Posted on 09/06/2006 6:52:14 PM PDT by summer
NEWS ANALYSIS
Democrats divided, Republicans united
The contest to replace Gov. Jeb Bush features a Republican who wants to preserve his legacy and a Democrat who wants to tear it down.
Charlie Crist coasted to victory. Jim Davis stumbled into it.
Crist, the Republican, and Davis, the Democrat, will meet each other in the Nov. 7 general election, but they begin the race to be Florida's next governor in vastly different shape.
Davis, a congressman who blasts the way business is done in Florida's capital, arrives at the general-election race battered and broke, still shaken by the pounding he took from rival Rod Smith, the Alachua state senator who blasted him for opposing state compensation for two black men who were wrongfully convicted four decades ago. Davis' first tasks: repair the wounds of his divided party and make peace with crucial black voters...
Crist enters the contest with more money in his pocket and a sound-bite friendly message perfected by his mentor, former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack. Crist offers optimism and hope, promising to continue the programs of popular Gov. Jeb Bush while portraying himself as a populist leader.
''We know that when government stays within its proper bounds, the opportunities to our citizens truly become boundless,'' Crist told a jubilant crowd of 700 supporters in St. Petersburg Tuesday night.
``Starting tonight, people will have a choice: Will Florida continue to prosper? Will Florida continue to be a national leader in education reform, continue to offer hope and promise to our people, or will we go back to the days that have failed us in the past?''
The matchup between Crist and Davis has been shaping up for months as both front-runners braced for the general election with a mainstream message aimed past their primary opponents and to Florida's key swing voters -- those with no party affiliation.
Those voters, and the party loyalists who picked the lineup for the general election, will set the direction for the next era in Florida politics -- life after Jeb...
As both campaigns gear up for the eight-week battle ahead, several factors are likely to influence the outcome:
• [Jeb] Bush: The governor stayed out of the primary but has promised to campaign vigorously for the Republican nominee.
Both Crist and Gallagher portrayed themselves as the keeper of his legacy, promising to continue his programs. Polls show that kind of promise plays well: A Miami Herald poll by Zogby International shows that while 83 percent of Republican voters believe Bush's policies should be continued, as many as 25 percent of Democrats also agree...
Both candidates have until noon Sept. 12 to pick a running mate, and both have remained mum on their prospects. Crist's short list is rumored to include House Speaker Allan Bense and Jacksonville state Rep. Jennifer Carroll, a former Navy lieutenant and African American.
I didn't attack you.
Vice-President Garner said, "the Vice Presidency is not worth a bucket of spit"...not s---!
Forgive my ignorance, but I can discern most abbreviations or acronymns mean -- but what the hell does that one mean?
By the way, AGECTIBCMZ
You attacked summer.
You are determined to disrupt these threads, aren't you?
You're not a Republican so don't presume to speak for them.
I was really surprised Jennifer lost twice to Corrine Brown for the 3rd District in the US House. I hope the voters statewide don't repeat that mistake. Too bad we couldn't put her at the top of the ticket but I guess it is too late for that :) I'm surprised though ... I thought Jeb was grooming Toni Jennings for the top spot but now she's out completely, won't even repeat as Lt. Gov?
Here are some hints .. rolling floor laughing off
Yes....From what I recall...she spoke as a conservative.
She also appeared in a video to educate Blacks about their original roots in the Republican Party.
I was most impressed by her and felt she would be a 'rising star' in the FL GOP.
No, in fact he didn't say "spit" but his true word was "piss" but the PC press has mmisreported the fact for 60+ years -- it was a euphemistic attempt to be able to report on a great Texas expression without offending the public.
It's hard for us to believe in this age of vulgarity but in those days such a word was considered too offensive to be repeated on the airwaves.
Collins' bio is impressive. Thanks much for providing the info!
Have a nice night.
I had a chance to meet her when she first ran for office.
Jennifer was a very nice lady. Her language was still slightly military...She had an excellent speaking voice and had the room full of "old" Federated Women's Republican Club members enthralled. They coughed up money better than ever before!
I hope she is chosen to run.
Either the Tampa Tribune or St. Pete Times showed on a table that Crist was going to start all kinds of entitlement programs for teachers. If he is unaware of how the school systems in Florida work, he was making promises that he knew he couldn't keep. Maybe you should have been paying attention before he won.
And, for teachers and teachers' aides, their salary increases and new positions alone will cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars. You haven't read the St. Pete Times or Tampa Tribune lately?
I talked to my vet this morning, but I'm not trying to claim to know what vets are thinking.
They are trying to decide between Davis or Linn.
Well, I imagine the "kind" of Republicans you talk to just might be trying to disrupt this election.
Yes, I'm an indy now
Then stop speaking for Republicans.
but I'm a real conservative.
Thank goodness that your "kind" of "real conservative" doesn't have much pull in the party.
I don't kill disabled people.
What the hell does that have to do with anything?
You're still repeating the same old line. Gallagher has been proven to have had four different positions on four important issues in his career and has been exposed as a fraud by EVERY major newspaper (conservative and liberal) in FL.
I'm waiting for your concession speech and/or your endorsement of Nelson. Or do you intend to sit this one out?
There are investigations going on right now. Florida is safe for teachers but not so much for disabled people.
Investigating you?
That is very comforting to know. I can relate.
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