A Game Changer in Florida's Senate Race?

Story hit today that Repubilcans in Florida are concerned that there is a deal in the works for Kendrick Meek to step aside and allow moderate and Democratic support to consolidate behind Charlie Crist.

It probably won't happen, but it serves to reinforce something I've been saying for months... Meek had no chance to win this race, and his continued presence only serves to increase the already probable likelihood of Marco Rubio becoming the next Senator from Florida. The only way this doens't happen is for this deal to go down. Like I said, it probably won't, but the fact that the thought is out there gives me a little bit of a boost.

http://bit.ly/c6OX6W

I no longer care who it is, but Marco needs to be stopped.

That they are willing to toss one of their own overboard to get behind Crist.

but facts are facts. Crist, if buoyed by Meek supporters, can win. Our options right now (I say "our" as Democrats - I'm not a Floridian) are Sen. Rubio or Sen. Crist. I know which one I prefer.

this is your website, is it not?

http://conversation101.squarespace.com/florida-08/

:thumbsup:

I don't think he does us any good. His kind of rhetoric makes it too easy for the right to paint us all as being Alan Graysons, when we're not. I stand by that.

I DID provide a link right to the site, after all.

and you've got a fine horserace site there. and seeing your stripes really informs your ideas about who should get out of who's way in the FL Senate race.

I'm a democrat. I will never campaign for the Democrat to step aside for an "ex" Republican to "win."

If that's you -- that's fine.

You're the one that gets to vote for Grayson and Meek, and I'm not trying to tell you how to vote. Just wanted to throw out the idea that maybe this rumor wouldn't be a bad thing. In the end, Florida's going to vote for who they're going to vote for. I just don't see a way Meek can win pulling the numbers he's pulling and having as little cash as he does. I would have LOVED to see a one on one with Rubio and Meek - I think the polling confirms that Rubio would have had trouble winning a one-on-one statewide race. But the facts on the ground being what they are, I wanted to get folks opinion for this exact reason.

why post at DU? it's completely disingenuous to claim you aren't "campaigning."

... and wanted feedback from folks like you. I guess I'm sharing my opinion. If that's campaigning, it's camapigning. You should take heart in the fact that I'm apparently not doing a very good job of it.

Stop spreading shit about the good democrats and concentrate on your own damn state.

the point is to get people talking to each other about politics in general and things like this specifically. And so I don't bother my wife with it. But mostly the first part. I'm glad that in this case that seems to be working. I know we're not on the same page exactly, but I'm at least glad we're having the discussion. My wife says I'm getting less liberal in my age... I'm starting to think she may be right, but the Meek thing is just a practical matter, and the Grayson thing a personal preference in how I think the best way to further our agenda is.

His agenda is good for the nation, not his political aspirations.

An agenda needs people to vote on it. An agenda only matters if you have the votes to back it up, and Marco Rubio isn't voting for the Kendrick Meek agenda.

I liked what you wrote, by the way. About it being hard to be a Democrat:

"Democrats, unlike Republicans, have the burden and the honor of representing The People of the country. As such, we're a multi-faceted group with a spectrum of interests reflecting the amazing quilt of Americans who work hard, try to provide for their families and hope for a better future for our children. We're women and men. Gay and straight. Young and old. Hispanic, Anglo, African-American, Asian-American."

There are, coincidentally, those of us in that multi-faceted group that reject Alan Grayson's type of politics. It doesn't make me any less of a Democrat than any of you. I'd much rather have him as my representative than say, John Boehner, that's for damn sure. But if I think what he's doing is hurting our cause, I'm going to say so. I happen to think that when you're right on the issues (like we are) you shouldn't have to resort to that type of thing in order to win. It's frankly what the other side does when they're out of ideas.

I hope you understand where I'm coming from even if you disagree.

don't care for them, either -- but you loves you some Crist.

uh huh.

It's just that if him and Rubio are the only two girls at the bar, I know which one I'm trying to leave with.

