Former Gov. Jeb Bushs, R-Fla., team is telling their supporters to hold off on backing other potential Republican presidential possibilities until the former governor decides what he is doing in 2016. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Bushs closest advisers are reaching out to fundraisers and strategists, asking them to stay away from other candidates in the meantime. Bushs camp is saying that he will not make a decision about 2016 until after the November elections. ...
In the meantime, Bush remains active in helping Republicans running in November. He will be heading to Chicago later this month to help businessman Bruce Rauner, the Republican candidate looking to take down Gov. Pat Quinn, D-Ill., in November. Rauner is ahead in the polls, prompting Republican hopes of picking up the governorship of the Prairie State. ...
Another Republican who has left the door open to a presidential bid in 2016 is former U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla. Having already backed nine Republican candidates through his Allen West Guardian Fund PAC, the former congressman announced this week that he will make five more endorsements by the end of the month. West is scheduled to make the endorsements at an event in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29. ... Yet another possible 2016 hopeful with ties to Florida will be in the spotlight on Monday when neurosurgeon, author and conservative activist Dr. Ben Carson speaks to the Palm Beach Forum Club. The event is already sold out. Carson moved to Florida after retiring from Johns Hopkins and jumped into the political scene after criticizing Obamacare at the National Prayer Day breakfast in 2013. ...
Former President Bill Clinton was in South Florida on Friday to campaign for former Gov. Charlie Crist, the Democratic candidate running against Gov. Rick Scott in November. At least one Republican tried to make political hay from Clintons visit. Republican congressional hopeful Miami-Dade School Board member Carlos Curbelo warned supporters on Friday that Clinton was helping Democrats raise money to help flip the chamber and return U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as House speaker. Curbelo is running against U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., in what is expected to be one of the most competitive congressional races in the nation. ... Curbelo was not the only Florida Republican looking to link their Democratic opponent to Pelosi this week. Defending their candidate against Democrat Gwen Grahams jabs about backing a VA funding bill in 2011, U.S. Rep. Steve Southerlands, R-Fla., team looked to tie their opponent to Pelosi. ... In the meantime, Graham and her allies, including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), fired away at Southerland, noting that he partook in a mens only fundraiser back in March. The invitation to the event read tell the misses not to wait up because the after dinner whiskey and cigars will be smooth and the issues to discuss are many and good men sitting around discussing and solving political and social problems over fine food and drink date back to the 12th century with King Arthurs Round Table. Graham represents Democrats best chance to flip a congressional seat in Florida. ...
Scott continues to rely on other elected Republican officials to help his campaign. This week, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Attorney General Pam Bondi, CFO Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam all campaigned alongside Scott. Atwater helped Scott along the Space Coast in the latter part of the week while the other Republicans helped the governor in South and Southwestern Florida. ... Atwater doesnt have much to fear from Democratic candidate William Rankin in the general election but the state CFO shows no signs of taking his foot off the gas. Besides campaigning with Scott, this week Atwater released a new Web video in which he talks about creating economic opportunities to ensure young people stay and work in Florida in the future. ... Atwater will also be stressing his fiscal conservatism in the days to come. Next Saturday, Atwater will be hosting a fundraiser in Boca Raton in which the movie Atlas Shrugged, based on the classic novel from libertarian writer Ayn Rand, will be shown. ...
Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, will be in Tallahassee for four more years. After beating Monique Miller in the Republican primary at the end of August, Altman faced only write-in candidate Lloyd Stanton French in the general election. This week, French ended his candidacy, making Altman the only candidate left in the race. ...Carol Platt continues to get the support of Republican congressmen as she takes on U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla. Having won the backing of U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., last week, this week Platt reeled in an endorsement from U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla. ... Republican candidate Glo Smith is looking to the grass roots as she continues her bid to upset U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., in November. Smith is scheduled to campaign in Jacksonvilles Westside on Saturday, meeting voters and canvassing. Smith also attended an event this week for K9s for Warriors, a group which matches veterans with PTSDs to therapy dogs.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter; @KevinDerbySSN
