I'm not overly excited about it either, but I will definitely be voting for Crist over Gallagher. I posted this on another thread, but I don't know if anyone saw it, because no one responded. Maybe another Gallagher supporter can assuage my doubts about his character. If all this is true, then he's a scumbag and shouldn't be running.
1. The ethics charges which are currently pending against him, with the punishment (censure/fine/impeachment) likely to be given prior to the election.
2. Supporting the sales tax on services (an additional 6% added to all services performed in the state).
3. Supporting the additional 1 cent sales tax for prisons, raising the sales tax to 7% statewide.
4. Supporting AWB, bullet registration, and a ban on gun ownership if you're under 21.
5. Flip flopping (just like Kerry) on abortion, parental consent, vouchers, and tort reform.
6. Repeated (and well documented) cheating on his wife.
7. Admitted drug use while he was a state legislator.
8. Day trading stocks while on public time. And trading stocks of companies that were doing business with the state, at a time he was VOTING on the actual business they had with the state.
9. Using state employees to manage his real estate properties.
10. He's down over 20 points in the polls and was HUGELY outraised by Crist and BOTH Democrats during last reporting period. For whatever reason, his funds have dried up. In fact he only raised $225 in new money last week. That's pathetic!
11. Running negative attack ads (the first Republican to do so) against Jeb Bush in his prior run for Governor. Jeb responded by saying "Gallagher makes Lawton Chiles look conservative" with all of his proposed tax increases.
Are we expected to overlook all of these liberal positions and character flaws and chalk them up to past mistakes?
New poll out today shows Crist with a 24 point lead over Gallagher. He's already lost his #1 strategist and fundraiser, and he IS NOT making any grounds in the polls. He should drop out.
As long as Gallagher can wave Schiavo's bloody shirt, I suppose so.
People, wake up. Crist is going to sell us out if he gets a chance. I'm not making this stuff up.
Throughout his career Crist has been a fighter for innovative, positive change. As a state senator, Crist fought for and passed the STOP (Stop Turning Out Prisoners) legislation that required prisoners to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences.
He also co-sponsored legislation to implement the charter schools bill, which gives parents the freedom to pick the best schools for their children.
As commissioner of education, Crist supported early reading programs to better prepare children to read at grade level when they enter school.
As attorney general, Crist helped draft, and worked to pass, tougher price gouging and looting laws; supported stronger penalties for identity thieves; and spearheaded landmark legislation requiring prescription drugs to be tracked from the manufacturer to the pharmacy to ensure drug safety.
He also created an innovative program to aid victims of domestic violence, and was named the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence's 2005 Advocate of the Year.
He has vowed that as governor, he will promote business in Florida and appoint conservative, not activist, judges to the courts. Despite Gallagher's claims to the contrary, Crist is solidly pro-life and supports a constitutional amendment to define marriage as being between a man and a woman.
Significantly, polls have consistently showed that Crist is the stronger GOP candidate, and he would fare better against either of his Democratic rivals, Rep. Jim Davis and state Sen. Rod Smith, in the general election to replace outgoing Gov. Jeb Bush.
One recent poll revealed that in a head-to-head match-up, Crist outpolled Davis 48 percent to 32 percent, compared to Gallagher's margin of 41 percent to 38 percent. Against Smith, Crist won by 18 percentage points; Gallagher led by only 10.
Crist has also won an impressive list of endorsements. Recently Sen. John McCain expressed his support for Crist, as did the National Rifle Association, whose past President Marion Hammer said "no one has been stronger" than Crist in support of Second Amendment, self-defense, and anti-crime issues.
Other endorsements have come from Sen. Mel Martinez, Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and Jeff Miller, the Police Benevolent Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Florida Association of State Troopers, the Cuban American Veterans Association, and the Florida Nurses Association, as well as 46 members of the Florida Legislature and 28 county sheriffs.
Gov. Jeb Bush promised to remain neutral in the race and has not endorsed a candidate. But NewsMax believes Charlie Crist is the best candidate to continue Gov. Bush's legacy in Tallahassee and keep Florida among the most prosperous states in the Union.