Politics
Conservative poll finds Donald Trump popularity at all-time high
Polling released at a conservative gathering in Washington shows voters shifting in favor of President Donald Trump. Moreover, it finds support for several longtime conservative priorities at an all-time high.
But OnMessage Public Strategies’ Wes Anderson warned attendees of the Rescuing the American Dream summit not to claim victory too quickly.
“Don’t assume that it’s a huge amount of trust and faith that the voters have given our side,” he said. “What they decided is because the other side is crazy, it must be opposed. We still have a lot of work on our side to do to try to capitalize on that.”
The survey found that Trump enjoys positive favorability now, with 50% of voters rating his image positively and 47% seeing him negatively. While that’s just a net of +3, Anderson said that’s the highest rating the Republican leader has enjoyed since he announced his first presidential campaign in 2016.
Stu Sandler, a partner at OnMessage who has managed super PACs supporting U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, said the reason is likely Trump’s focus on a handful of issues polling extremely well across the political spectrum.
That gives Sandler greater confidence than historical trends might suggest about Republicans’ chances in the Midterms. Historically, voters punish the party in power, but he said Democrats have put themselves in a corner with a few key issues.
“Trump is really smartly talking about issues where America is with him,” Sandler said.
A proposal to eliminate taxes on tips, for example, is popular with 65% of voters, and 74% generally support reducing regulations on small businesses.
And on several social issues, Republicans see things trending continuously for the Right. About 69% of voters support Trump’s ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports, which transcends party lines, and 60% ban a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.
Anderson said Republicans were once afraid to touch the issue and Democrats believed that the matter, like same-sex marriage, would ultimately see the public buy in with the Left. But instead, voters are shifting further to the right on transgender topics.
“There are even some slightly left-of-center suburban voters who live in fear that this issue is going to impact their family negatively,” Sandler said.
Meanwhile, the popularity of Republicans is even moving voters on some economic issues that were long unpopular. For example, 54% of voters now feel favorable about lowering corporate tax rates.
Post Views: 0
Roughly 80% of people who come to town say they will return.
Vacationing in Jacksonville? You’re not alone.
That’s the takeaway from a report released by Visit Jacksonville, which shows a lot of people are visiting the Northeast Florida city — and they are spending a lot of money.
According to the report conducted by Downs and St. Germain Research, more than 8 million visitors drove more than $7.4 billion in economic impact from October 2023 to September 2024.
Direct spending accounted for a majority of that sum, with $4.1 million being spent by visitors on eating out, going out, renting cars and so on.
Hotels stayed busy as well.
Nearly 5 million rooms were sold. And that drove $31.5 million in bed tax revenues, money used to restore local infrastructure targeting visitors, ranging from stadiums and arenas to performance art spaces.
Many of the visitors are from in-state, with people originating in Orlando, traveling from Tampa or residing in St. Petersburg taking up three of the top five slots.
However, New York City and Atlanta made up the other two, suggesting that Jacksonville is a draw from major cities outside of the state.
And here’s the best news: 4 out of 5 visitors expect to come back to town. That’s a good sign, given that each visitor saves locals an estimated $540 in taxes.
Roughly a quarter of visitors are attracted by advertising. But twice as many come to see family and friends.
Post Views: 0
Former Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles is now running to represent House District 3 with support from Florida’s top finance manager.
Boyles’ campaign announced an endorsement from Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who beat HD 3’s most recent occupant, Joel Rudman, in a Primary for Congress just over a month ago.
Patronis said Boyles would be “ready to start taking out the trash in Tallahassee” the day he arrives at the Capitol.
“He is a businessman and proven conservative that can deliver for President Trump and his America First agenda by standing up to special interests,” Patronis said in a statement.
“Electing Nathan Boyles means the Panhandle will have an America First fighter representing us.”
Patronis’ nod comes three days after Americans for Prosperity Action Florida announced it is backing Boyles in the race.
Boyles is one of eight Republicans competing in a Primary for the party’s nomination in HD 3, which covers all of Santa Rosa County and an inland portion of Okaloosa County.
With more than $22,500 in-pocket as of the latest reporting deadline, he’s raised the most outside dollars in the contest. His closest competitor, Assistant State Attorney Hayden Hudson, has amassed slightly more, but about 40% of his gains are self-loans.
