Ex-GOP Fla. Gov. Crist to run for job as Democrat

[onehandle]

Last edited Fri Nov 1, 2013, 07:08 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: AP

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Former Republican governor-turned Democrat Charlie Crist took the first step Friday toward attempting to reclaim his old job with a new party, paving the way for a bitter contest that will be one of the most watched in the nation.

Crist filed paperwork to get in the race and is now the front-runner to represent Democrats against Republican Gov. Rick Scott, one of the most unpopular chief executives in the country. Scott, though, will be well-financed and is expected to spend as much as $25 million in attack ads against Crist.

For Crist, he is hoping to revive a political career that seemingly crashed when he left the GOP and lost an independent run for U.S. Senate to Republican Marco Rubio in 2010.

Crist has a 10 a.m. event scheduled in a park near his St. Petersburg home to kick off his campaign. "I'm looking forward to Monday and making it official in every way," Crist said Friday. "I just hope that the message that we deliver will lift Florida's spirits and let her know that there's a brighter future tomorrow. And it's coming."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/ex-gop-fla-gov-crist-run-job-democrat-213148234--election.html

[KansDem]

1. Link...

Charlie Crist files to run for Florida governor as Democrat

[chillfactor]

2. not surprising...at least to me....

Crist may not be perfect but he sure as hell is better than Scott

[csziggy]

4. It's been expected for at least a year

But saying Crist is better than Scott is like saying cow shit is better than pig shit - they are BOTH shit.

[Stuart G]

8. You are wrong..Crist signed legislation in Florida,

after a terrible situation in Tampa/Bradenton, where there were computer "malfunctions" that allowed for a Puke to get elected.
It turned out that thousands of computers voting machines did not register votes for congressman that voting period Strangly or not, it was only in heavily democratic districts that these malfunctions took place. Christ signed legislation that mandated a paper trail in all election districts so that if malfunction happen again, (they haven't) the paper trail would be the final decider. This gave Obama a fighting chance in Florida..Yes, Crist is not perfect..but he is not shit.

[csziggy]

15. So he did one thing right after public pressure forced him to

Most of his term Crist continued the policies of Jeb Bush, After he got out of office he still espoused those policies. Crist was a Bush creation and I believe he is still a Bush adherent at heart. That is what makes him shit still in my view.

Sure, he'll call himself a Democrat and put that 'D' behind his name - Crist will do ANYTHING to stay in the public eye and to win elections.

I don't like or trust him even if he isn't quite as much a crook as Scott. Saying he's not as bad as Scott is damning with faint praise. If that is the best reason most have to vote for him, we have no viable Democratic candidate.

[Mugweed]

18. Obama has continued many a Bush policy

I guess by your standard he's shit in your view also?

[csziggy]

19. I don't like when he does that

And would rather have a less "centrist" Democrat. But I had a reasonable idea of what Obama was when I voted for him and he was infinitely better than his competition.

The thing is, Florida had Crist as governor. We didn't like him when he was in there as a Republican. Just because we've had a much worse governor in office since, doesn't make Crist any better a person, even with a 'D' behind his name. Crist is still the same man he was when he was in office, he only looks better compared to Scott. That does NOT make him good.

[titaniumsalute]

29. I will be voting for Crist

Yes he is a moderate. But I do not think the morons in my state will ever elect what I want...a solid progressive. I don't think it is going to happen. And if I have to work for or vote for Crist I will.

1. I am married to a teacher and Crist has been good for teachers and education. http://neatoday.org/2010/04/15/crist-vetoes-sb-6-takes-bold-stand-for-florida-schools/

2. He supports gay marriage which I also support. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/05/charlie-crist-supports-gay-marriage-raises-gubernatorial-speculation/

3. I do believe he has Florida interests in mind much more than his own interests like Scott or Bush.

4. He will stand up to the far right Teabaggers which we really need right now, especially in this state.

[Mr.Bill]

10. Maybe, but only one of them is shit

that should be in prison for defrauding Medicare.

[csziggy]

3. Whoopee - and media is falling all over themselves to welcome him

While real Democrats get left in the garbage by our so-called Florida Democratic Party.

I'll be sitting out this governor's race and concentrating on getting Steve Southerland (Tea Bagger-FL) out of office. I wish Florida let voters select "NONE of the Above" on their ballots!

[Laelth]

5. Interesting. k&r for exposure.

Some real nuggets come out on news dump day.

-Laelth

[Graybeard]

6. And Crist is leading in the polls.

The story also said that Charlie Crist was ahead of Gov. Scott in
some polls that have already been taken.

The GOP had no room for a moderate. Welcome to the
Dmocratic Party. We are a big tent.

[LovingA2andMI]

23. Exactly!!!

I like Crist and hope he does well in this race. Rick Scott must go!

[Progressive dog]

7. Good, better a moderate

than the RW scum that currently holds the office.

[davidpdx]

9. I'm not in Florida

So I don't have a dog in the race, but I would like to see Scott thrown out.

[mrdmk]

11. The only reason for Crist to run as a Democrat is for funding

Running as a independent can be difficult to raise money without a party affiliation...

