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question everything

(47,271 posts)
Mon Nov 4, 2013, 12:54 PM Nov 2013

Charlie Crist is running for governor as Democrat, saying it's 'time to take Florida in a better dir

Source: Tampa Bay Times

ST. PETERSBURG — In front of a crowd of a couple hundred people on the waterfront in his hometown, former Florida Republican Gov. Charlie Crist announced he is running for governor as a Democrat "and the reason is to put you back in charge because you deserve a governor that wakes up every day thinking about you, who you can trust to govern honestly, in our collective best interest."

Crist, accompanied on stage by his wife, Carole, and Democratic officials, said, "Tallahassee is out of control. ... The voice of the people has been silenced by the financial bullies and the special interests. ... You really have no advocate there anymore."

Crist attacked Gov. Rick Scott for campaigning in 2010 as an outsider but not keeping with it.

(snip)

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, opened the event by endorsing Crist.


Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/stage-is-set-for-charlie-crist-to-announce-for-florida-governor/2150692

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Charlie Crist is running for governor as Democrat, saying it's 'time to take Florida in a better dir (Original Post) question everything Nov 2013 OP
How do you spend 100 million dollars of your own money on a campaign bigdarryl Nov 2013 #1
Florida, gotta love it packman Nov 2013 #2
Alex Sink lost by a 1% margin. djean111 Nov 2013 #10
Actually, Crist was a Democrat before he was a Republican. 1monster Nov 2013 #14
Indeed. I lived in Florida in 1990-1992 question everything Nov 2013 #16
I thought he was an Independent.... SummerSnow Nov 2013 #3
No more. He's a full-fledged Democrat now. madfloridian Nov 2013 #6
Great Dopers_Greed Nov 2013 #4
Not really. madfloridian Nov 2013 #7
Better a DINO that any Republican question everything Nov 2013 #8
I live in Florida katmondoo Nov 2013 #9
I was a card carrying Democrat for a while MynameisBlarney Nov 2013 #12
I don't know if secondvariety Nov 2013 #15
I wonder, will we still see his face on ambulance-chasing lawyer billboards along the turnpike? Towlie Nov 2013 #5
Crist already had one term to take Florida in a different direction csziggy Nov 2013 #11
If he is the Democratic nominee, he'll get my vote! William769 Nov 2013 #13
 

bigdarryl

(13,190 posts)
1. How do you spend 100 million dollars of your own money on a campaign
Mon Nov 4, 2013, 01:08 PM
Nov 2013

And there are people in your state you are Governor of POOR AND without HEALTHCARE. I'm talking about ugly ass Rick Scott that is who wastes that kind of money

 

packman

(16,296 posts)
2. Florida, gotta love it
Mon Nov 4, 2013, 01:11 PM
Nov 2013

Crist has more moves than an spastic Rubik's Cube . First a Repuke when the state was blood red, then an Independent when it was starting to see signs of blue, now a Dem when he sees Scott nose diving at the polls.
Had a decent Dem running against Scott in 2010, Alex Sink. Even with Scott's multi-million dollar scandals in nursing home ripoffs and fraud, the state just wouldn't elect a Dem even if they could cure the sick and walk on water. Scott is a disgrace to the state and I believe Crist will be a true contender. Anyway, be nice to have a Dem governor, even though the state legislation will be solid red.

1monster

(11,012 posts)
14. Actually, Crist was a Democrat before he was a Republican.
Mon Nov 4, 2013, 05:26 PM
Nov 2013

When I moved to Florida in the early seventies, there was no Repubican party to speak of.

As more and more people moved to Florida, that started to change. Then came Ronnie Reagan and everything flipflopped. If you wanted to have the slightest chance of winning an election, you ran as a Republican and the Democratic party dwindled to a joke. I knew a lot of Dems who switched ot the Republican party during this time. I don't know if they are switching back at this point or not... But Charlie is a start. Maybe the Dems will rise again.

question everything

(47,271 posts)
16. Indeed. I lived in Florida in 1990-1992
Mon Nov 4, 2013, 06:03 PM
Nov 2013

when Lawton Chiles was governor. And before him Bob Graham was. And both were also senators.

And when you look at the list of Florida governors you can see see how really all were Democrats until Kirk in 1967 and that nasty Martinez in 1987.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Governor

So, perhaps there is still hope for Florida.

Yes, this is the problem when many people started moving. I remember many retirees who would refuse to support school levy because they've already paid for public school "back north."


madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
6. No more. He's a full-fledged Democrat now.
Mon Nov 4, 2013, 01:18 PM
Nov 2013

In fact I would consider many of his views actually left of most Florida Democrats in leadership positions. They have run right so long they don't know how to stop. I think he will win over any Democrat.

Interesting poll from Oct. 3 about the other Democrat in the race.

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

But the poll clearly reveals more about Scott’s lousy numbers than any strength Rich might have. Despite being in the race for 18 months, the polls show Rich is unknown and even those who know her generally don’t like her. The numbers are bleak for Rich: 8 percent favorable, 23 percent unfavorable and 69 percent not sure.

More disconcerting to Rich, she doesn’t do well with Democrats: 11 percent favorable, 22 percent unfavorable and 67 percent not sure. Rich does a little better with Democratic primary voters, but even there the numbers don’t impress: 13 percent favorable, 23 percent unfavorable and 64 percent unsure.

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
.

question everything

(47,271 posts)
8. Better a DINO that any Republican
Mon Nov 4, 2013, 01:33 PM
Nov 2013

and... I think that at some point he and Obama actually saw eye to eye. Don't remember the event but Obama's hug cost him.

Interesting that such a hug does not cost Chris Christie...

katmondoo

(6,454 posts)
9. I live in Florida
Mon Nov 4, 2013, 01:49 PM
Nov 2013

and I can say he was a good Governor. I am glad he is running as a Democrat, he always seemed more Democrat than Republican

MynameisBlarney

(2,979 posts)
12. I was a card carrying Democrat for a while
Mon Nov 4, 2013, 03:32 PM
Nov 2013

and I voted for him twice.
He's a good man. And he would be GREAT for Florida.

secondvariety

(1,245 posts)
15. I don't know if
Mon Nov 4, 2013, 05:53 PM
Nov 2013

he's a DINO or a RINO. He like a whirligig when it comes to politics but if I had to guess, he's way more liberal than he lets on. He's employed by John Morgan who's trying to put medical marijuana legalization on the next ballot.

csziggy

(34,120 posts)
11. Crist already had one term to take Florida in a different direction
Mon Nov 4, 2013, 03:23 PM
Nov 2013

And continued taking the state in the same direction Jeb Bush took it.

As a Floridian, I see no reason to give him another term. Unfortunately, the only choice Floridians seem to have this time around is between two Republicans who have both already had a term as Governor. Just because one has pasted a 'D' over the 'R' on the ballots does NOT make him a good candidate or a Democrat.

William769

(55,124 posts)
13. If he is the Democratic nominee, he'll get my vote!
Mon Nov 4, 2013, 03:32 PM
Nov 2013

When he was our Governor before (even though a Republican) he actually cared about the people and education.

Having him on the Democratic ticket I believe will also help elect more Democrats to our State Legislature.

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