They’re running to replace Rudman, who vacated his HD 3 seat on Jan. 1 to vie for a congressional seat. Patronis, who carried an endorsement from Donald Trump, defeated Rudman and eight other GOP candidates with 66% of the vote.
Others running to succeed Rudman in HD 3 include Rena McQuaig, Wade Merritt, Shon Owens, Joshua Silk, Cindy Smith and Jamie Wells.
The district leans heavily Republican — Rudman won re-election in November with more than 78% of the vote — meaning the Republican Primary’s victor is heavily favored to defeat the lone Democrat running, Dondre Wise.
Boyles, a real estate-turned-solid waste disposal entrepreneur, sat on the Okaloosa County Commission from 2012 to 2024, when he served as Vice Chair. He announced his HD 3 candidacy on Dec. 9.
His community involvements include serving as Chair of the Okaloosa Library Cooperative, Okaloosa Walton Transportation Planning Organization and Crestview Community Redevelopment Agency.
Boyles said in a statement that he “couldn’t be more thankful” for Patronis’ endorsement.
“It’s servant leaders like CFO Patronis who have fought tirelessly for President Trump’s Make America Great Again agenda,” he said. “I’m running for the Florida House to continue fighting for the MAGA agenda and I will help President Trump secure our border, grow our economy, and support our great military and veterans.”
The Primary for HD 3 is on April 1, followed by the Special General Election on June 10.
Post Views: 0
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott suggested there is hypocrisy among the American media regarding the government forcing people out of work.
While moderating a panel on “Restoring Energy Dominance in America,” U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican, said former President Joe Biden “declared war” on his state. That included stopping all drilling and exploration permits on the North Slope of Alaska.
“Your left-wing media didn’t cry about that, by the way,” Sullivan said.
“They don’t care,” added Scott, a Naples Republican and Florida’s senior Senator.
The criticism came amid heavy coverage of cuts to the federal workforce under President Donald Trump spurred by recommendations from the Department of Government Efficiency.
The panel was part of the Rescuing the American Dream summit held in Washington on Thursday.
Scott led a conversation with Sullivan, U.S. Sen. Mike Lee and Jonathan Evans, CEO of Lithium Americas. They all agreed federal agencies have done too little to allow mining of important fuels and minerals in the U.S.
That’s notable as Trump has largely lifted moratoria on drilling, including eliminating Biden-era restrictions on drilling off Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Scott has historically supported a ban on drilling near Florida.
But the summit touched on exploration more generally. Sullivan discussed a gold mine in Alaska, for example, that had to fight for 20 years to get a permit.
Lee, a Utah Republican, said there’s a misconception that only the federal government can properly protect the environment. He said all states have treasures that their local elected officials want protected and the capacity to do so.
He also touted legislation in Congress now, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. That’s legislation that was filed in the House by U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, a Gainesville Republican. It would prohibit executive agencies from implementing regulations with significant economic impact without securing congressional approval.
“Bring up the urgency behind permitting reform, litigation reform, surrounding the permitting process, and in my view, especially the need for the REINS Act, the need for our laws not to be written by men and women not of our own choosing,” Lee said.
Lee and Sullivan both called Scott a great ally on the issue. Scott said his priority is keeping the U.S. the most competitive economic force in the world.
“I want the Chinese economy to absolutely fall apart,” Scott said.
Post Views: 0
Jacksonville tourism economic impact exceeds $7B
Jordyn Woods Mourns Friend’s Death After Breast Cancer Battle
Jimmy Patronis endorses ‘America First fighter’ Nathan Boyles for HD 3
-
Entertainment8 years agoThe final 6 ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes might feel like a full season
-
Entertainment8 years ago
Mod turns ‘Counter-Strike’ into a ‘Tekken’ clone with fighting chickens
-
Politics8 years ago
Congress rolls out ‘Better Deal,’ new economic agenda
-
Entertainment8 years ago
New Season 8 Walking Dead trailer flashes forward in time
-
Tech8 years ago
Microsoft Paint is finally dead, and the world Is a better place
-
Tech8 years ago
Hulu hires Google marketing veteran Kelly Campbell as CMO
-
Tech8 years ago
Ford’s 2018 Mustang GT can do 0-to-60 mph in under 4 seconds
-
Politics8 years ago
Illinois’ financial crisis could bring the state to a halt