//But don't sleep on Val Demings.Joe Biden will choose a running mate during unprecedented circumstances — an evolving public health emergency, historic unemployment and nationwide civil unrest. He’s also 77 years old and would be the oldest first-term president in history if elected. And he has vowed to pick a woman.How will all these factors shape who he chooses to join him on the ticket?To find out, the Tampa Bay Times surveyed 220 of Florida’s political operatives, campaign workers, activists, money raisers, former elected officials and other plugged-in experts. And these Florida...…//But don't sleep on Val Demings.Joe Biden will choose a running mate during unprecedented circumstances — an evolving public health emergency, historic unemployment and nationwide civil unrest. He’s also 77 years old and would be the oldest first-term president in history if elected. And he has vowed to pick a woman.How will all these factors shape who he chooses to join him on the ticket?To find out, the Tampa Bay Times surveyed 220 of Florida’s political operatives, campaign workers, activists, money raisers, former elected officials and other plugged-in experts. And these Florida...WW…

//Crises have diminished Trump's standing with nearly every demographic.President Donald Trump is losing his hold on important swing voters in Florida, imperiling his chance of another four years in office, according to recent polls.The global health catastrophe, ensuing economic collapse and protests nationwide have tested Trump’s leadership and left his popularity diminished, polls have found. The fallout has created an opening in the country’s largest swing state for his Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.Biden leads Trump in Florida by 5 percentage points, 47.4 percent to...…//Crises have diminished Trump's standing with nearly every demographic.President Donald Trump is losing his hold on important swing voters in Florida, imperiling his chance of another four years in office, according to recent polls.The global health catastrophe, ensuing economic collapse and protests nationwide have tested Trump’s leadership and left his popularity diminished, polls have found. The fallout has created an opening in the country’s largest swing state for his Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.Biden leads Trump in Florida by 5 percentage points, 47.4 percent to...WW…

//And they're wondering: Where is Joe Biden?Florida’s top political minds think President Donald Trump and the Republican Party will go through with their Jacksonville conventions plans amid a worsening pandemic. But that doesn’t mean they think it’s a good idea.In a survey of 220 of Florida campaign operatives, political party leaders, organizers, fundraisers, elected leaders, political scientists and other Insiders, 72 percent agreed that holding the Republican National Convention in Florida is a public health risk.“I do think the Republican Party will be hell bent on this convention and...…//And they're wondering: Where is Joe Biden?Florida’s top political minds think President Donald Trump and the Republican Party will go through with their Jacksonville conventions plans amid a worsening pandemic. But that doesn’t mean they think it’s a good idea.In a survey of 220 of Florida campaign operatives, political party leaders, organizers, fundraisers, elected leaders, political scientists and other Insiders, 72 percent agreed that holding the Republican National Convention in Florida is a public health risk.“I do think the Republican Party will be hell bent on this convention and...WW…

//"We’re in a much better place thanks to the leadership of President Trump," the vice president said.TAMPA — The coronavirus case numbers are worse than ever in Florida.But on Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence came to Tampa with a message for the Sunshine State: Florida is in a good position to weather the storm.“I want the people of Florida to know we’re in a much better place thanks to the leadership of President (Donald) Trump, the innovation of American industry and to the partnership that we’ve forged, not just in testing, but in personal protective equipment,” Pence said in an...…//"We’re in a much better place thanks to the leadership of President Trump," the vice president said.TAMPA — The coronavirus case numbers are worse than ever in Florida.But on Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence came to Tampa with a message for the Sunshine State: Florida is in a good position to weather the storm.“I want the people of Florida to know we’re in a much better place thanks to the leadership of President (Donald) Trump, the innovation of American industry and to the partnership that we’ve forged, not just in testing, but in personal protective equipment,” Pence said in an...WW…

/Some have supported mask ordinances, some are suing to stop them and some are trashing them on TV.The record-setting pace of new coronavirus cases in Florida has been met with mixed signals from Republican leaders over how far to push Floridians to wear masks. Monday was an exposition in how a piece of cloth has vexed the party of freedom and personal responsibility.In Jacksonville, Republican Mayor Lenny Curry made it mandatory to wear a mask in indoor public spaces as the city looks to contain the outbreak ahead of the August Republican National Convention. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Rick...…/Some have supported mask ordinances, some are suing to stop them and some are trashing them on TV.The record-setting pace of new coronavirus cases in Florida has been met with mixed signals from Republican leaders over how far to push Floridians to wear masks. Monday was an exposition in how a piece of cloth has vexed the party of freedom and personal responsibility.In Jacksonville, Republican Mayor Lenny Curry made it mandatory to wear a mask in indoor public spaces as the city looks to contain the outbreak ahead of the August Republican National Convention. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Rick...WW…