At least Grayson stands for something. The fact that we stand for nothing but faux bipartisanship and have attemoted to "bargain away" everything that made our party great is the reason we are now struggling. And I hate that I have had cause to be ashamed of my party for being such cowards. And it didn't get us a single GOP vote.

Because we are a red state? We are the change not politicians.

Crist is an opportunist. If he thought he would have won the GOP primary, he would never have run as an independent. When he saw Rubio was out polling him, he signed up as an independent in the hopes that the Democrats wouldn't put someone up against him. He tried to do a Joe Lieberman from the other side.

gets him more exposure. He's all about Crist, nothing more.

....if Meek bows out, African-Americans will not go out and vote. The Democratic candidate for governor, Alex Sink, is within striking distance of beating GOP candidate and Tea-Bag favorite, Rick Scott. But she will need a HUGE turnout among black voters if she is to win.

Personally, I think Meek bowing out right now would be too late to affect the Senate race. It's a real shame, because Charlie Crist is a very decent man and a true Rockefeller-type Republican. Conservatives hate him because he was a very moderate governor.

Some times party loyalty can lead to a defeat. Is it better to:

1. Stay loyal to Kendrick Meek (and the A-A constituency he represents) and possibly allow Rubio into the Senate. This would keep the party together for a run at Rubio in 2016.

OR

2. Throw the black guy under the bus to attempt to elect a wishy-washy guy who might or might not be there for you when the chips are down. Even with Meek's bowing out, it isn't that all certain that Crist can beat Rubio.


At any event, the ballots are already printed and even if Meek were to bow out, his supporters (blacks and solid Dems) would still vote for him.

i think Crist should step down. how about that?

but I think that it's pretty clear at this point that Meek cannot win. There's no sense pretending he can, and ex-GOPer or not, Crist would be a MUCH more reliable vote for a Democratic agenda than Marco Rubio would be.

If so, you either think a) Kendrick Meek has a legitimate chance to win this race; or b) Marco Rubio would be a better Senator than Charlie Crist. Those are our options at this point. I'm not happy about it, but it is what it is. Meek hasn't gotten above the mid-20s in polling. It's not summer anymore. The election is just around the corner, and it's time to decide what the best way forward for Democrats in Florida is. I think it's to get behind Crist and try to get someone in the Senate who may vote for us more than 0% of the time.

Now I think Crist has lost his mojo...maybe he's the one who should step aside????

But from a practical standpoint, I don't think Meek would be able to consolidate Crist supporters the way Crist would be able to with Meek's. That's all.

really has no right to call himself a Democrat.

and it's fine with me if you think that. I would suggest, however, that you read at least some of the hundreds of other posts I've written before judging me based on that. I don't hate their policies, I hate the way they go about enunciating them. Grayson (in my opinion) provides too easy a target for those on the right who want to paint us all with the same brush. Dean has become too much of a windsock... he went back and forth on health care more than Olympia Snowe. That's what I'm basing my comments about them on. If after reading a few more of my comments about the 99% of Democrats I DO support you feel the same way, so be it.

I'm not advocating for Democrats across the country to step aside, this is a pretty specific situation where Kendrick has had all summer to get some traction, and it just didn't happen. The time for Democrats to really get behind him in a meningful way to make him competitive has come and gone (again, in my opinion) and the situation as I see it is simple - either Marco Rubio is going to win or Charlie Crist is. Not all devils are created equal - Crist is clearly the lesser of two evils in this situation, with an outside chance of caucusing with Democrats. While we're on the subject of people I hate, you can add Joe Lieberman to that list. But I'd rather have him than say, Linda McMahon. And that's the caliber of choice in Florida, as I see it.

so I'm guessing we can't even begin to understand the quagmire that Florida democrats are facing in their state.

But he sure hates one of the few actual Democrats they have down there, for some odd reason.

Say what you will, but talking one on one with many people, you might get a better feel. If polls are showing Meek moving up, I don't know that I believe them. I KNOW how many people I've talked to and I also know how many people I "personally" know who will do anything to keep RUBIO out!

