The man who many Republicans in Florida and across the nation have fantasized as being their ideal candidate to face Barack Obama in 2012 - Jeb Bush - announced yesterday his full fledged endorsement for Mitt Romney. It's no doubt significant in that Bush is perhaps the biggest heavyweight in the entire party, but really, what does it matter at this point? If the race for delegates was a lot closer than it is, yes, that might persuade some undecideds, right? Instead Bush confirmed what is pretty darned obvious: Mitt's the guy, and the quicker we can rally around him, the better our odds to knock off Obama in the fall.
You know what was an endorsement that really mattered? Ted Kennedy, early in 2008, supporting Obama over Hillary Clinton. That moved some minds and some votes. As did Colin Powell endorsing Obama in the fall of '08. But now? It appears to be bowing to the inevitable - I mean, even Tea Party activist Dick Armey has given up on opposing Mittens as well.
Meanwhile in Tampa yesterday, Bob Buckhorn, who a year ago tonight won the 2011 election to become the city's next mayor, discussed a whole range of issues yesterday before 250 people at a Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce luncheon, including his latest concerns about the Republican National Convention.
Mayor Buckhorn also weighed in on Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan's recent comments on trying to revive talks between the county and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tampa Police and other local law enforcement agencies that will be working the streets of Tampa during the RNC held a news conference yesterday to tout the special bike patrols that are being trained right now for the four-day event in late August.
And just before the Pope travels down to Cuba, Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio visited the Heritage Foundation to offer his latest thoughts regarding the Communist Island's government.
