Posted on 09/06/2010 1:15:12 PM PDT by Signalman
Remember the saying ``Anyone But Bush'' among Democrats in 2004 who feared a second term by George W. Bush?
Florida Democrats are slinging a variation on the slogan for 2010: ``Anyone But Rubio.''
To liberal voters, Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio is a right-winging, tea-partying, oil-drilling, stimulus-hating, Obamacare-shunning, taxes-on-the-rich-cutting nightmare. And these Democrats are determined to stop him from winning on Nov. 2 by any means necessary, even if that means bailing on their own party's nominee, Kendrick Meek.
A vote for Meek is a vote for Rubio, the thinking goes, because Meek can't win. He's a lackluster Miami congressman lacking money, profile and oomph.
The strategic choice, the thinking continues, is Gov. Charlie Crist. The Republican-turned-independent has nearly twice as much money as Rubio and a statewide platform, not to mention that he knows how to campaign like the dickens.
``I have to be practical. I don't want to see Rubio win,'' said 82-year-old Ben Friedman of Lake Worth, though as a precinct captain his job is to round up votes for Meek.
The Anyone-But-Rubio logic recalls what Democrats said about Janet Reno in 2002. She can't win, they said. No way this controversial former U.S. attorney general with Parkinson's disease can beat Gov. Jeb Bush. So they nominated a little-known, politically unseasoned Tampa lawyer named Bill McBride -- and he got trounced.
The so-and-so-can't-win logic becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
``A lot of people are saying, `I don't think Meek is going to make it.' I say, `If you say that, Meek won't make it,' '' huffed 77-year-old Flo Linn, also of of Lake Worth. ``It's a stupid argument, and you can quote me on that.''
Meek knows he is underestimated and has made it part of his stump speech.
``A lot of people running around here with low expectations -- `Oh my God, we need to start praying for Kendrick,' '' the Miami congressman told a Delray Beach crowd of about 150 people on Thursday that included Friedman and Linn. ``Let me tell you something. You need to start praying for Marco.''
Meek was referring to their planned Sunday matchup on NBC's Meet the Press. (It was canceled Friday when Rubio's dad, who has emphysema and lung cancer, took a turn for the worse.)
Crist's strategy builds on the Anyone-But-Rubio mentality and seeks to undermine Meek's status as a viable candidate. Crist's campaign this week released an internal poll that frames the Senate contest as a two-man, tied race between him and Rubio, with Meek trailing far behind. The campaign also released an endorsement from Democratic Senate leader Al Lawson of Tallahassee to send a message to rank-and-file Democrats that it's okay to support Crist.
Before Lawson it was state Reps. Maria Sachs of Delray Beach, Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg and Ari Porth of Coral Springs. A steady drumbeat of Democratic endorsements -- if it continues -- will chip away at Meek's credibility.
But there are several flaws in the Anyone-But-Rubio plan, in which Democrats shun Meek, flock to Crist, and bury Rubio.
• It's unclear if Crist can keep rolling out Democratic endorsements. Democrats who do not hold public office can be thrown off their local party executive committees for violating their oath to only support Democrats. Elected officials are automatically committee members, but they can face political consequences for endorsing non-Democrats. Handbills passed around at the Delray Beach meeting ``created and paid for by a few Democrats who are not having an identity crisis'' urged Democratic activists to call Sachs and tell her they are united behind Meek.
meeting to publicly declare his support for Meek.
``You should vote for him because he shares our principles, not based on whether you think he can win,'' said 66-year-old Rita Josephson of Boynton Beach.
• This looks like the year of the Republican. GOP voters turned out in higher numbers in the Aug. 24 primary, while the Democratic administration's poll ratings continue to slip. Those factors favor Rubio.
• Crist may not have an overwhelming financial advantage. This week, the National Republican Senatorial Committee said it was pouring $2.5 million into Florida to help Rubio. The announcement was a reminder that Crist lacks the party infrastructure that is the backbone of successful statewide bids.
• Do the math. Democratic strategist Steve Schale, who orchestrated Obama's victory in Florida, noted on his blog this week that with Rubio limiting Crist's share of the Republican vote, the governor needs even more Democrats. That will be difficult, Schale argued, considering Crist's personal popularity is on the wane.
• Democratic and Republican voters typically ``come home,'' Schale and other Meek supporters say. In the homestretch of the race, when voters are paying the most attention, they typically gravitate toward their party's nominee.
• Crist's own words. Both the Meek and Rubio campaigns delight in re-releasing press releases from Crist's Republican past in an effort to turn off Democrats. Meek's new radio ad is an assortment of pre-independent Crist quotes: ``I'm a Jeb Bush Republican. . . . I'm about as conservative as you can get. . . . I'm proud of my pro-life record.''
If Crist's rivals are successful, the Anyone-But-Rubio voters will turn into a No-One-With-Crist landslide.
Here’s the good news...most Dems aren’t informed enough to know that Meek can’t win, they’ll just walk in and mark the space beside the Dem candidate.
That’s racist
As Rush always points out, “...the democrats always tell you who they fear the most.”
The standard Democrat Platform: Pick a target to hate on, and go negative.
Right any Crat who supports Crist is a Racist
I love to visit that little berg - great restaurants and bars and shopping for the wife, but its year-round inhabitants are ultra-morons.
IOW, Rubio is anti-entitlement/welfare state and pro-liberty.
The antithesis of a Democrat.
He probably doesn't even qualify as Latino,since he's not preaching the acceptable fundamentals of the Progressive Faith.
Black voters are going to vote for the entitled, rather aristocratic white guy over Meeks? Don’t think so.
America is pretty anti dim so it is even.
LLS
Looks like the commie ‘RATS are going for the old, white guy. Figures.
`Anyone But Bush’’ among Democrats in 2004 who feared a second term by George W. Bush?
LOL!! Yeah - how did that work out for you??
Passionate idiots all.
I expect either Christ or Meek to drop out few weeks before the election day, and endorse the stronger one.
Don’t be surprized if Meeks and the Closet Queen end up running neck and neck after all is said and done.
JMHO
They don’t particularly hate his positions on issues. After all, there are many others who also hold similar positions. What they hate is the fact that a Hispanic holds those positions. To the race-conscious crowd like them, this is a big deal.
Seems to me, Crist might end up splitting the DEM vote, since he's so much like them, but I don't want them to start figuring that out!
2000 proved that FL democrats are the dumbest voters in the country. Let them. Fight it out between Meeks and Crist while Rubio wins.
Way to split the Dem vote, Crist!:D (I knew the Tanned One was good for something.)
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