Backroom Briefing: Trump shows no love for “Quebella”
November 8, 2018
By Jim Turner and Dara Kam
TALLAHASSEE --- President Donald Trump, describing it as “very close to complete victory,” celebrated the wins of his endorsed candidates in Tuesday’s midterm elections, including what could be a 7-0 record in Florida.
During a rambling post-election news conference Wednesday, Trump also took a shot at Republicans who didn’t embrace him, such as Congressman Carlos Curbelo, who was narrowly defeated for his South Florida seat by Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
“They did very poorly,” Trump said. “I don’t know if I should feel happy or sad about it, but I feel just fine about it.”
Trump taunted Curbelo along with U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, who lost in Colorado; U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock in Virginia; U.S. Rep. Mia Love in Utah; and U.S. Rep. John Faso in New York.
Curbelo’s spokeswoman Joanna Rodriguez tweeted a simple “Lol” in response after it was pointed out that Trump pronounced Curbelo’s name “Quebella.”
Curbelo was the only incumbent congressman in Florida to be defeated, while Democrats also flipped an open South Florida seat on Tuesday.
Curbelo broke with Trump on issues such as immigration. His district, which covers Southwest Miami-Dade County and all of Monroe County, has more registered Democrats than Republicans.
Trump publicly endorsed Gov. Rick Scott’s run for U.S. Senate; former Congressman Ron DeSantis for governor; Congressmen Neal Dunn, Matt Gaetz and Ted Yoho as they ran for re-election; and congressional candidates Ross Spano and Michael Waltz.
“Rick Scott won, and I helped him,” Trump bragged after saying his efforts overcame “a lot of celebrities” that campaigned for Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
The Scott-Nelson contest is expected to require a recount.
BONDI FOR AG (AGAIN)
CBS News is among those putting Florida’s term-limited Attorney General Pam Bondi on the possible contender list to replace U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was forced out of his job this week.
Bondi’s name has frequently circulated as becoming part of Trump’s administration since the president was elected in 2016.
A staunch Trump backer, Bondi has been coy about her future as her term gets ready to expire in January. Lately, she has been appearing on Fox News, where speculation also has her landing.
MAINE GOVERNOR PLANS FLORIDA MOVE
Florida will gain another ex-governor when the new year arrives.
Term-limited Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage, known for bombastic and off-the-cuff remarks, told reporters Monday in Augusta that he plans to become a year-round Florida resident. He also said he was in talks to teach at an undisclosed university in the Sunshine State.
"I'll be a resident of Florida if (Democratic gubernatorial candidate) Janet Mills wins, I can promise you that," LePage told the media, referring to the Maine gubernatorial candidates Tuesday. "I'll also be in Florida if (Republican) Shawn Moody wins, 'cause I'm going to retire and go to Florida.”
LePage has pushed to reduce Maine’s income tax, and his upcoming move is for tax purposes, he said.
“I’ll tell you very, very simply: I have a house in Florida. I will pay no income tax and the house in Florida’s property taxes are $2,000 less than we were paying in Boothbay,” LePage said. “At my age, why wouldn’t you conserve your resources and spend it on family (rather) than spend it on taxes?”
Maine First Lady Ann LePage owns a home in Flagler County.
Her ownership of a home in Volusia County caused a brief gaffe for LePage during his first run for governor as it was discovered that the future first lady received homestead property-tax exemptions in 2009 on the Florida property and the home she owned in Waterville, Maine.
Former Volusia County Property Appraiser Morgan Gilreath said that in applying for the Florida homestead, Ann LePage did not mention her Maine residence or the separate homestead exemption. However, after lawyers got involved, the case was closed about a month later without any violations.
RAINING ON A PARADE
They didn’t rise to the level of a plague of locusts, but problems during Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum’s election-night party at Florida A&M University were seen by some as a grim foreshadowing of the Democratic candidate’s ultimate loss to Republican Ron DeSantis.
Press from all over the world who showed up for the outdoor campus event were housed under a large white tent outfitted with electric string lights, wifi, portable parquet flooring and plastic tables and chairs. Camera crews were situated on risers facing the stage to capture Gillum
