This time, it really matters. Starting about mid-January, the national political spotlight will focus on Florida with a laser-like intensity we haven't seen since the infamous 2000 presidential recount. ...more

January 6, 2008

The Democratic National Committee voted Aug. 25 to punish Florida for scheduling its Jan. 29 primary earlier than party rules allow and stripped all its convention delegates. ...more

January 2, 2008

TAMPA - The Democratic National Committee voted Aug. 25 to punish Florida for scheduling its Jan. 29 primary earlier than party rules allow, and stripped all its convention delegates. Since then, 17,808 Hillsborough voters switched political parties, a Tribune analysis of party-switching data shows. ...more

December 31, 2007

Before heading to that New Year's Eve party Monday, don't forget: Dec. 31 also is the deadline to register to vote in January's presidential primaries. ...more

December 27, 2007

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez recently gave President Bush some bad news. Not only was he quitting a Republican Party job that Bush lobbied him hard to take, he planned to help Democrats override Bush's veto of a multibillion dollar water bill with Everglades cleanup money. ...more

November 13, 2007

Despite protests from state Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer, the full Republican National Committee voted Thursday to cut in half the national convention delegations of those states, including Florida, that hold presidential primaries before Feb. 5. ...more

November 9, 2007

Mel Martinez gave up his role as chairman of the Republican National Committee last week, saying he wanted to return to his 'main job': representing Florida in the U.S. Senate. ...more

October 23, 2007

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez resigned Friday as chairman of the Republican National Committee after only 10 months. ...more

October 20, 2007

TAMPA - President Bush was in the Bay area today for a luncheon to benefit the Republican National Committee, but fundraising wasn't the only thing on his plate. ...more

October 12, 2007

President Bush will visit a private home in Pinellas County on Friday for a fundraiser to benefit the Republican National Committee. ...more

October 10, 2007