/‘America is on fire and the president is going around putting gasoline on every situation,’ the Orlando Democrat said.Was that Joe Biden’s running mate pumping up Hillsborough County Democrats on Saturday night?If the latest vice presidential buzz surrounding U.S. Rep. Val Demings is for real, then it’s certainly a possibility.The Orlando Democrat made a guest appearance at the local party’s annual spring fundraiser, where she appeared well practiced at needling President Donald Trump as though she was already Biden’s pick.“America is on fire,” Demings said to the virtual audience, “and...…/‘America is on fire and the president is going around putting gasoline on every situation,’ the Orlando Democrat said.Was that Joe Biden’s running mate pumping up Hillsborough County Democrats on Saturday night?If the latest vice presidential buzz surrounding U.S. Rep. Val Demings is for real, then it’s certainly a possibility.The Orlando Democrat made a guest appearance at the local party’s annual spring fundraiser, where she appeared well practiced at needling President Donald Trump as though she was already Biden’s pick.“America is on fire,” Demings said to the virtual audience, “and...WW…

/The question is: Could any Florida city pull it off with such little time?Florida Republicans said they would “welcome” the Republican National Convention if President Donald Trump makes good on a Twitter threat Monday to pull the party’s seminal political event from North Carolina.“The Republican Party of Florida would welcome the opportunity to host the Republican National Convention,” state party Chairman Joe Gruters said in a statement. “Florida is committed to ensuring a safe, secure and successful event for President Trump and all attendees.”The Republican National Committee has been...…/The question is: Could any Florida city pull it off with such little time?Florida Republicans said they would “welcome” the Republican National Convention if President Donald Trump makes good on a Twitter threat Monday to pull the party’s seminal political event from North Carolina.“The Republican Party of Florida would welcome the opportunity to host the Republican National Convention,” state party Chairman Joe Gruters said in a statement. “Florida is committed to ensuring a safe, secure and successful event for President Trump and all attendees.”The Republican National Committee has been...WW…

/The Trump administration handed out large contracts without much vetting. A St. Pete company with a questionable background won big.ST. PETERSBURG — As demand for coronavirus tests exploded, a local company emerged in the fast-growing market of nasal swabs.Fillakit LLC popped up May 1 with few public details on who was behind it. Its website is blank. The only name on its state registration paperwork is a St. Petersburg lawyer who specializes in real estate and estate planning.But by the end of its first week, Fillakit had won a $10.2 million contract from the federal government for swabs...…/The Trump administration handed out large contracts without much vetting. A St. Pete company with a questionable background won big.ST. PETERSBURG — As demand for coronavirus tests exploded, a local company emerged in the fast-growing market of nasal swabs.Fillakit LLC popped up May 1 with few public details on who was behind it. Its website is blank. The only name on its state registration paperwork is a St. Petersburg lawyer who specializes in real estate and estate planning.But by the end of its first week, Fillakit had won a $10.2 million contract from the federal government for swabs...WW…

//The press member was in the same room as President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis.BELLEAIR — A member of the press who covered President Donald Trump’s trip to the Tampa Bay area Friday has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the White House Correspondents’ Association.The association’s president, Zeke Miller, a reporter for the Associated Press, wrote in a message to the group’s members Sunday about the member’s positive test.“We’ve already reached out to those who were in the pools with this individual, and the White House Medical Unit is...…//The press member was in the same room as President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis.BELLEAIR — A member of the press who covered President Donald Trump’s trip to the Tampa Bay area Friday has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the White House Correspondents’ Association.The association’s president, Zeke Miller, a reporter for the Associated Press, wrote in a message to the group’s members Sunday about the member’s positive test.“We’ve already reached out to those who were in the pools with this individual, and the White House Medical Unit is...WW…

//A lot has changed since his May visit.Vice President Mike Pence is returning to Florida on Thursday as the state deals with one of the country’s worst outbreaks of the coronavirus.Pence will meet with Gov. Ron DeSantis in Tampa, where the two will discuss “the efforts the state is making to combat COVID-19,” according to his office. They will visit Signature Flight Support near Tampa International Airport around 1:45 p.m.Pence meeting tomorrow w/DeSantis will be in Tampa, per VP's office."There, the Vice President will meet with Governor DeSantis regarding the efforts the state is making...…//A lot has changed since his May visit.Vice President Mike Pence is returning to Florida on Thursday as the state deals with one of the country’s worst outbreaks of the coronavirus.Pence will meet with Gov. Ron DeSantis in Tampa, where the two will discuss “the efforts the state is making to combat COVID-19,” according to his office. They will visit Signature Flight Support near Tampa International Airport around 1:45 p.m.Pence meeting tomorrow w/DeSantis will be in Tampa, per VP's office."There, the Vice President will meet with Governor DeSantis regarding the efforts the state is making...WW…