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Jeb Bush announces 228-member Hispanic Leadership Committee

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BUSH

Among the assets that still make Jeb Bush a formidable general election candidate is his ease and connection with the Latino community, something that no other Republican brings to the table. Illustrating that connection is the Bush campaign’s announcement on Thursday of his Hispanic leadership committee, consisting of 228 people spread out over 20 states, as well as in Puerto Rico. “I’m honored to have these great Hispanic men and women join the fight for all American families, working to lower taxes…

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Personnel note: Kirk Fordham heading to Petrizzo Group

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Kirk Fordham is joining The Petrizzo Group, a PR and lobbying concern in Washington, as senior vice president, according to a news release. He was the long-time chief of staff to former GOP U.S. Rep. Mark Foley and served as finance director to Republican Mel Martinez’s successful U.S. Senate campaign. Fordham, who departs Gill Action in Colorado, “will work with a variety of clients across the nation on government relations strategy, philanthropy advising and local and national advocacy efforts.” “I am pleased to join…

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Laura Bush makes rare fundraising appearance in Orlando on Oct. 8 to support brother-in-law

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Laura Bush, one of the most popular members of the Bush family, will be hitting the fundraising trail for her brother-in-law next month. The former First Lady hosts a luncheon reception for the Jeb Bush campaign on Thursday, October 8. Bush’s event, which begins 12:30 p.m., is at the home of former Florida U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez and his wife Kitty, 140 Fawsett Road in Winter Park. It is one of a pair of fundraisers featuring Laura Bush next month in…

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Personnel note: Chamber taps former Daniel Webster aide as new influencer

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U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster‘s former chief of staff has been named the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s vice president of government affairs, the Chamber announced in a Friday press release. Frank Walker III also worked for three other U.S. lawmakers: Former U.S. Sens. George LeMieux and Mel Martinez of Florida, and U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert of Washington state. “After more than a decade in Washington, I know the solutions to the challenges facing Florida and our nation come from the state…

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Mitch Perry Report for 7.29.15 — Kathy Castor goes all the way on Cuba

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Although it’s dubious whether legislation expanding travel opportunities for Americans to go to Cuba will get through the Congress this year, Kathy Castor is pushing even further. The Tampa Bay area Democrat announced on Tuesday that along with Minnesota Republican Tom Emmer, she was introducing the Cuba Trade Act of 2015 (HR3238). The bill  would end the 54-year-old Cuban embargo and allow for businesses in the private sector to trade freely with Cuba, while prohibiting taxpayer funds to be used on…

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Mitch Perry Report for 7.21.15 — Bill McCollum isn’t seriously thinking of running for Senate. Is he?

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I was going to opine on John Kasich entering the GOP presidential contest this morning, but let’s get to that tomorrow. Instead, let’s talk about the Florida U.S. Senate race, now that David Jolly is officially in the race, along with U.S. Ron DeSantis, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera and retired CIA contractor Todd Wilcox. Lately the conventional wisdom from at least two Florida political reporters/analysts is that with such a relatively unknown field, former Central Florida U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum could be viable if…

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Debbie Wasserman-Schultz not running for U.S. Senate

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Democratic National Committee chairwoman and South Florida U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz will not seek the Senate seat likely to be vacated by Marco Rubio and will instead seek re-election in her Broward- and Miami-Dade-based 23rd congressional district, the Sun-Sentinel reports. DWS was widely seen as a problematic yet potent contender for the seat that many expect to be highly competitive in 2016, whether Rubio fully launches into a White House bid or not. If he does, it would be the first open…

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