting yet another Bush on the ballot is unthinkable.
.".the brother of what is arguably the worst president in modern times."
Obama's brother in Kenya is running for President?
Nixon running in 68 was unthinkable, yet he won. Stranger things have happened. If Jeb makes a run, the voters will evaluate him on his own merits. He's neither his brother nor his dad. America might be willing to give Jeb a second look in 2016 (paticularly after the lukewarm reception given to McCain and Romney). Four years is a long time, so we'll see.
I would disagree on Bush. Once a Bush, always a Bush. Creating war as a source of Fiscal Growth is not the way to run a country. Cutting benefits to returning vets will cost Bush and the Republicans dearly.
I wouldn't vote for ANY candidate from that state. Of course, I'm also a NO VOTE voter...I tell ALL politicians that they don't deserve my vote. And you can ALL do something about our election and campaign financing system (on the federal level at least) by getting involved NOW in the Popular Amendment Movement at www.faircampaignreform.us. Quit sitting here in front of your computer screen complaining. ONLY YOU can help to change things in our political stupidity. You are the voters, you are the employers. If you don't trust any of the candidates, let them know, and let them know WHY you don't trust them.
I assume you think other people pay more than passing attention to you?
The important question for 2016 is can the Republican sell trickle down economics in light of the last 12 years of tax policy. My guess is they will do everything in their power to run away from tax cuts for the rich create jobs. In order to create jobs you must increase consumer demand through middle class ta cuts or changes in trade policy.
As opposed to the Democrat version of trickle down economics where welfare checks are promised to trickle down to 50+ million households and growing by 2016?
I always tell my sales people...."Hope is not a plan" and hope has not worked for Obama. We will need a leader that knows how to design and execute an economic plan that gets results in 2016.
Please, no more inexperienced social workers, lawyers and career politicians in the Whitehouse. We have suffered for 2 decades of having DNC and GOP versions of Dumb and Dumber leading us.
Rubio is WEAK, he's not ready for Prime Time.....just because he is cuban does not mean that people will vote for him. He is a sale out and do what i am told. He is not running nothing but running in it. Scott needs to go bye bye, time up. Bush his name still have a bad you know what! Crist, he has a good heart and I think he would be go for FL.
Again a weak choice such as Rubio is the reason the republicans will lose the office of President in 2016.
Also, birth certificate please!
I only see Rubio as a VP at most in 2016. Jeb Bush is a nice, smart guy, but the conservatives I know are done with the Bush family. I am sure there have to be other not yet known potential Conservative candidates that the DNC and GOP run media outlets don't want to mention and have orders not to give them any press coverage. Only time will tell, but I'm not jumping on anyone's bandwagon just yet. There are still too many variables to weed out as well as seeing what direction the current administration takes us. So far, it's been slow going for the DNC's economy and the GOP have to re-invent themselves by 2014 to have a shot in the mid terms.
I live in Florida. It used to be a decent state. And then the Republicans took complete control of the legislature and gerrymandered things enough to keep themselves in power forever (watch out the rest of you in this country, you're turn is coming). Then once in power the Republican legislature has done everything it can to denigrate anyone working for the state, including and especially teachers. Then they elected the Health Care embezzler (fondly known among many as The Gollum) and it's been a steady ride downhill ever since. And all you out there who think all the Mexicans in this country are going to vote for Marco Rubio (a prissy Cuban who rode in like all the other Cubans who were given free access without all the BS Mexicans are forced into) thereby saving the GOP are in for a sad awakening.
A prissy Cuban who rode in like all the other Cubans? Your xenophobia is showing! His ability to appeal to other hispanics will largely depend on his ability to keep to the issues. Obvious pandering won't work.
P.S. Marco was born in Miami, which contrary to popular misconception, is still a part of the United States, making him 100% American.
I don't agree with everything he has ever said or done, but he is an interesting personality. My gut feeling is that he will get better over time. If the logjam on immigration reform is broken, it will be due in part to his efforts.
I live in Florida and the consensus is people of Florida do not want a California or New York or Illinois. Look at these other states and we have a very obvious reason(s) Florida will never allow the Liberal or co-opted Democratic party agenda in this state.
In old times at least, Florida's Democrats were more like Northern Republicans are today. Reubin Askew, Bob Graham, and Lawton Chiles were all fairly middle-of-the-road. Claude Pepper was the closest thing we had to a true "liberal," but for the most part, he spent most of his later career as a staunch anti-communist and advancing issues of importance to the elderly, such as Medicare and Social Security.