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

[catmando]

If Crist runs, he wins. Simple as that. If not, we're looking at a very competitive race.

Sad to say, you are probably right. As a Floridian, I am less than impressed with "Chain Gang: Charlie. He's certainly not the dynamic, bold governor that Jeb Bush was. Charlie is the poster child for "wishy-washy."

[Lunar]

Interesting.  I wonder if Meeks would drop out if Crist runs. 

Everything I've read on TampBay Buzz, my source for Florida tip, says that they don't think Crist runs though.  I suspect that if Crist does run, it's to avoid being an executive during this economy and to be a top-tier '16 presidential candidate or VP.

[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?

[Ronnie]

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?

Leaning toward the former, I suppose.

[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.

[Lunar]

He'll probably be slightly more conservative than Collins since he has national aspirations.

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?

mmm, I wouldn't despair yet.  I've been attempting to follow this race and everything I've read until that article has indicated he won't run.  Granted that Florida politics involves a lot less leaks than other states, but it has more hints than Colorado which you feel like hitting your head into the wall if you attempt to figure out what's going on.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Crist has done enough already to rile the conservative base. Just read Mark Sanford's latest attack against him.
I think he tries to carve out a niche like John McCain, and hopes that by 2016 the GOP will have moved to the center. Thus it will be more plausible for someone like him to win the nomination.

Yet, I will believe that Crist will enter the race only when I see it. And let's not forget that Democrats will be ecstatic in that case, because they will have a clear shot at the governorship and the redistricting.