Crist to run for Florida Senate as an independent

Source: Southern Political Report


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SPR exclusive bulletin: Crist to run for Florida Senate as an independent
By Matt Towery

April 20, 2010 —

Copyright 2010 Creators Syndicate/InsiderAdvantage

It may be the worst-kept secret in American politics today, and it’s apparently about to become a reality. Reliable sources informed me today that embattled Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, whose early lead in his US Senate Republican primary race against former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio has essentially reversed itself in the polls, is preparing to announce sooner rather than later that he will leave the GOP and continue his run for Senate as an independent. Sources add that the speech Crist will use in his announcement is now being drafted.

Of course Crist is known from time to time for running political misdirections that surprise even political experts at the last minute. But the tea leaves Crist has left trailing behind him in recent weeks – particularly his about-face in vetoing an education reform bill dear to Florida Republicans – certainly seem to portend an abandonment of the party. Throw in, too, that he has recently been losing support from national and Florida GOP honchos – such as Mitt Romney and Crist’s now ex-campaign chair, former US Sen. Connie Mack, among other various Florida Republican luminaries.

The only thing that likely would stop a Crist independent run now is for the pressure from disillusioned Republicans and longtime Crist supporters to put so much pressure on him not to run at all that he relents. That pressure is mounting almost by the hour. Or that pressure could only speed up his party switch.

Plus, Crist has mostly positioned himself as a moderate, and is largely perceived that way by Florida voters. Thus he likely sees an independent candidacy as his best and only hope of winning the Senate race. The most recent polls of a three-way general election race among Crist, Republican Rubio and presumed Democratic nominee Kendrick Meeks show that Crist is at least even with Rubio, and ahead of Meeks.

Read more: http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/storylink_420_1370.aspx

Besides, it depends on your definition of "bad." Crist seems to fall in love at very politically convenient times. Smacks of, among other things, dishonesty and using people, neither of which is a great characteristic for a politician.

Of course I want the Senate seat to be controlled by a Democrat

I was editing my prior post as you were posting. I explained why I don't necessarily think Crist is a good person.

is interesting at the least. Also, he has been one of the few republicans who have at least been friendly to the current administration,

It wasn't that long ago when Florida was in the Democratic column, I have no idea what happened to that state.

Of course he is a politician, but definitely he doesn't tow the repuke hate-filled dogma that saturates so much of the airwaves

In anycase this is blockbuster news, and throws the repukes into disarray, and actually opens some opportunites for the Democrats

Look at what he did to the state with the latest property tax law. He's firmly on the side of the wealthy and doesn't give much of a dam about the rest of us or the state actually meeting it's responsibilities. He's not as rabid as most FL Repugs, so seems moderate in comparison, but it's still all shades of black and grey.

that the Teabaggers will have no choice but to sit it out, giving a win to Meeks.

But that's a long shot.

We'll see.

I'll be sending money to Crist if he makes it official.

Hawkeye-X

Win. Win.

election to watch.

If he wins, who will he caucus with? The Repugs who dissed him and drove him out of the party or the Dems?

But in practice, Governor Crist has been a pragmatist and not an ideologue.

The Republicans are already lining up to throw him under the bus.

Reasonable, rather than a knee-jerk partisan. Still rather see Meeks in there, though.

:popcorn:

Rubio will vote against Obama 100% of the time

Crist will vote against Obama 80% of the time

Meek will vote with Obama 90% of the time

If Meek becomes effectively the third place candidate, then we may have to hope for Crist to win. I hope it does not come to that.

He's siphon off a lot of Meek votes too.

VERY hot topic right now. Alex Sink also came out very strongly against SB 6 with her petition to the Governor, but I did not see nor hear Meek ANYWHERE in north or central FL offer anything but some mild statements.

between the top two vote getting candidates?

imo.

so I'm not very optomistic about him. Pretty much anyone is better than Rubio - he's from the KKKarl Rover - Tea Bagger branch of the Repugs.

As I understand it, if he wanted to run as a democrat he would have had to declare by the end of last month.

I actually tried to call his office many times last months to suggest it, especially after Meek decided to write a pro-Israel op-ed after they punked Biden, but I could never get through. Grayson is too popular to attempt to listen to voters outside of his district.

...it's not so much that Crist is losing to Rubio, it's that the Party establishment, after first endorsing him, are now throwing him over the side to curry favor with the Teabaggers. He won't be open to doing them a favor and disappearing quietly.

Floridians have someone to vote for!

Meek can now continue to kiss conservative butt in his fruitless quest to attract Rubio voters. Progressives can now vote for someone who has a chance of beating Rubio!

Yay! go Crist! and thank you for vetoing Bill 6!

Michael E. Arth anyone?

http://www.michaelearth.org/

http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=71814

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Sink

http://www.alexsink2010.com/agenda?id=0007

And regardless she's a million times better than that scumbag Rethug McCollum.

http://centralfloridapolitics.com/2009/06/29/cfo-sink-has-ethics-complaint-filed-against-her/

"better than the republican" is the reason we have so many crappy democrats in the first place.

Michael Arth is a great man. Sink is an uninspiring party drone.

If that's all you've got then she is squeaky clean compared to 99% of politicians.

The truth is Floridians have no good options at all for Senator. I'm just praying that Alex Sink will win as governor.

imo.

This could derail the teabaggers momentum and give the Dem a very good shot at gaining a Senate seat... because even if Crist wins, I believe he will caucus with the Dems.