Free Republic

By KIMBERLY LEONARD 04/06/2024 09:38 PM EDT HOLLYWOOD, Florida — Ron DeSantis is making nice with his most loyal donors and, at least over the weekend, ignored Donald Trump. During a retreat in South Florida for the governor’s donors that featured golf, cigars and spa time, and little mention of the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee, DeSantis thanked and wooed the people who most avidly supported his presidential run. Part of the weekend was also to brainstorm how he could keep Florida front and center in the conservative movement with more than 2 and a half years left as governor. Robert...

You're going to hear a lot about independent voters this election season. They will no doubt tip the balance in the November presidential contest, determining the next occupant of the White House. But who are these Americans? What share of the electorate do they represent? And what drives their vote choice? A closer look at this important electoral bloc reveals some startling facts and underscores why "independent" voters are among the most unpredictable when it comes to political forecasting. I've been writing for the past couple of weeks about the changing nature of the American electorate. Winning in 2008 requires...

PARIS (Reuters) - Rivals accused right-wing presidential frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy of cosying up to far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen on Friday in a cynical electoral tactic. Socialist Segolene Royal said the former interior minister was negotiating a secret pact with Le Pen's National Front, after a close Sarkozy aide called for a measure of proportional representation in June National Assembly elections. The National Front says the current voting system is a scandal because it excludes from parliament a party whose candidate won almost 17 percent of the 2002 presidential vote. All mainstream parties except Sarkozy's ruling UMP have called for...