Crist poll shows him in lead

[ccharles000]

A poll commissioned before Charlie Crist announced he would become an independent showed him winning a three way race for U.S. Senate.

If the election for United States Senate were being held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were: Marco Rubio, Republican; Kendrick Meek, Democrat; or Charlie Crist, no party affiliation?

* Crist: 36
* Rubio: 28
* Meek: 23

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with a two party political system?

* Satisfied: 41
* Dissatisfied: 54

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2010/04/crist-campaign-poll-shows-him-in-lead.html

[DrToast]

1. Crist steals more from Dems

I don't know why many here were excited to see him run as an Independent.

[Bumblebee]

2. Because Meek is a long shot in any scenario and Crist may rob GOP

of a reliable senator.

[Jennicut]

3. Not excited. Most Du-ers want to avoid Rubio in the Senate.

Crist is a moderate Republican. Actually, he is probably less worse then Lieberman. Is he a RW teabagger type? No. Neither is he a liberal Dem.
I am for Meek. But I think Meek will lose against Rubio or in a 3 way race.

[zipplewrath]

7. Crist is a blank slate

He has no political ideology and merely glombs onto the popular issue of the day. He only has personal political asperations.

That said, I can see several current politicians who would like to run under an independent label. Bloomberg, comes to mind amongst others.

[suzie]

36. Many Democrats that I know in Florida think a Crist win is far better than a Rubio win

and Meek has no chance.

Marco Rubio is Jeb Bush's guy, Charlie Crist is not.

That's pretty simple.

[phleshdef]

5. Its a lesser of 2 evils situation. Meek winning would be GREAT. But its unlikely.

[GodlessBiker]

24. So, who should DUers vote for in FL? Vote for Meek? Vote to prevent Rubio?

[tsuki]

25. I shall be voting for Meek, but every Independent formerly known as

a Republicon, I shall be pushing Crist. I think we have a chance if we work to split the Republicon/Independent vote, and the Democrats and Democrat/Independents hold together.

[phleshdef]

26. I believe Democrats should support our Democrat.

[GodlessBiker]

28. I agree.

[PinkSunset]

51. I will be voting for Meek

If only ALL the democrats would stand behind him, he would have it in the bag. I for one, do not trust Crist. I think he will caucus with the Repubs. Then where does that get us? It just seems that a large number of Democrats are eager to jump on the Crist bandwagon, but I am not so sure where that wagon is rolling.

Crist says that he felt he could best serve Florida by going to the Senate. His veto vote just demonstrated that he could have the biggest impact right where he is. No, Crist is best serving Crist by going to the Senate.

[HughMoran]

6. Meek not cutting it is why

There are Dems who are more conservative than Crist (Ben Nelson, for instance).

[Dappleganger]

9. Yep.

But people keep telling me here that just because Meeks is 1) Democrat and 2) African-American that he's a better choice than Crist.

*rolls eyes*

Ya'll come live down here for five years, dip into the political scene then get back to me. Dems down here like Grayson, etc. are RARE.

[suzie]

42. +100,000

[phleshdef]

12. IF thats true, why wasn't Meek polling at 61% against Rubio before?

[Drunken Irishman]

23. I think Crist wins.

I think if Crist doesn't run, that right-wing nutbag Rubio wins.

The Democrats aren't winning this seat.

So it's basically pick your poison. Crist is a moderate Republican and will probably caucus with Republicans.

However, we've seen how independent senators (err, LIEberman), can stick it to their former party. My hope is that this is Crist.

Even if it isn't, though, he's still better than Rubio and it isn't even close.

[backscatter712]

4. The Repubs are going to go completely apeshit.

We can now ask them how it feels to be Liebermanned... :evilgrin:

[KansasVoter]

8. That is GREAT NEWS! Not a fan of Crist but the extreme right needs a lesson!

[Dappleganger]

10. Rubio isn't the only one.

The entire FL legislature has been hijacked with the extreme RW--we need to clean them them OUT!

[Lochloosa]

17. [phone]

[phleshdef]

11. Self delete

[golfguru]

13. I do not trust Crist any more than a poisonous snake

This guy is an opportunist through and through. He will turn on a dime
for a better deal. He would sell his mother if it will benefit him.

