Gimenez on Matthews: Campaign optics, not leadership

Gimenez on Matthews: Campaign optics, not leadership

Breaking news: Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is Cuban again. Gimenez wrote a letter to TV show host and author Chris Matthews Thursday blasting the political pundit, host of MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews, for his comment about a boring GOP debate without Donald Trump. “Whose going to watch a debate between the two Cuban guys,” […]

It was a ‘Florida is Marco Rubio country’ weekend in Miami

It was a ‘Florida is Marco Rubio country’ weekend in Miami

Taking a cue from his yard signs, South Florida became Marco Rubio country for real over the weekend with four back to back events. Two were official campaign events and two just sorta happened. The first was a barbecue and pot luck Saturday organized by Facebook supporters at Tropical Park. Called Marco Rubio’s Hometown for America […]

Local GOP leader ruffles feathers with Ted Cruz nod

Local GOP leader ruffles feathers with Ted Cruz nod

Every Republican leader and/or activist has a favorite primary candidate and in this weird landscape where the outsiders are gaining ground on both the establishment and Tea Party boys, they are making their choices known. Congress members Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Carlos Curbelo are still behind the failing campaign of former Gov. Jeb Bush. State Sen. Miguel […]

Another GOP debate yields no real game changers

Another GOP debate yields no real game changers

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. While there was more blood spilled at the 5th GOP presidential debate Tuesday night than there has been in the last four previous debates — with more one-on-one challenges — there were still very few moments that seemed like they would make a big difference. There were many serious things […]

Marco Rubio comes home to low-key gig for neighbors, pals

Marco Rubio comes home to low-key gig for neighbors, pals

It’s more of a homecoming than any other South Florida event. Because when Sen. Marco Rubio greets 500 or 600 or so people at the community center in West Miami Saturday morning, he’ll be talking to neighbors and friends and the people who voted for him the very first time he ever ran for office. “It […]

Round 4 GOP debate winners and losers = no big surprises

Round 4 GOP debate winners and losers = no big surprises

As the crowd thins, it’s almost harder to recognize the clear winners and losers in the debate among those who want to represent the Republican Party in next year’s presidential election.  But Ladra’s gonna try anyway. It’s late and it was long, so some of these observations may be fuzzy, but here are Ladra’s knee […]

Gloves are off in Jeb Bush vs Marco Rubio GOP primary

Gloves are off in Jeb Bush vs Marco Rubio GOP primary

Hey, Jeb? Are we having fun yet? The Right to Rise political action committee for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who said he would run a “joyful” campaign, is set to mount a multi-million dollar attack blitz on Sen. Marco Rubio, who is performing better in the race to become the GOP presidential nominee, accusing […]

Marco Rubio: More like us than any other POTUS wannabe

Marco Rubio: More like us than any other POTUS wannabe

Recent attacks on Marco Rubio’s voting record, personal finances and perspiration  have only really underlined one thing very clearly: Most voters have more in common with the Florida senator than any other wannabe for the presidential nomination — in the GOP or the Democratic field. Credit card debt and issues? Been there. Penalties for cashing […]

Third GOP presidential debate: And then there were four

Third GOP presidential debate: And then there were four

The third debate for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination Wednesday seems to have been the best showcase so far for the differences between the self-proclaimed conservative candidates who want the White House. Sure, every single one of the A candidates (we’re not even counting the Happy Hour debaters) is the “only one up here” to do […]