Charlie Crist Senate Run May Face Conservative Revolt

Politico:

The expected announcement Tuesday by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist that he's running for the Senate would seem to be a rare bit of good news for beleaguered Republicans.

But while Crist is a brand-name recruit with sky-high approval ratings and bipartisan appeal, his path to keeping the seat of retiring Sen. Mel Martinez in GOP hands has at least one significant roadblock: Sunshine State conservatives.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[sunbeltvoter]

For too long the Dems used to nominate the most fringe members and then lose to the Reps in the general election. While sane people are screaming "you morons, nominate a moderate and win, as you can not implement your agenda without winning the general election." Funny, now the Reps are into the mode of "only nominate the extremene wingnuts in the primary, so any moderate Dem can win the general election." Yea!

Palin/Piyush 2012!

[Nyla785]

Watch this , folks. We are going to be reminded and reminded of how 'popular' Crist is in Florida. Fact is, most parts of Florida haven't seen hide nor hair of him since his election campaign to be governor. And this in the worst mortgage crisis and recession the state has ever seen.
He's got a winning strategy though: Stay out of sight and look busy.

[TomInJax]

The crime rate is through the roof here in Jacksonville with Cops pulling the trigger more and more freely. Haven't heard him chime in on that. I pray Rubio wins the primary because then the Dem will win the general.

[whohortonehears2]

Jesus...

[zest]

Do we really know Crist?

[whohortonehears2]

coppertone commercials...

[TomInJax]

So that's what happened to the Coppertone baby!

[wisecrack]

What does it matter? You didn't know Obama, but voted for him anyway.

[zendem1]

The Bush organization is mobilizing to get it's people into place.

[whohortonehears2]

does crist co-exist with fish ?

[Gatorgal]

Ah geez, Fl Democrats, this guy has done nothing but mouth platitudes and screw the middle class Floridians. During the worst Legislative session in modern history, he was playing in Miami Beach most of the time. He has totally screwed up the insurance industry in Fl (I am not in this industry, just pay premiums.) He has never finished a term without announcing that he is running for another political position. He has no work history besides running for office.

In order to court the rich folks in South Fl who have allegience to this state, he is agreeing to cut the salaries of at least 25% of the state employees. These same employees did not receive any raises for at least 3 years which was the time of the Bushie "economic boom".

But please, send him to DC where he will be one of 100 and can less damage. He is a joke which many Floridians don't seem to get.

[Reality Czech]

As a Seminole Republican - I couldn't agree with you more.

[DMHendrix]

Marco Rubio has the far-righties down here foaming at the mouth. They cannot wait to start running ads against Crist. I am quite sure that Limbaugh will weigh in with his loud & obnoxious opinion in this race. It will be very interesting to watch this campaign. We have closed primaries, so the independents and democrats cannot effect this outcome.

The Florida State Legislature is awful, so hopefully there will be a lot of changes next year from top to bottom.

[Gatorgal]

We can influence the race but changing (temporaily to repug, unless we need to vote for a specific Democrat.) This race will be lol

[Skyhawk]

Crist is a moderate republican, so I'm thinking the GOP will dump him unless El Rushbo (who also resides in FL) says otherwise.

[jubei]

Charlie Crist is a good man and I got a gutsy feeling he's gonna pull a Specter move and switch over Democrat or Independent.

[Grunty1]

But he had better do it BEFORE losing a Rushpublican primary

[VictoriaP]

He would certainly switch over to hold national office. the rethugs will never accept his alleged sexual orientation.

[faretheewell]

I like that quote by one of his critics that Crist doesn't have either a republican of democratic philosophy. Maybe, god forbid, he is a pragmatist. Oh no! Can you imagine the horror of someone who focuses on problem solving for the common good. That is frightening beyond all belief. What good is this nation without mindless zealots to run it.

Gov. Crist, you might want to consider changing parties. Moderates and pragmatists are certainly in disfavor in today's GOP. I'm just waiting for Snow and Collins to jump ship.

[Andrea Castillo]

I'm assuming you're not from Florida. Regardless, you're completely correct about one thing: Crist is neither a Democrat nor a Republican, he is a waffler. A good-for-nothing slacker who agrees with the popular consensus of the time and then does little to nothing to follow it through.

So your sarcasm is largely misplaced or just ignorant.

[whohortonehears2]

syrup anyone...

[TomInJax]

As a fellow Floridian I agree. But reading your other posts I'm sure our agreements stop there. He backed down on off-shore drilling when he campaigned against it. At first he said of the gay marriage ammendment, "Live and let live," (I paraphrase) then he came out against it. I just wish he had had the guts to come out. No he got married. He talks out of both sides of his mouth. About the only good thing about him is he has your wing of the party against him.

[armadillo]

For a visual of the new Republican Party watch the National Geographic channel and watch "Lemmings to the Sea."

Mass suicuide for the sake of unity.

[ObamAtomic]

There you go,a Republican revolt,how he's expecting to win?

[zendem1]

He's hoping to pull enough democrats and independents while the real hard-core nutballs stay home.

[greatlardini]

The only thing worse than having Jeb Bush in the Senate would be a puppet of his. Sounds like Rubio would fill that bill.

[TomInJax]

If Crist wins the primary then the Republicans keep the seat. If Rubio knocks him off, then I would imagine the Democrat, most likely Rep Kendrick Meek, will win. Rubio and the RNC will run such a smear campaign against Crist that if Rubio gets the party's nomination, the independents and moderate Crist supporters will be so angry and disenfranchised, that they will flock to the Democrat.

[DMHendrix]

I agree.

[Reality Czech]

Kendrick Meek = 0 chance. Dems would be wise to back Dan Gelber. Less name recognition, but light years brighter than Meek

[SeanGardner]

That's too bad. Crist seems like a good man.