[tsuki]

27. Rubio already has. nt

[PinkSunset]

52. I agree 100% (nt)

nt

[Kdillard]

14. I would prefer Crist than Rubio especially if Meeks doesn't stand a chance.

At least this way we may have a Senator willing to caucus with us to break up filibusters etc.

[karynnj]

15. I doubt he will caucus with the Democrats - but he might not join all the filibusters

He really is a Republican and has been pretty clear about that.

[Mojorabbit]

32. I don't think the republicans will have him

He pretty much will have to deal with the Dems. The Republicans have already threatened anyone who works with him in this campaign with banning from any republican jobs in the future. Meek is fairly unknown here. Crist has name recognition.

[karynnj]

37. They have, but just as we did not exclude Lieberman, who campaigned for

McCain and refused to even object to Palin's "palling around with terrorists", said when he was with her, they will take another one for their caucus especially if it has the chance to lead to 50 - where they get more consideration (as we did in early 2001) or 51. I suspect that Lieberman will change at some point.

[catgirl]

16. And why are dem voters shifting to Crist?

Is there a good answer to that? Meek had a better chance in a one on one with Rubio.

[Lochloosa]

18. Meek had Zero chance against Rubio.

Rubio has been picked by the powers-that-be in Florida today. Meek has no name recognition outside of South Florida. You cannot win a statewide race without the panhandle of Florida and Meek would get swamped there.

[Mass]

19. I heard Crist yesterday on TV. Hopefully, Democrats will rally around Meek because Crist

is no better than Rubio.

[Taverner]

21. Crist is much better than Rubio

Hmmm Crist supported HCR, the stimulus, wants single payer in florida, etc..

[tsuki]

29. That seem to be a universal RW meme. No better than. If Rubio is

elected, America will be worse off. Rubio is associated with some of the worst of the worst in Florida corruption. Better to use time splitting the Republicon from Rubio than bad mouthing Crist.

[Mass]

33. I can see he has he fans here. You have a Democrat in the race.

Would it not be better to promote him than to promote Crist, who is just another corporatist Republican. What I heard yesterday does not make him any better than Rubio.

[tsuki]

34. I am in the Panhandle of Florida where even the teachers vote Republicon.

This is a solid red area, lots of retired military/federal workers, proud tea party patriots and racists. Those of us that vote Democrat are holding together, but have decided that to help Meek here, we need to split the Republicon bloc. We are busy hanging Ray Samson and the rest of the NWF wiseguys around Rubio's neck.

[suzie]

46. Sure is nice to have folks who don't live in Florida explaining to us what we should do.

Since we're really not able to understand our state's politics and make an assessment of how well Meeks will run statewide, it surely is helpful to have you wonderful folks from Boston explain politics in Florida to us.

[Mass]

49. Your senator will impact my life just as my senators impact yours.

Dont tell me you would not have been better off with Coakley than Brown.

You should vote for a Dem if you are a Dem. Sorry.

BTW, people from out of state giving their opinion on DU on an election is hardly new.

[suzie]

53. You're from one of the bluest states in the nation and the Democrats in your

state couldn't nominate a good enough candidate and generate good enough support to get that candidate elected in YOUR BLUE STATE?

But you presume to tell me that I have to make sure that an ultra, ultra conservative Jeb Bush standin gets elected in my state, by voting for someone who's a sure loser?


Because, your view from Boston of the politics of Florida is better than that of someone who lives in the state and has been actively involved in Democratic politics?

So, here's my out of state opinion: You have 2 years to work on getting Brown out and a Democrat in, spend your time on that election.

[Mass]

54. I dont presume anything. I give my opinion on a political board.

I understand how shocking it may be for some.

[suzie]

55. As did I.

It just seems that you don't want to read the opinions of people who live and vote in Florida.

[Jennicut]

48. Crist is a moderate Republican, Rubio is a an ultra conservative Republican.

Is either better then a Dem? No. Is one worse then the other? Yes. Crist supported FL getting the stimulus, his record on the environment is actually quite good. On the other hand, his record on gay rights and appointing conservative judges sucks. He is still a Republican in my book he just is a moderate type before that became a dirty word in the Rethug party.

[Mass]

50. I understand. It is just that there are way too many people I have never seen here defending Crist.

I find this strange.