And when I say "personally" I AM NOT LYING! I won't even bother talking about people I don't know personally because of them I can't be sure. But my "personal" number is 16 at this point in time. And I haven't even contacted an extensive number of people. But people ARE talking and there are "Democrats For Crist" groups out there. That much is VERY TRUE.

I've been trying to figure out these polls for weeks, but I sincerely feel there is an "under the radar" factor here that others aren't reporting. But, I only know MY FACTS and those who have already voted. Most of them are my family members, all but 5 are anyway.

Only time will tell, but I suppose there are a great number of Democrats who will still vote for Meek simply out of Party loyalty! So I suppose it's really RUBIO or Party loyalty! How Meek can win completely escapes me and it's NOT MY FAULT that a better candidate couldn't have been found.

Go ahead and call me all the names you want, it's crunch time and decisions HAVE TO BE MADE!

We almost had a fright here in Delaware when rumors were persistent that Castle would do a write-in campaign. Now remember for the last 3 weeks I have volunteered 10-20 hours a week for Chris Coons & the Democrats. I also haven't voted for any other party but democrats since 20 years ago (I once voted for Specter during my PA years). And for my 9 years here at DU folks pretty much have called me a democratic cheerleader, I'll defend Dems even when they are pissing off progressives here at DU. You slit these wrists and I bleed Democratic blue.

The reason why Coons is doing so well against O'Donnell as oppose to his poll numbers against Castle is simple. Mike Castle was a moderate republican that earned alot of votes from Moderates of both parties and Independents. After he lost to O'Donnell in the primaries (which was republicans only and blocked many Castle supporters from voting for him) those Moderates and Independents moved mainly over to the Chris Coons campaign. Coons is a bit like Meeks - a really great guy with a bright future in politics who came from a minor political position (Coons is a County Commissioner here in New Castle County). A Castle write-in had me worried because O'Donnell's base is solid at 35% and maybe another 5% she might gather up until the end. Most of the die-hard Castle supporters were voting for Coons and I've met alot of them on the campaign canvassing. So hearing that Castle might do a write-in campaigned worried the bejesus out of me for one main reason - he wouldn't take from that solid 35% that wants a whackadoo like O'Donnell, he'd take from the undecideds and moderates/independents voting for Coon. As a write-in I don't know if Castle or Coons would get enough votes to overcome the solid 35% that would definitely vote O'Donnell and honestly I have no clue what I would do. But I would work my ass off for Coons but who knows, if it looked like Castle had the numbers and Coons wasn't even close I might have gone Castle. I mean seriously - anything to not have O'Donnell as my senator. Fortunately that choice will never happened because I think even Castle realized he would only increase O'Donnell's chance of winning and Castle cannot stand O'Donnell. To be honest the entire DEGOP, NRC and NRSC cannot stand her and maybe some of them said not to bother. Not after she accused him of having an affair, stalking her and telling him to 'Put your manpants on'. I think the mainstream republicans know that even 4 years of O'Donnell (she's finishing out Biden/Kauffman's term) would prove for alot of embarrassment that would hurt them and it would be best to let the Dems keep that seat then to look like fools associating with O'Donnell.

So I as someone who doesn't live in Florida and who has an even crazier teabagger as her candidate, I will not tell Florida Dems how to vote. We know this is going to be a hurting year for the Dems in the election so let's do what we can to try and avoid the getting too many crazies into the GOP's control.

Now how is that possible when your profile says you only have 56?

Wa referring to the website that the other poster culled my Grayson quotes from.

:eyes:

The concept of Rubio as their senator is just frightening. Meeks only problem is he does not have the name recognition that Crist has. In another post I called this the election of "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly". The Good doesn't have the name recognition to be elected, the Bad is ok on a few issues but still a republican, and the Ugly just scares the bejesus out of them.

