Republican candidates are always depicted by Democrats and the media as racists, sexists, homophobes and bigots. ...more

January 17, 2008

After Sen. John McCain's victory here Tuesday, the Republican field is more scrambled than ever, with the battleground now shifting to a series of states where each of the leading candidates thinks he holds certain advantages. ...more

January 9, 2008

Uplifting appeals largely replaced stinging insults Tuesday as Democratic and Republican candidates did the only thing left to do in Iowa races that are too close to call: encourage supporters to vote for them. ...more

January 2, 2008

We have proof once again of Americans' weird love-hate relationship with politicians. Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush, arguably the most disliked woman and man in America, are also the most admired. ...more

December 30, 2007

Gov. Charlie Crist and a slew of the region's elected officials turned out at the Pines of Sarasota on Monday to kick off the nonprofit long-term care community's 60th anniversary and boost a fundraising drive. ...more

November 20, 2007

Democrats Barack Obama and John Edwards sharply challenged Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's candor, consistency and judgment Tuesday in a televised debate that underscored her front-runner status two months before the first presidential primary votes. ...more

October 31, 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

Members of Congress need to guard against political grandstanding, but they are right to investigate a private security firm accused of opening fire on innocent Iraqis last month and committing other misdeeds. ...more

October 5, 2007

Leaders of Florida's Democratic Party defied the national party last weekend by deciding - finally - to go forward with the Jan. 29 presidential primary that lawmakers approved earlier this year. ...more

September 25, 2007

Regarding 'Run Away All You Bold, Brave Politicos!' (Metro, Sept. 6): The Democratic presidential candidates not only failed to display leadership, as Daniel Ruth stated in his column; they ceded leadership to Howard Dean and DNC officials. This creates a leadership vacuum in the near-term. ...more

September 8, 2007