[HooptieWagon]

38. You know nothing about Fla politics if you say that.

Crist is FAR better than Rubio, and a reasonable choice if Meeks continues to lag in the polls.

[Mass]

44. Does it matter? He will vote for McConnell as majority leader and then will follow orders,

just like Collins and Snowe do. Why is it better than sending a hardcore Republican that people will recognize for what he is.



Snowe, Collins, and Brown are just Republicans like others, and so will Crist, as far as I am concerned. Our dear senator sounds reasonable when he talks in MA, but becomes a RWer when he is out of the state, and so will Crist.

[Taverner]

20. Good. He really is the better candidate.

He is just a tad more liberal than the Dem

[burning rain]

22. Have to give Crist some props as an able campaigner.

He was on Meet the Press yesterday, painting Rubio as a "hard-right" "big-corporate" guy, Meek as a "hard-left" "big-government" type, and describing himself as "right down the middle." Crist means to win this race, and he's looking to do it in the middle by leaving his opponents with just their hardcore base votes. He appeared very earnest saying that he wasn't continuing on for self-serving reasons, but to give Floridians a positive choice, and refused to say whether he'd caucus with Republicans or Democrats, saying he'd do what was best for Florida. It may end up being a stretch and too predictable, but if anyone can pull it off, he's the man, as he has a nice-guy just-telling-you-how-it-is delivery even when on the attack and projects sincerity(tm) like a champ.

Crist certainly seems like a decent guy and even Robert Wexler gives him credit for signing a law to create a verifiable paper trail for all ballots in Florida elections, and it's worth recalling that in the 2008 election, Crist made sure to keep the polls open late so everybody had a chance to vote--a decision that chagrined a number of people in his party. All the same, he's a mainstream conservative and Kendrick Meek is a perfectly good Democrat, and I do not see how any good Democrat could jump ship to support Crist. From what I know of Crist, I like him, but I support Meek for Senate.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

30. This is how I see it. If Meek is just as conservative as Bill Nelson, then Crist is the best

choice. I think he tends to be a bit more progressive on social issues. Plus, I still think he should come out of the closet. (Smile.) At any rate, anyone but Rubio. That's my stance.

And again, we don't need more Blue Dogs, especially if the Independent will be more progressive than the Blue Dog. Don't know if I trust Crist, but again, I tend not to trust the Blue Dogs in similar ways. Crist stood up and supported Obama's economic stimulus even when Blue Dogs fought against it. If Meek is one of those, I won't support him.

How does Meek's record look?

[peekaloo]

47. at a glance

btw Meek has described himself as a "moderate progressive".

http://thatsmycongress.com/house/repMeekFL17111.html

[Arkana]

31. I'd like it if you Floridians could make Meek the next Senator

but if Crist wins it's still a thumb in the eye to the teabaggers.

[TheKentuckian]

35. If Democrats vote for Meek then he wins. Crist is the sitting Governor and Rubio is Faux golden boy

so it is no surprise they would have a name recognition advantage but if Florida Democrats stand with our guy then he's the only one with a clear path to victory. The trouble seems Florida Democrats like Crist too much, the teachers are desperate for someone not to kick them in the grill, and a general lack of faith that anyone much left of Bill Nelson will get votes.

Crist is better than Rubio but being paralyzed trumps decapitation but both are to be avoided if at all possible.

[freddie mertz]

39. Will there be debates?

That would give Meek a fighting chance, at least.

[secondwind]

40. I think Crist is way better to have as a Senator than Rubio. Lesser of two evils, period.

If I were a Dem living in FL, I would vote for Crist over Rubio any day. Don't think our guy Meeks will get to the finals.

[Renew Deal]

41. What happens if Dems undercut Meek like the republicans undercut Liebermans republican challenger?

Or if Meek drops out?

[Marsala]

56. Crist almost certainly wins in those cases

Though I don't expect either will happen.

[Renew Deal]

57. I expect one of those two.

The dems will scarcely support Meek.

[elizm]

43. I liked that Crist was willing to stick his neck out...

....And buck his party when he disagreed. I'd much rather vote for someone who doesn't just tow the party line. If I was in FL I would consider voting for him as well.

[AtomicKitten]

45. If Meek can't eek out a win, I'm glad it's Crist in the lead and not the tea-bagger. nt