I had Rick Santorum as my senator for 8 years so the last thing I would wish on anyone is a Santorum like senator. I know if this situation happened in Delaware (and there was a strong rumor it might have happened with Castle mulled a write-in candidacy) I can honestly say I dont know how I would vote. I would still support Coons as much as I am today (I do about 15hrs a week working his campaign) but if I found that there was a chance that O'Donnell was ahead and Castle was in the Crist position - I might consider the same thing.

So I hold no judgement over anyone in Florida with how they vote in that race. Rubio is a hideous option and no one should be stuck with a senator like him if there is another feasible option that could win.

keep Rubio out of office first. It would be better to elect a Democrat, but unless Crist drops out or Meek's numbers come way up, it doesn't look good.



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/01/1851427/poll-rubio-continues-to-maintain.html#ixzz11nKbJkrN

It's a unique situation.

You know how eaisly confused Florida voters are.

It's less than a month before the election. He's not dropping out.

I've sent mine and so has my daughter and my son. I have two sisters who live in Largo & Seminole and that makes FOUR more. They both have husbands.

It ain't gonna happen. I'll vote for one of the other candidates on the ballot or I'll leave it blank.

But I'm not running. :)

:evilgrin:

:rotfl: Love it! :-)

Or the socialist, namby-pamby Christ?

:rofl:

I requested they do so some time ago, for rules violations (yes and you 2 Lynne) - is it OK to go right rather than left on DU?

Is it really necessary to close down a thread because you disagree with a point of view? There's obviously more people than just me that think this is a valid decision for Meek to make. The thing that makes the Tea Party so mockable is that time and time again, their blind concern with ideology and litmus tests for candidates is what is marginalizing them and giving us a chance in this election. So how does ignoring this and considering it a "rules violation" any different? Why isn't my point of view (as a Democrat, mind you) valid simply because I'm pointing out what a lot of people don't seem to want to recognize - that Kendick Meek does not have a chance to win the election in Florida. Not only that, but staying in the race all but ensures a victory from someone who is diametrically opposed to every goal we have as a party? Is Charlie Crist going to vote 100% with the Democratic caucus? No. Will he vote with us more often than Marco Rubio? Almost definitely.

Since a whole lot of people are getting awfully judgmental and defensive for very little reason, I really have to question blind allegiance to ideology when the political facts are this: Democrats need every vote they can get in Congress. If Kendrick Meek abandons his fractional chance at winning and, in doing so, gives the Democrats a SOMETIMES vote in the Senate, it would be worth it to avoid the automatic no vote that comes from Marco Rubio. Not to mention a Charlie Crist with a favor to pay back MIGHT come in handy in trying to win Florida in 2012.

Instead of talking about all this, though, we're talking about me, and my bonafides as a Democrat (both of which are easily verifiable) instead of talking about the bigger picture of ideology, electability, and the future of our party.

We can't even get Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Mary Landrieu, or Joe Lieberman to vote with Democrats and they all claim to BE one. (well, Joe used to anyway)

is better than a whole teabagger.

Pardon me if I find that incongruous at least, trolling at worst.

Some choose to support the (gasp) Democrat. Their opinion is as valid as yours.

In fact, DU Administration said that they will entertain support of Crist on the board. They also stated that DUers can support the Democartic challenger.

You want to play your way, stay at your own site. I'm not following you there.

How am I trying to shut discussion down? Placton came on and said he reported me as violating rules and was wondering why the mods hadn't shut me down. I was saying that was ridiculous. You can disagree with me, but read what I say, please, before you accuse me of being a troll.

But Kendrick Meek is just the kind of Democrat the country needs. He has my unqualified support.

Crist is an opportunist and he'll stab the Dems in the back more certainly than Lieberman did.

I have no problem with people sticking with Meek. If he's in the campaign at the end, vote for him. I just wanted to mention that there was talk about him dropping out, and MY OPINION is that not only should he, but if he does, Democrats should get behind Charlie Crist as the lesser of two evils.

Then somewhere along the line this became about me instead of what I was talking about.

didn't ROBERT WEXLER endorse Crist? Is he not a Democrat anymore either?