Gov. Rick Perry of Texas on Tuesday announced his leadership team for the Republican Party of Floridas Presidency 5 event in Orlando later this week that includes some of the heavy hitters in Florida politics. Perry will compete in a straw poll on Saturday that two of his chief rivals -- U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts -- have downplayed.
Perry announced that Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, will serve as a co-chairman of his efforts in the Sunshine State along with a host of Republican officials and conservative leaders.
Florida is critical to the presidential nomination process, so I look forward to bringing my pro-jobs, conservative message to Florida and the Presidency 5 events, said Perry, who is leading most national polls, in a statement released Tuesday. Floridians care about jobs, fiscal responsibility and ending Obamacare and other federal excesses. I am pleased to have the opportunity to share my record and vision for job creation and fiscal conservatism with the voters of the Sunshine State.
Governor Perry knows that the path to the nomination and eventually the White House goes through Florida, said Cannon, who represents parts of Orange County. He also knows how critical it is for Floridas grassroots leaders to get a chance to know the candidates early, which is why he is focused on this state and participating in Presidency 5.
Cannon will be joined by a crowd of familiar faces from the Florida Legislature in leading Perrys efforts to win the straw poll. Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, who on Mondaywas designated as the next president of the Florida Senate, will also be co-chairing the Perry effort. So will Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Tampa, and Rep. Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola.
The Perry team will also be led by county officials such as Miami-Dade County Commissioner Esteban Bovo, who resigned a seat in the Florida House to run for his current position earlier in the year. Other local officials leading the charge for Perry at Presidency 5 include Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca and Orange County Property Appraiser Bill Donegan.
Perry is also relying on religious and political leaders to bolster his efforts at Presidency 5. Pam Olsen of the Florida Prayer Network and John Stemberger, best known for leading the conservative Florida Family Policy Council, will also be serving as co-chairs of his effort.
With their candidateleading in most national polls, the Presidency 5 straw poll will be the first major effort by the Perry team against some of the other candidates. Perry launched his presidential bid on Aug. 13, the same day Bachmann narrowly edged U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas to win the Iowa Republican straw poll in Ames.
The presidential straw poll will be the fourth one held by the state's Republicans -- and the winners of all of the previous straw polls went on to win the Republican nomination. Ronald Reagan beat John Connally and George H.W. Bush to win the first one in 1979. In 1987, Bush defeated religious leader Pat Robertson. In the most recent straw poll in 1995, Bob Dole held off Phil Gramm to win.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
