Posted on 11/06/2006 11:35:50 AM PST by Diddle E. Squat
PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The White House did not hide its irritation Monday at Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist for ducking President George W. Bush at a campaign rally in the Republican friendly Panhandle.
Crist said he considered the Pensacola area so firmly in his camp that it made more sense to campaign elsewhere in the state as the race to replace outgoing Gov. Jeb Bush tightened.
On a tarmac in Texas where the president boarded Air Force One for the trip east, Bush political strategist Karl Rove mockingly questioned what kind of alternate rally Crist could put together that would rival the expected 10,000-person crowd that Bush was expected to draw at the Pensacola Civic Center.
The White House already had distributed schedules saying Crist would introduce Bush at the rally.
Crist's opponent, Democratic Rep. Jim Davis, seized on the news.
"Now that the president is so unpopular, Charlie refuses to stand side by side with him," Davis said. "It says when the going gets tough, Charlie won't stand up."
Crist's chief of staff, George LeMieux, said the candidate already has strong support in the heavily Republican Pensacola area and thought his time would be better spent campaigning elsewhere. LeMieux said the decision had nothing to do with the president's job approval ratings.
Jeb Bush will attend the Pensacola event in Crist's place. Rep. Katherine Harris, who is mounting a lukewarm challenge to Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, will also be with the president. Before the September primary, Republican leaders failed to support Harris.
Bush is using the last day of his 10-state campaign swing to flush out GOP and swing voters needed to keep Republicans sitting in the governor's offices of Arkansas and Texas as well.
It is his fifth consecutive day of campaigning, traveling to states where his advisers believe he can best help fend off the Democratic threat to take over Congress and end up with a majority of governorships for the first time in 12 years.
After Florida, Bush is heading to Arkansas where the race for governor pits Democratic Attorney General Mike Beebe against Republican Asa Hutchinson, a former congressman and federal Homeland Security official.
The Beebe-Hutchinson faceoff for the open governership already is the most expensive gubernatorial campaign in state history. Overall, Beebe, who is leading in the polls, has raised $6.3 million and spent $5.7 million in his bid for governor. Hutchinson, a former congressman, has raised nearly $3.3 million and spent about $3.1 million.
Before returning to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Bush is speaking at a rally in Dallas for Gov. Rick Perry, who is leading the polls in his re-election bid.
On Election Day, Bush plans to vote in Crawford and then fly back to Washington to wait for ballot returns.
The media are such a$$holes.
I don't see anything in his Bio about his current family. My parents and a brother live in FL. and have told me his "personal" relationships aren't spoken about. If this guys in the closet or out he wouldn't get my vote, no matter who appeared w/ him @ a fundraiser/rally.
I'm a conservative Florida resident. It has been my intention to vote for every republican on the ballot except one. When I heard Crist could not bring himself to attend the meeting with President Bush, I received confirmation that my decision to leave the governorship blank was the right one.
Now I sincerely ask the true believing republicans, why should I vote for that slimy liberal (RINO) Crist. I need a really good reason to change my mind or no one will get my vote for governor.
"Then Crist shouldn't have agreed to do it at all, rather than agreeing then backing out."
I agree. He will be a weasel if and when elected too.
think i'll vote for davis. yes.
considering the source. However imo Crist has run a poor campaign considering the strong state of FL GOP. Aren't the polls showing a tight race. It should be a cake walk for him considering the Jeb's approval ratings.
This will be my second vote for a dem governor. I didn't really like christ that much in the first place. something to be said for not voting early.
Crist's chief of staff, George LeMieux, said the candidate already has strong support in the heavily Republican Pensacola area and thought his time would be better spent campaigning elsewhere. LeMieux said the decision had nothing to do with the president's job approval ratings.
IF HE WON'T STAND WITH MY PRESIDENT I WON'T VOTE FOR HIM! yeah, the panhandle "support" my butt, so why should W waste his time showing up? i am ticked.
I love Christ! I just don't like Crist at all.
But as much as I don't like him, there is no way I will ever vote for a socialist, I mean communist, excuse me I really mean, dhimocrat.
You got that right! I don't know why but I have a sense about Crist, I think there's a skeleton or two in his closet that will come out while in office. Don't know why I have this feeling about him but it is really strong. I'm going to vote for him in the hope that he won't blow things as badly as I know Davis would, but whenever I see his face I get the heebee Jeebee's and a cold chill.
If the Florida Legislature remains in the Republican/Conservative camp, is there really a good reason to vote for someone like Crist?
I know what you mean. I have the same feeling.
I really can't believe what a poor choice the GOP gave us this year. You'd think that with a population of 18 million people, they'd be able to field a candidate I feel good about voting for.
There was a news report this morning that he has gay relationships but I don't think it will have any traction since it is obviously a smarmy dem ploy...even if it is true.
I think I'll pass on voting for Crist. He hasn't inspired much confidence and today he didn't do himself any favors.
Fortunately, here in Florida, Jeb Bush has decimated the democratic party. There is no way the democrats will be able to take over the legislature anytime soon.
As I said, I have no reason to vote for that slimy Crist and so far no die hard republican has even suggested that I do so.
LOL...I was on the Sunday Talk show thread yesterday...and when I saw that idiot TO do that "trick" in the endzone, after the touchdown..
I asked Mo1, who is in Pennsylvania, if she wants TO back for the Eagles...
She said NO...we have to keep him. GAG ME!!
I posted to some Florida freepers a while ago...that since Crist is not a national candidate...I hope he loses for what he did.
Of course the MSM are saying what an "embarrassment" this is for the White House..and shows how very unpopular Pres. Bush is....ugh
I dont like Davis but I am so mad at this snub(if its true) that crist is lucky our family voted early spineless@#$%$#@
Will likely be the leading story on the network news tonight. Sheesh.
Yeah, I'm with you. I'm extremely disappointed at the conservative choices we have in FL this cycle. Crist is so clearly a RINO besides the fact that he is just plain creepy, like John Mark Karr or Michael Jackson creepy. To be fair though Jeb's shoes would be hard to fill for anyone, he set the bar very high and we were totally blessed to have him in office during the 2 hurricane years. I'm really disappointed in our senate choices as well. Harris' campaign was killed right off the bat by a lack of GOP support, which is really stupid since the state machine didn't have anyone better to put up in her place. I don't trust her very much either, she speaks out of both sides of her mouth.
I sure hope things are better in '08
Would urge Republicans to refuse to vote for Crist.
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