Posted on 06/29/2006 11:55:28 AM PDT by new yorker 77
Republican Attorney General Charlie Crist has opened a double digit lead in the race to succeed Governor Jeb Bush, leading Democratic Congressman Jim Davis 49% to 35% in our latest survey. In May, Crist led Davis 44% to 39%.
Both men are front-runners in their primary contests, which will be decided on September 5.
Crist recently picked up an endorsement from Republican Senator Mel Martinez, the first Cuban-American elected to the U.S. Senate. The Crist campaign hopes will help him pick up primary votes among Hispanics.
Republican Tom Gallagher also leads Davis, although by the narrower margin of 43% to 39%. Democrat Rod Smith, for his part, trails Gallagher by eight points, Crist by ten points.
The race for Governor remains far more competitive than the Senate campaign. Senator Bill Nelson continues to dominate Republican Katherine Harris in that match-up.
Crist is viewed favorably by 62%, Gallagher by 56%, Davis by 44%, Smith by 41%.
Crist is the best-known of the candidates, with only 13% telling us they're "not sure" what to think of him. Eighteen percent (18%) are "not sure" of Gallagher. For the Democrats, the numbers are 29% for Davis, 28% for Smith.
By a narrow margin, Florida prefers to see a Democrat rather than a Republican President elected in 2008, at least when no names are mentioned. But, following a trend we've seen in other states, they tend to view specific Republicans more favorably than Democrats when considering a small group of likely presidential candidates.
Of the four—Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Al Gore—former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani is most popular among Florida voters, with 70% viewing him favorably, 42% "very" favorably.
He's going to enjoy private life for a while.
We all wish he had decided to run for Senator. He would have been elected in a landslide. He has been an outstanding Governor.
help us all if Crist wins. he is a chameleon and not a conservative.
Crist is part of the Fla machine that begins in Pinellas County and is a pall on our state.
I support the anti-crist.
I'm a true freeper and nobody's called me to see if I'm voting for Katherine Harris. I won't vote for late arrivals.
Good points. Crist would be a disaster for Florida.
I wish someone would bust Crist out before the election. There are more books coming out and I hope Crist is in at least one of them. How can people vote for someone who called judges who murdered a disabled person heroes? Killing disabled people is the worst kind of judicial activism I can think of. To Crist, these judges were heroic. Again, instead of keeping his trap shut, Crist revealed that he's still a LAWYER, a judge loving lawyer much like Janet Reno is.
Great observation.
Unfortunatley, Gallagher himself seems to have some problems. The local papers have spared no effort in ensuring that everyone knows about his divorce and pot use twenty-odd years ago, but there's also some carping about some liberal "Cristian Coalition" or somesuch organization that he belongs to, which makes devout Roman Catholics recoil.
Can you provide any data? Thanks!
WHY TOM GALLAGHER?
Values
A husband and a father, Tom Gallagher is a lifelong Republican and a family man who is committed to defending the core values of our party and the mainstream values of Florida’s families.
Tom Gallagher is the only candidate for Governor who has served as a Cabinet Member, alongside Jeb Bush, for all eight years of the Bush Administration and who can be trusted to expand Jeb Bush’s legacy.
Tom Gallagher is the only candidate for Governor with a 100% pro-life voting record.
Tom Gallagher is the only candidate for Governor who was consistent in his support of a constitutional amendment defending traditional marriage.
Tom Gallagher is the only candidate for Governor who has not accepted significant sums of money from the Gambling Industry or liberal Trial Lawyers.
Leadership: Tom Gallagher is the only candidate for Governor who has been tested.
As Insurance Commissioner in the 1990’s, Gallagher was credited for coming to the rescue of South Floridians in the wake of Hurricane Andrew. The reforms he spearheaded then were cited as models for the nation in the wake of Florida’s recent storm seasons.
As Education Commissioner from 1999-2001 Gallagher implemented Governor Bush’s A+ Plan for Education which has been responsible for incredible gains in student learning. As Florida’s Treasurer and First Chief Financial Officer from 2001-present Gallagher has served as a trusted fiscal steward of Floridians’ tax dollars, streamlining Florida’s government, advocating policies to protect Florida’s consumers, and empowering small-businessmen and women to drive Florida’s economic engine.
Vision: Tom Gallagher is the only candidate for Governor who is communicating a clear and unambiguous vision for the Future of Florida based on conservative principles. Tom Gallagher is the only candidate for Governor to announce comprehensive policies to expand Florida’s economy, Safeguard Florida’s communities, and Defend Mainstream Florida Values.
In addition, Tom Gallagher will announce policies to improve educational opportunities for our children and improve the availability and affordability of quality healthcare for our seniors.
CRIST IS WITH THE DEMOCRATS ON CLASS SIZE AMENDMENT. Crist's sisters are school principals. He's always with one of his sisters and I spose they are guiding him on how to vote on education.
There are people who went to St. Pete High where Crist went. They aren't going to vote for him. I know people who are friends of Judge Greer and they aren't going to vote for Crist because they don't think he could handle a rough hurricane season. It's rare for someone in the Pinellas GOP to go against the hometown boy but they are breaking w/HQs.
There are 60% undecided voters, not 20 something per cent that the Miami Herald reported.
Crist is from Pinellas and Gallagher is from South Florida, Jeb country.
I voted for Crist for Fla AG and how does he get a pass on the corruption in the Dept. of Corrections? Crosby and Clark are terminated from the DOC and are being indicted. Jeb is handling that so Crist doesn't have to articulate a position on the corruption which it was widely reported is at all levels of the Dept. of Corrections. If Crist is the chief law enforcement officer of Florida, why is there so much corruption and the feds have to step in and enforce the law?
How's that? Crist has done a poor job of enforcing Florida's laws and that is what he was charged to do. He's always there after something bad happens and the feds and Jeb step in to cover for him. If a candidate is from Pinellas County, they are suspect right there. Pinellas has a machine and this machine does what it wants -forget about constituents. Crist is part of the Pinellas machine which rivals the Daley machine in Chicago. Seriesly. We found out the hard way.
Gallagher fixes things. Crist avoids them. Lucky for Crist, Jeb covers for him all the time. Jeb steps in frequently regarding law enforcement matters when Crist should be handling them from the get go.
Jeb hasn't chosen one or the other but Tom Gallagher is a true conservative and Crist is a RINO with no plans except that he makes promises to special interests. He thinks teachers should make $100K per year. IMO, that would require a state income tax to accomplish. (his sister's suggestion?) This last paragraph is probably the one that you should spread around.
PS: Charlie wasn't a career lawyer for that long but he's their man.
Tom Gallagher is the ONLY candidate for governor who is against a pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.
I call Charlie Brand X. He would be a one termer after he ruined everything.
Instead of running 5 or six commercials already like Crist did, I predict Tom Gallagher is going to have a real hum dinger of a commercial and Gallagher will trounce Crist when it gets down to issues in a debate format. Their forum in Naples was cancelled, I think due to Alberto.
Many thanks!
Joe,
glad to see you supporting Harris and Gallagher.
Would you (and anyone else) be interested in attending a rally for her at the end of the month? We're hoping to have it at the Elks club in Englewood.
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