This could be a bad sign for former Gov. Jeb Bushs future presidential ambitions.
A poll released by the University of Texas and the Texas Tribune on Thursday asked Republicans in the Lone Star State who they would back for their partys presidential nomination in 2012. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin led the pack with 20 percent, undecided took 19 percent, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich took 15 percent while two presidential candidates from 2008, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee each polled 13 percent. Bush took 3 percent -- behind two favorite sons from Texas, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul at 8 percent and Gov. Rick Perry at 7. Considering his brother and his father were longtime fixtures of Texas politics, the figure for Bush, who is not expected to run in 2012, seems awfully low
While things look good for Republicans to pick up the U.S. House come November, former U.S. Speaker Newt Gingrich warned Republican congressmen that they do not have it locked up and asked for members who could afford it to give the National Republican Congressional Campaign $100,000 from their campaign accounts. U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller who represents the Panhandle and faces two candidates without party affiliation and a write-in candidate come November, sent $110,000 over to the NRCC. U.S. Rep. John Mica, who has a tougher task come November when he faces a challenge from Democrat Heather Beaven, gave $100,00 to the NRCC
Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running for the U.S. Senate without party affiliation, is listed ninth on the ballot, far behind Republican candidate Marco Rubio and Democratic nominee U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek Crists Senate bid won the support of yet another prominent Democrat in the Sunshine State: Rep. Luis Garcia of Miami became the latest House Democrat to back Crist over Meek Looking for more proof that the dismissed charges against Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer for electoral fraud are ancient history? On Wednesday, President Barack Obama named Dyer to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, allowing the Orlando Democrat a voice on international commerce Speaking of Obama, he will be attending a fund-raiser for U.S. Rep. Ron Klein who faces a serious challenge from Republican candidate Allen West. The event will be held on Oct. 11 at the home of former basketball star Alonzo Mourning
The tea party event in St. Augustine on Saturday is bringing out some of the leading Republican candidates in the state. Rubio will be there along with gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott and attorney general candidate Pam Bondi. Troy Stanley, who is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw without party affiliation, will also be in attendance Speaking of St. Augustine, St. Johns River Community College, which has its main campus there, is the latest higher education institute to take advantage of the Legislatures decision in 2009 allowing community colleges to offer bachelors degrees. On Wednesday, the board of the school voted to rename it St. Johns River State College since it will be offering bachelors degrees in early childhood education and organizational management in 2011 ... Bondi, who faces Democratic Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, was endorsed by the Florida Home Builders Association on Wednesday
The Republican and Democratic leaders of the Legislature are increasing the pace of their fund-raising events and piggybacking on rock concerts and football games to give as much bang for their bucks as possible. The House leadership will be holding events in Tallahassee next week to raise campaign cash for Rep. Stephen Precourt, R-Winter Garden, Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, and Larry Ahern who is running for the seat currently held by Rep. Janet Long, D-Seminole Erik Lawrence Pidrman, the Spring Hill resident who left a message for U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite that she deserved to die before her next term due to her vote on new health-care laws, was sentenced to two years in federal prison Thursday for making the threat The Florida AARP weighed in on Amendments 5 and 6, the two redistricting measures backed by FairDistrictsFlorida. After polling its members, the organization endorsed the proposed amendments.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
