Posted on 08/10/2006 11:07:45 AM PDT by neverdem
Attorney General Charlie Crist announced two endorsements on Tuesday: U.S. Sen. John McCain, the well-known and outspoken Arizona senator who is expected to be the leading GOP contender for the 2008 presidential race, and the National Rifle Association.
The twin endorsements are notable for two reasons: The McCain endorsement could help Crist win over independent voters after the Sept. 5 primary, while the NRA endorsement helps Crist once again rebuff criticisms that he is not conservative enough for the Republican faithful that will vote in the primary.
"No one has been stronger in support of Second Amendment, self-defense, and anti-crime issues than Charlie Crist and we sincerely appreciate your solid pro-sportsmen, pro-Second Amendment, pro-freedom record," wrote Marion Hammer, NRA past president and Executive Director of Unified Sportsmen of Florida in a letter to Crist informing him of the endorsement.
The McCain endorsement stings a bit since some key supporters of Crist rival Tom Gallagher, such as Rep. David Rivera, a Miami Republican, are staunch backers of McCain.
Yet give credit to Rivera for putting his own spin on the endorsement.
"A McCain endorsement will reinforce among conservative Republicans the impression that Charlie Crist is a moderate,'' said Rivera.
McCain was attacked in the bare-knuckles 2000 presidential primary in South Carolina by religious leader James Dobson for having had an adulterous relationship that ruined a previous marriage.
Isn't McCain sympathetic to al quaeda detainees at Gitmo? There has to be a financial angle to this. McCain wouldn't bother unless there were big bucks to be had.
"and I have nothing further to say..."
As in if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything?
Yep!
Oh man, what now? If the NRA endorses him that's a good thing (to me). However, a McCain endorsement makes me think YIKES!
susie
Thought so, but I figured it better to ask to be sure.
Uh oh, put me on your to reveal later ping list!
susie
TO JOIN TOM GALLAGHER for GOVERNOR PING LIST, CONTACT "davidosborne".
Yeah, I've exhausted all known words to describe many of the traitors, traitors sitting on the fence, and traitor wanna be's...
Well, I'm all for Jesus too, but even in his case, if McCain endorses, I have to take another look.
Twenty five days to go... Tom met 2,000 Floridians today and they liked him back.
GO, TOM!
We don't need a carpetbagger from Arizona interfering in Florida politics. Does McCain think he's wildly popular? The answer is he's wild but without the popular.
Crist has a lot of foreigners backing him. It may be okay with the FEC but to me it wreaks.
NonValueAdded's tag line is: Tom Gallagher is the anti-crist.
If McCain had any part of that, he's a globalist.
http://spp.gov (I think).
This evening, Tom Gallagher said "This isn't about who looks the prettiest on tv. This isn't American Idol... This is about the soul of the Republican Party."
2 of a kind
That's funny. I like that a lot! ;-)
Crist is like Howard Dean.
GO, GALLAGHER. Keep telling the truth so the folks can tell the difference between you and CRIST, the Deaniac in GOP clothing.
Did you reveal more yet? Just ckg.
Dear Friends,
Thank you for all of your hard work this week. It was another great week on the trail.
I would like to start this weeks Notes from the Trail by addressing our nations security. As you all are well aware, this week our nation received news that officials from the United Kingdom joined with US officials and stopped a terrorist plot against our nation and arrested more than 20 suspected terrorists. This event is a stark reminder that even though we are safer now than we were pre-9/11, we are still not completely safe. That is why we must continue to call on the federal government to secure our borders and enforce the law.
On Monday, in Fort Lauderdale, I had the opportunity to address an Insurance and Tax Forum. At the event, I explained my comprehensive strategies to provide insurance and tax relief for Floridas families. Less taxes and less regulation will grow our economy and today, thanks to Republican stewardship, Florida has one of the strongest economies in the nation. We must maintain our commitment to less taxes and less regulation and keep our economy expanding for the future.
On Wednesday, I was in the Villages where I spoke about the need for our next Governor to follow the path laid out by Jeb Bush, and stay committed to the values of the Republican Party.
Yesterday, I officially kicked off the final 25 days of this campaign. With less than a month to go before the primary election, its time to re-focus on choosing the candidate whos best qualified to represent the Republican Party.
I have great respect for my opponent, but over the course of the last year, it has become very clear that we have very different ideas about whats best for the Republican Party and for our state. Our differences are meaningful, and they are consequential.
For the next 25 days of this campaign, I intend to talk about four critical issues that separate us: taxes, immigration, insurance and family values. Over the next month I am going to convince the voters that Im the best person to lead our party. Im going to stick to the issues, and I urge my opponent to do the same. This race should not be about the candidates personal lives. It should not result in mud-slinging and our paid messages need to remain positive. Doing otherwise will only help the Democrats in November.
This race all comes down to this: my opponent wants to take the party in a new direction, away from the conservative course set by Jeb Bush. I want our party to remain conservative in every sense of the word. Thats a fight that I can and will win.
Thanks again for another great week. With only 25 days left of the campaign, things are really starting to heat up at the grassroots level. Many of you have been involved in President Bushs and Governor Jeb Bushs campaigns. As you know, campaigns are won at the grassroots level, and the campaign with the best team in place will win. This one is no different. This primary race is important because we need someone with the vision and integrity to lead our great state like Governor Bush has over the last 8 years.
Tom Gallagher
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