Jon Huntsman is playing to win in Florida. The former Utah governor and ambassador to China, who will announce on Tuesday that he is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, added three prominent Florida activists to his team -- David Johnson, Marc Reichelderfer and Alex Castellanos Jr. Johnson served as the executive director of the Republican Party of Florida and has experience in the Presidency straw polls, while Reichelderfer helped Mitt Romney back in 2008 and has worked with numerous Republican legislators in Tallahassee. Huntsman is basing his campaign in Orlando and has already brought other prominent Florida strategists onto his team -- including prominent First Coast operative Susie Wiles. With his second-place finish in the Republican Leadership Conference and his increasingly strong bench in Florida, Huntsman could translate a strong showing in the Presidency 5 straw poll to help his campaign, especially since the Romney camp is sitting it out Speaking of the Republican Leadership Conference, one of the stars at the event was Mike McCalister, the retired Army officer and businessman who is running for the chance to take on U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. McCalister gave a speech that won favorable comment from conservative activists. While he took more than 10 percent when he ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2010, McCalister remains unknown to many Republican voters, but he is becoming more popular among conservative and tea party activists While former Gov. Jeb Bush has slammed the door shut on running for the White House, veteran political pundit Juan Williams penned a column in The Hill arguing that Bush, paired with U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, is the best candidate Republicans have in the stable to beat President Barack Obama
Looking to emerge from the crowded Republican primary to take on Democratic incumbent Nelson in 2012, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux went after the president last week, hammering Obama for violating the War Powers Act in regard to military actions against Libya Freshman Democratic Congresswoman Frederica Wilson has been in the Bahamas, meeting with that nations leaders, including Prime Minister Hubert Ingram and Tommy Turnquest, who heads up the islands national security department Republican U.S. Rep. David Rivera joined 76 other freshmen in sending a letter to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner and the GOP congressional leadership, demanding they pass measures tying Obamas hands in making recess appointments
Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner signed the cut, cap and balance pledge, which opposes raising the federal debt limit. The pledge is backed by a number of prominent conservative organizations, including FreedomWorks, Club for Growth and the Family Research Council. Hasners camp noted that he was the first candidate to sign the pledge Buddy Dyer is an early favorite to win a third term as mayor of Orlando in 2012 but he is starting to get some opponents. City Commissioner Phil Diamond stands in Dyers path for a third term and so does a new candidate -- consultant Linda Grund With state Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, scudding his challenge to Democratic incumbent Congresswoman Kathy Castor, another Republican hopeful has emerged -- libertarian activist and Second Amendment advocate Josh Kiernan. Eddie Adams, an architect who has run for the seat three times, is also seeking the Republican nod
The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will be holding its 32nd annual national convention in September in Miami Beach and a familiar face will serve as one of the chairmen -- former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez. The former senator will be joined by Gabriel Pascual, the president of Iberica International Corp., and Henry Fleches, the president and CEO of United Data Technologies Former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson is keeping his eye on redistricting. The former Democratic congressman, who was tossed out by voters in 2010, continues to send out fundraising e-mails, including one sent out this week referencing the Green Lantern, a comic book superhero who is now featured in a summer blockbuster Former U.S. Sen. and Gov. Bob Graham continues publicizing his new novel, Keys to the Kingdom, in Florida cities like Jacksonville and Sarasota. The book is also starting to get some national attention, including a plug from the New York Post.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
