GOP recruiting Crist; "seems to be leaning towards running"

[justfollowingtheelections]

Crap.  If he runs, then the seat becomes safe GOP.

Yep.  But at least it will be a somewhat moderate Republican.

[justfollowingtheelections]

Crap.  If he runs, then the seat becomes safe GOP.

Yep.  But at least it will be a somewhat moderate Republican.

True, better him than any other Florida Republican; but still, I'd rather have another Democrat.

Me too and unfortunately Florida was one of the states I was sure the Democrats were going to win.  I just don't see it happening with Crist.  Even my democratic family voted for him.

[justfollowingtheelections]

Being a first term senator and running for president only works for someone like Obama, whose campaign was based more on intangibles than anything else.  Crist would have to build a record in the Senate before he runs for President.  Plus, running for president two years after your state elected you to represent them, would make him look like an opportunist.

[justfollowingtheelections]

Being a first term senator and running for president only works for someone like Obama, whose campaign was based more on intangibles than anything else.  Crist would have to build a record in the Senate before he runs for President.  Plus, running for president two years after your state elected you to represent them, would make him look like an opportunist.

Obama had only served as Senator on the national stage. Crist has already been Governor of Florida and executive positions are usually seen as good for running for president. The Senate seat would just be a nice inclusion to the resume.

In fact, 2016 would work less well than 2012 because that would be a reelection year for his seat.

But again, what's the point of running for the Senate seat, and then starting a campaign for president about three months later?  He would have absolutely nothing to show for his time in the senate.  I actually think it would be a net minus, as it would just make the senate run look like a transparent ploy to add another item onto his resume, before immediately moving on to the next job.

If he does run for senate, that's a clear sign to me that he's not going to run for president in 2012.

Exactly.  That's obviously what I meant that he can't run for president when he has just been elected to represent his state.

[justfollowingtheelections]

I guess it depends on Obama's performance.  If early in 2010, Obama looks unbeatable, Crist will enter the race for the Senate seat.  If Obama looks beatable, he will run for a second term and then make a run for President in 2012.

[justfollowingtheelections]

Meek better drop out if he doesn't want to lose his seat in the House.  Damn, I was hoping we could win Florida.  Will Crist be an Olympia Snowe-like Republican in the Senate or will he do whatever Mitch asks him to?

[justfollowingtheelections]

Wouldn't that kill his presidential aspirations though?  I do expect him to be a "moderate", but I'm not really sure what kind of a moderate.