Political Partners

Rochelle Dudley/32/Sarasota-Bradenton
Candice McElyea/38/Sarasota-Bradenton

Candice McElyea and Rochelle Dudley entered politics in different ways, but the duo, unbeknownst to each other, shared an idea: To tell politicians' personal stories in ways that go past mere policies and ideology.

That idea is now Politically Personal, a Manatee County-based startup video and story blog that has generated a good deal of buzz in the busy political season. McElyea and Dudley, in conjunction with the Hub, a Sarasota-based business incubator, launched Politically Personal in June. The Hub handles equipment, editing and Web design, while McElyea, 38, and Dudley, 32, are the faces, interviewers and blog writers — and occasional videographers, courtesy of their iPhones.