[Scuba]

12. We don't need the Democratic Party pulled further to the right!!! Who's our REAL candidate?

[blkmusclmachine]

13. Meh. BUT...he may be to the left of BHO. So there's that, I guess.

[madfloridian]

14. Interesting poll about Crist and Nan Rich, the only other viable Democrat.

The Florida Democratic Party appears to be backing Crist. I can understand that. I would vote for him though I don't like some of his stances. I like his stances a hell of lot better than those of Scott, though.

http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/nan-rich-going-nowhere-against-charlie-crist

With Alex Sink and Bill Nelson passing on entering the race, Rich is now the only obstacle to Charlie Crist, a former Republican, winning the Democratic nomination. It’s hard to classify her as a major obstacle to Crist based on the poll. Crist takes 59 percent of Democrats in the primary and Rich only gets 16 percent.

Even worse for Rich, there appears to be little room to run to Crist’s left and insist she is the “real Democrat” in the race. Crist destroys Rich in the 19 percent of Democrats who define themselves as “very liberal”: 67 percent to 12 percent. Rich does better with the 31 percent of Democrats who call themselves “somewhat liberal” but still only takes 18 percent to Crist’s 57 percent.

Ironically, the only group Rich beats Crist out with is “very conservative” Democrats who break her way 35 percent to 28 percent. But these make up only 4 percent of Democratic primary voters. Not exactly the foundation Rich needs if she wants to upset Crist.

Rich has been in the race for 18 months and has gone nowhere. Crist is expected to announce in the coming weeks and, between that and Democrats holding their convention at Disney World later this month, the pressure will soon be on for Rich to get out of the race. If Rich’s fundraising in the third quarter is weak, Democrats will grow even louder in their demands for her to get out.

[kcass1954]

16. Although I wouldn't have voted for him,

I could have tolerated him being governor for another term.

But no. He had to run for Senate. And we're stuck with a criminal and Mr, wet food/dry foot.

Go fuck yourself, Charlie.

[Ian_rd]

17. Haha - so he's pulling a Reverse Rick Perry

[Isoldeblue]

20. I was sick at heart when Alex Sink lost to Scott

in a really close race. I campaigned for her. Then I was sick when I got an email from her last month, saying she'd decided not to run for gov.

Now I'm really sick that Christy will run this election. He is just as much as the smarmiest opportunist as any teahadist. There is no difference in many ways.
Whether he'll be any better than Scott, I won't hold my breath for that.

I wish Grayson would run.

[DCBob]

21. Crist will win this easily and will be good soldier for Democrats.

A hard core liberal would not have a chance in state wide race in Florida.

[madfloridian]

22. Agree.

Crist is no more to the right than many Florida democrats who are in leadership.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

26. This is so right.

It befuddles me that DEMS would rather lose an election outright than to support a DEM candidate who doesn't support all of their ideals. In FL, that kinda DEM is a unicorn right now. I'm pretty sure Chuck Crist is the best we can put on the ballot right now.

[LovingA2andMI]

24. And it will be one Far Right Wing Republican....

In FLORIDA Out of office named Rick Scott, since Charlie Crist will run and probably WIN!

Now -- What about:

Michigan -- Rick Snyder -- (Mark Schauer is the candidate thus far and the MDP is backing him but can he win?)
Ohio - John Kasich -- (There is a Candidate in Ohio for Governor and he's looking good so far --- Ed FitzGerald)
Wisconsin -- Scott Walker (Any candidates YET on the Democratic side?)
Indiana -- Mitch Daniels (Any candidates YET on the Democratic side?) -- this one will be hard to take back as Indiana leans dark purple on a good day.
New Jersey -- (Chris Christie is going no-where and NJ could have a worst Tea Party Nation type Governor. Maybe in four years Democrats can take this State back).
Maine -- Paul Lepage (Any candidates YET on the Democratic side?) Because Lepage has got to go.
Texas -- Rick Perry DONE|. (Wendy Davis has a tough race on her hands in this Dark Purple state but she might eek this one out).

[Orsino]

27. He will bring along as baggage many/most of the same donors...

...who will have him pursuing a stealth GOP agenda.

edit: Minus the stealth.

[tofuandbeer]

25. Here we go. This is there next move.

[IronLionZion]

28. What's his position on medicaid expansion and state health marketplace? nt

[DonCoquixote]

30. I sadly remember

When certain people, including a certain site that used to FORBID supporting people who RAN AGAINST DEMOCRATS, supported Crist as he stole needed votes from Kendrick Meek. Meek lost, and we got Rubio. Only because of that will I vote for Crist, though I will do so with a heap load of contempt for my fellow Flordians, and yes, my fellow democrats, who think Debbie Wasserman Schultz is too fare to the left. That, and Rick Scott has already done enough damage to last into the next 20 years.

[olddad56]

31. Why would the Democratic Pary want him, why would the democratic voters want him?

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

32. Again....

...this shiny, red penny in my hand would get my vote before Rick Scott does. Why aren't people understanding that FL won't be able to field any DEM much better than Crist right now? Have you all not seen what the State Houses and the Governor's mansion look like?