Who will visit Pensacola?
Over the past two decades, Pensacola has been a favorite stop of Republican presidential candidates. George W. Bush, John McCain, Fred Thompson, Rudy Guiliani, Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney and Donald Trump all made stops at the either the Pensacola Bay Center, The Fish House or Pensacola International Airport.
Two questions: Who will visit Pensacola first during the 2024 election cycle? And what local GOP officials and major contributors will be on the stage?
Dig Deeper: Republican frontrunner Donald Trump made a campaign stop in Pensacola on Jan. 13, 2016. His speech at the Pensacola Bay Center was a media event, and I covered it for Inweekly and WCOA. Check out the article.
No Ladies Man
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ odd personality makes it difficult to connect with people on the campaign trail. In other words, he’s no Ashton Hayward.
His staff is trying to figure out ways to overcome his rigid appearance as he makes trips to more diners and meets with smaller groups of voters in his bid to nail down the Republican nomination, according to the Daily Mail.
Bad Polls: A recent Morning Call poll shows that nearly three in five potential Republican Primary (59%) voters back Trump for the party’s 2024 presidential nomination, up from 55% last week before news of his indictment.
- DeSantis is a very distant second – almost one in five (19%) support.
A new poll by The Economist and YouGov finds 54% of female Republicans back Trump, with just 17% backing DeSantis. In third place with women voters: former Vice President Pence, who has 6% support.
Wahoos Win Again
The Blue Wahoos won their first extra-inning game, 5-4, thanks to a sacrifice fly by catcher Will Banfield with the bases loaded against the Mississippi Braves.
Why it matters: With the Beau Rivage Shuckers rained out Wednesday in Montgomery, the Blue Wahoos (36-22) are now 6.5 games ahead of the Shuckers – the nearest team chasing – in the race for the Southern League first-half title.
Dig Deeper: The Blue Wahoos will have their top pitcher, Patrick Monteverde (6-1, 2.09) on the mound Thursday against the M-Braves’ Scott Blewett (2-3, 4.43). It will be Pensacola Mullets night and also Thirsty Thursday.
First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:35, with a live broadcast beginning at 6:30 on BlueWahoos.com, the MiLB First Pitch app (radio), Bally Live and MiLB.tv (video). For more information, visit BlueWahoos.com or contact the box office at (850) 934-8444.
Note: Trump Rally photo credit, Brandon Stivers, Shutterstock.com