McCain's Florida Hopes Ride On Crist

Billed as a relaxed gathering of pals amid Arizona's scenic red hills, the Memorial Day weekend barbecue at John McCain's ranch was a high-pressure affair for one of its most important guests: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist.

Crist had just become a nationally broadcast name as one of a handful of possible McCain running mates gathered in Sedona. And he didn't get on the short list just because McCain is fond of him.

McCain needs Crist because McCain needs Florida.

Republicans say they can't win the White House in November without Florida's 27 Electoral College votes -- exactly 10 percent of the total needed for victory. And no Florida Republican can help like Crist, who already helped McCain seal the party nomination in the Sunshine State's winter primary.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Wiredwilly]

Florida should be Voted OUT of the Union. I grew up there in the 1950's , moved away and moved back in the 1990's. l found it had become Havana Cuba in 1945, complete with Casinos, rigged elections, strip joints, organized crime, phony laws designed to protect extortionist Insurance Companies , and abusive, corrupt macho police . Basically Florida is run by the Republican legalized crime family. The Miami News had at least a modicum of Free, intelligent thought, but they were run out in the 1980's, leaving the Miami Herald, the propaganda voice of the Bush cartel, as the monopoly voice of South Florida to con the Cubans into thinking Republicans were trying to help them, when in fact all the Republicans cared about was getting rid of Castro because they saw him as a threat to organized crime and Bush's Oil operations in Haiti. In 2000 I left Florida and moved back to the United States . Let Florida join Saudi Arabia. Mohammed Atta lived in FLORIDA. I wonder why. Sunny sky ? Bullsh*t. Florida is all about the Bush interest in drilling for Oil in the Caribbean, specifically in Haiti, where" Poppy" Bush and Lee Harvey Oswald's best friend George deMohrenschildt were during the Kennedy assassination discussing business. I wonder what business beside Oil they were discussing. Florida doesn't deserve to be part of the U.S. Who cares what Charlie Crist or John McCain do in Florida.

[kellygrrrl]

well, after Crist managed to shove his greasy paws into the FLA Dem Primary clearly he deserves an extra helping of Pork Pie from McLame

[Felicty]

Yes, by all means, please!

I want to see all those hustlers he's hired over the years to step forward; hopefully with photographs!

[truthskr]

Isn't this guy a closet case, and won't that in one way or another come out during the GE? That won't make the base, who McCain is so desperately trying to woo, too happy. Hopefully they'll feel displaced enough by their Party that they'll just stay home on election day.

[GingerB]

Yes and yes. Look for blogactive.com to out him if chosen as McCain's VP.

[ebethgay]

I think he'll go with Jindal or Huckabee. I could care less if the VP is rumored to be gay or is a known Mormon, but right-wing Republicans will have a fit if he selects Crist or Romney. If he wants to shore up his base, he'll go with Huckabee. If he wants to appeal to centrists, he'll go with Jindal.

[donballz]

Who needs Crist? Just steal Florida! I thought that was the long-standing repub strategy? Who needs democracy when you have voting machines?

[Marrigan]

Go ahead, McCain, pick Crist. Two white-haired white guys. Winning ticket. Go for it. You two can have a beer together on Jan. 20, 2009 while Pres. Obama is being sworn in.

[Melissa]

With or without Crist McCain will win Florida.

[gevan]

Crist is one. They make a lovely couple. But Kurt S. Browning as Secretary of State should have an eye kept on. Remember Katherine Harris's role.

[NoahVail]

Is Katherine Harris no longer available?

[unitron]

"McCain's Hopes For Florida Win Ride On Crist"

Yeah, well either him or Diebold.

[gypsy508]

If McCain can't win Florida on his own, he's really in trouble. Obama is already weak there and the state went Republican in 2004. He is also perceived as a moderate there which will help him with the old folks. McCain's best bet if going by geography would be Romney. It could deliver Michigan and New Hampshire, two swing states Obama is not considered strong in and which are far more likely to swing blue.

[Ramirez]

Good post. Obama has no realistic chance in FL anyway, and if McCain held Ohio and took Michigan the race is over.

[ropadopa]

Old Charlie ever ambitious but without substance. In Florida where everyone who wants a tan gets one, he is just ole ordinary Charlie. A welcome bit of fresh air after the ideological storming by Jeb for which we have nothing to show. He is okay because he is not hurting anyone with is lack of direction, failure to articulate any substantive policy, wishy washy approach to the problems of high property taxes, property insurance, failing schools, diminishing health care for children and so on and so forth. Please John take him, take him soon.

[sanywhere]

i keep hearing he is popular here in florida. i really think people are not really interested in him. but, i don't really hang out with republicans. one thing is true, this is a more con. state, unfortunately.

[hmmmmmer]

Isn't Crist one of the reasons that Florida's primary was moved to when it was? Isn't there some kind of dirt about a bachelor in his position at his age? Surely this guy isn't an angel.

[CindyKay]

He's no angel , He is a Smooth Talking Con Man.

He is indeed the one who Screwed Up Our Primary , He's no different than Jebby .

[SouthFloridaDem]

Yes, there was dirt. No one would touch it except this paper, and the first article talks about that.


http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2006-10-19/news/charlie-crist-is-not-gay/

http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2006-11-02/news/crist-denies-trysts-ii/

http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2006-10-26/news/crist-denies-trysts/

[phoebusapollo]

we've been hearing the same rumours. apparently around palm beach his sexuality is an open secret- hopefully another case of GOP hypocrisy sends him into a political death spiral.

[xmw]

yes, crist was the one that signed off on fl not being counted. not he's crying foul. typical hypocrites.

[marijam]

Oh, you mean its up to him to steal the votes, the way the former governor did for Bush?

[srtjsrtj]

Yes before Bush's brother Jeb gave him Florida even after everything but FOX NEWS had called Florida for Gore. Now he's looking for Crist to give him, oh steal Florida. Fortunately the DEMS will not depend on FL to win, that's why we are seeing a whole new approach to this election. About time.