Florida

[??????????]

Crist is a default moderate Democrat. As for the governors mansion, I like both Sink and McCollum.

[Keystone Phil]

As for the governors mansion, I like both Sink and McCollum.

McCollum! 

Too bad he's still a weak candidate. I wonder if Rubio will get out of the Senate race to run for Governor. They might make him a deal and if the guy is as ambitious as they say, you don't just pass up having a great shot at being Governor of one of the largest states (which happens to be a swing state).

[Lunar]

http://twitter.com/marcorubio/

Elections are best when they are about clear choices. Let the debate begin.

Disappointed GOP senate comm endorses Crist on day 1. Remember that reform must always come from the outside.Status quo won't change itself.

[Lunar]

Crist underperformed Jeb significantly among Hispanics.  Bet this continues.

[Lunar]

remember when Markos suggested that image above for Rubio's campaign?

Rubio must be readying the DailyKos!

here is his campaign's cheesy reaction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROErHRmTrYw&eurl

[Lunar]

remember too that Jeb Bush is Rubio's political mentor.

Such an endorsement would be massive

[Lunar]

 his website designer needs a good beating:
http://www.charliecrist.com/

[Zarn]

You and your campaign sites obsession... Well, at least you are willing to accept who you truly are.

[Lunar]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0509/Martinez_Rubio_Senate_bid_doomed.html

No surprise here, Martinez got a critical endorsement from Crist way back when.

Could help Crist in the primary if Martinez filmed a Spanish language ad for him.

[Mr. Morden]

http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/051209_fpg-02.txt

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Lief 🗽]

remember when Markos suggested that image above for Rubio's campaign?

Rubio must be readying the DailyKos!

here is his campaign's cheesy reaction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROErHRmTrYw&eurl

What a subtly homophobic ad. I love it. 

[Ronnie]

I don't get that feeling at all.  In fact, I didn't even think about that while I was watching it.

Probably just paranoia on your part.

his website designer needs a good beating:
http://www.charliecrist.com/

Rather, his website designer needs to step out of  2004.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I find it amusing that they practically ran Arlen Specter out of the Republican Party because of his support of the stimulus, so they're turning to a Governor to run for the Senate who.. supported the Stimulus..

Consistency!

[Lunar]

I find it amusing that they practically ran Arlen Specter out of the Republican Party because of his support of the stimulus, so they're turning to a Governor to run for the Senate who.. supported the Stimulus..

Consistency!

Are you talking about the Cornyn endorsement?  Because he endorsed Specter too.

And the FL state party is ran by someone handpicked by Crist.

[Frodo]

I find it amusing that they practically ran Arlen Specter out of the Republican Party because of his support of the stimulus, so they're turning to a Governor to run for the Senate who.. supported the Stimulus..

Consistency!

Shows how much of the effort to kick him out was based on personal enmity... 

[Ronnie]

I find it amusing that they practically ran Arlen Specter out of the Republican Party because of his support of the stimulus, so they're turning to a Governor to run for the Senate who.. supported the Stimulus..

Consistency!

Yet someone who attacks the Republicans for not moving to the center also attacks them for accepting a more-or-less centrist person as a candidate...

Consistency!

[Marokai Backbeat]

I find it amusing that they practically ran Arlen Specter out of the Republican Party because of his support of the stimulus, so they're turning to a Governor to run for the Senate who.. supported the Stimulus..

Consistency!

Yet someone who attacks the Republicans for not moving to the center also attacks them for accepting a more-or-less centrist person as a candidate...

Consistency!

Well aren't you clever.

I just found it amusing that conservatives got all hot and bothered enough over the Stimulus to spark the Toomey challenge in the primary to boot Arlen Specter from office, but the Stimulus-supporting Governor of Florida is probably sailing to a Senate seat. (He's pretty much a lock in the election.)

The Republican Party can do whatever it likes, but if it makes a big deal over the bill and assails anyone and everyone involved in the support of the Stimulus in the Senate and for weeks on end claims they have no need to moderate.. turn to a perceived moderate, Stimulus supporting Republican, it doesn't make sense to me.

[Lunar]

http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/05/the_cost_of_backing_crist.php

Something tells me a lot of the conservative infrastructure isn't going to get all hot and bothered for Crist

[Lunar]

CfG holding off on Rubio...for now

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/05/club-warns-charlie.html

[Lunar]

You know what?  I think it was a mistake for the national leadership to get behind this Crist move.  It throws the FL Gov and AG seats into doubt and thrusts an ideological war upon the GOP that wasn't necessarily needed.  Furthermore, isn't the national party trying to attract more young, articulate, passionate minorities that can be the leaders of tomorrow, or overtanned white-haired dudes that are never going to be there when you need them on basic partisan issues? [remember Crist extending voting booth hours and giving ex-felons the right to vote?  sure, it's principled, but it's a partisan roll call type of vote.  And Crist can't really get into a conversation about his opposition to abortion or gay marriage for more than two or three minutes!  He needs to keep it shallow]

Sure, it's "reaching out" in an ideological sense, but that doesn't matter in the long run.  I understand why Cornyn did it -- he's trying to get as many indebted Republicans to him as possible during his tenure in charge of the NRSC so he can climb up the ranks.  Hell, why do you think Schumer, who was in charge of the DSCC during the last two peak years, is probably next in line to be majority leader? 

I have to wonder if the national party isn't a little paranoid about shedding its "big tent" image and wants to prove to political reporters, that hey, they're still cool with moderates outside of Maine.

Hmm... if Crist was going to get in no matter what, I see the reasoning behind trying to shove Rubio out.  But if Crist was waffling, as he looked to be doing, they should have threatened to endorse Rubio [a bluff] just to take their chance at finding, well, their own Barack Obama.  I change my mind on this race that I agree with Phil that it's better to get a coinflip with Rubio than a 80%-90% chance with Crist. 

Let's face it, if the GOP can't find spokesmen to pimp sell their ideology to Hispanics, they're going to be permanently over as a national party in the long run.  That doesn't mean the spokesmen have to be Hispanic, but it sure as hell doesn't hurt.



I respect Crist a fair bit.  He doesn't seem to be a flip-flopper [except getting married to raise your veep prospects] but rather someone who is more or less bipartisan, but extremely ambitious 

[Holmes]

... most expensive 2010 race yes?

[Lunar]

... most expensive 2010 race yes?

Sure, but Crist doesn't make it cheaper.

[Lunar]

http://www.fladems.com/page/content/cutandrun-index

[Lunar]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article1001498.ece

3  am tweets about the tax code, I like this Rubio guy even if we don't see eye to eye.

[Rowan]

Dem Primary
Meek 26%
Gelber 16%
Undecided 58%

Rep Primary
Crist 53%
Rubio 18%
Undecided 29%

General Elections Sen
Crist 55%
Meek 24%

Crist 57%
Gelber 22%

General Elections Gov
McCollum 40%
Sink 34%

http://www.ronsachs.com/docs/may2009poll.pdf