Posted on 10/15/2010 12:08:19 AM PDT by jerry557
TALLAHASSEE — Logic would have dictated that Gov. Charlie Crist leaving the Republican Party to run as an independent would have split GOP voters. Instead, Crist is causing havoc among Democrats who are bickering about what needs to be done to stop conservative Republican Marco Rubio from getting to Washington.
Some Democrats are saying Crist should drop out because his political reincarnation is hurting the candidate they nominated, Rep. Kendrick Meek. Meanwhile, anybody-but-Rubio Democrats say Meek should give up because Crist has a better chance of winning.
It’s unlikely either candidate will concede, leaving each with the near impossible task of figuring out a way to beat Rubio. The three candidates meet Friday in Tampa for the third of six debates scheduled before the Nov. 2 election.
“It’s hard as long as half the Democrats think that Charlie Crist is the way to go,” said Steve Schale, a Democratic political strategist. “The majority of the Democratic establishment is behind Kendrick and really wishes that Crist had remained in his party. He is a Republican.”
Crist may have been a Republican until April, but he’s been acting a lot like a Democrat since entertaining and following through with the idea of running an independent campaign.
He’s now an advocate for gay rights, calls Rubio anti-women for his anti-abortion rights position and he’s reaching out to teacher and labor unions that traditionally back Democrats.
The more he tries to win Democratic votes from Meek, the stronger Republican support grows for Rubio, solidifying his lead in the polls as the independent and Democratic vote is split.
is this one safe seat that is not in jeopardy?...even if Crist drops out or Meeks drops out?....
The Republicans just pulled 4 million out to spend in other states.
Christ was a moderate Republican therefore to differentiate himself from Rubio he had no choice but to move to the Left.
His adopting of traditionally Democrat stances on divisive issues guarantees that he will steal more votes from the Democrat candidate than the Republican.
If he was going to move to the Right he would have needed to do that long before the primary.
Now his only hope is to retain most of the moderate Republicans that voted for him in the past, sweep up most of the Independents and undecided voters and steal a large portion of the Democrat vote as he possibly can.
But apparently he miscalculated on how many loyal Republican voters would remain loyal to him and how fed up the independents are with the Democrats.
As things are shaping up Christ will do more for the Republican Party now that he has deserted his party than he ever did as a Senator for his party.
Well even if Meek or Crist drops out, its too late to change the ballot. So if Meek drops and supports Crist, Meet will still remain on the ballot as the “DEM.”
I really dont see that happening anyway. If Meek does drop, the Democrats will lose the black votes and the whole thing could end up delivering a massive blow to Alex Sink in the governor’s race. And Crist won’t drop either. The guy’s ego wont allow him to do something like that.
So the Democrats are between a rock and a hard place on this one. Unless something massive happens in these few debates that are left, Rubio looks like he’s going to win this easily.
I think if someone could create a real Moderate Party they’d be able to put the Democrats down into 3rd place.
hehehe
I can tell you that today, while driving, I heard several Meek ads that were specifically painting Crist as a Bush Republican.
He’s not attacking Rubio; he’s attacking Crist. Is that an eyeopener or what?
Meek is black so he will take the black side of the Democrat vote with him to the grave unless orders come from Washington to pull out and endorse Crist.
Crist can’t beat Rubio unless the black vote is transferred to him.
The conservative vote, the Cuban vote and even moderates like Jeb Bush are in Rubio’s camp.
Marco is likely to break 50 percent.
The race you should be more worried about in the three-way category is Alaska where a last minute Dem pullout for Lisa Murkowski is possible.
A win for Miller there is a win for Sarah Palin and that’s something Obama and Company would like to stop.
I think we are safe here in Florida. Rubio is running positive ads, family and economy and so on.
The fag is hitting Rubio and the RATS are hitting the fag..LOL
Fun to watch
I live in Fort Lauderdale. Rubio will win and this seat will be Republican.
The Democrat pulling out would not help ‘M’, she would still be a write-in and most people aren’t going to bother writing in a name.
Well they really need to get moving if they are trying to do something, Early voting begins Monday and absentees will have gone out and lots of older people in Florida tend to do absentee. Its getting a bit late, my guess neither Meeks or Crist get out and its an easy Rubio win.
My folks do absentee and they’ve mailed theirs in already (as you said, lots of elderly homebound folks do absentee.)
Crist’s name is 9th on the ballot, evidently. Meek is a black Democrat. The SPTimes has been pushing for Meek to drop out, but that smacks of racism according to a lot of the comments in articles.
“Black candidate drops out so white candidate has a chance”...and the white candidate isn’t even a dem but a turncoat. That would hurt the Dems as much, if not more, than the divided ticket, IMO. Besides the logic is flawed. If they are dividing the liberal/independent vote (i.e. those who wouldn’t vote for Rubio)...then how come Charlie can win if Meek drops out but Meek can’t win if Charlie backs out?
Love this article! I have to think though if Crist dropped out it would not help Meek. Rubio would then win by something like 60-40. As it stands now he will win, but perhaps get less than 50%.
Crist must have no political smarts at all. If he hadn’t been such a sore loser maybe he could have waited and run against Nelson in 2012.
One more issue for Meek. He has to contend with the white Democratic base, many of whom won’t vote for a black guy. I’m talking your panhandle , rag for a gas cap, confederate flag, white rob on Saturday night type Democrat.
That’s an undeserved slam on Jeb Bush, who is pretty reliably conservative.
My definition of “conservative” does not inlcude the Bush family.
If it sounds personal, I apologize.
But my definition of RINO and moderate is very broad, wide and I believe accurate.
Its time for consevative change in this country, a move literally in a new and different direction.
Well, here’s a blueprint to take away seats from the rats. Simply recruit a green moonbat or a goosestepping Marxist to run. He’ll siphon votes away from the rat.
I don't think so/
Some of the posts with name calling, turn me off.
BTW Jeb has been my Governor, and I consider him the best Governor I have had in my 30 years living in Florida...he is a conservative enough for me.
Give me an example of a perfect conservative, in your mind? and explain why?
I would like to see a Bush/Cheney ticket (Jeb/Liz)
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