Fla. Gov. Charlie Crist goes from shoo-in to political freefall (cuz he hugged Obama)

[Liberal_in_LA]

Fla. Gov. Charlie Crist goes from shoo-in to political freefall

By MICHAEL LEAHY
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 16, 2010; 6:10 PM

THE VILLAGES, FLA. -- Republican Florida governor Charlie Crist, once regarded as a shoo-in to become Florida's next senator, waded into a milling crowd. If his campaign had been going according to plan, his audience here on this night would have been perfect: an elderly, largely conservative Republican throng that included 82-year-old Bob Gammon, who had voted for Crist before and now had a beer in his hand and something he wanted to say.

Crist smiled and put a campaign sticker on Gammon's Hawaiian shirt.

"That hug," Gammon said.

"Oh," Crist said, immediately understanding what Gammon meant. Shortly after Barack Obama's inauguration, the new president had come to Florida to pledge federal help for this economically reeling state -- and Crist had reacted by embracing Obama on stage. "I wish you hadn't hugged him," Gammon said. :hug: :grouphug:

"I'm glad I did," Crist said calmly, smoothing the sticker on Gammon's shirt. "He was visiting our state. He's the president. I respect the office."

"I really wish you hadn't," Gammon said. As he moved away, leaving Crist to answer more questions about the hug, he predicted the outcome of Crist's upcoming August Republican primary: "He can't win."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/16/AR2010041603389.html?hpid=topnews

According to polls, Crist was once ahead by about 30 points in a primary contest widely viewed as a certain rout, a steppingstone for the 53-year-old Crist toward a bigger national stage and a future White House run. Now, targeted for extinction by Tea Party activists and the right-wing of his party, Crist is behind by more than 20 points to challenger Marco Rubio, yet another reminder of the intraparty dangers awaiting Republicans viewed as too moderate.

:wow:

[jaysunb]

1. I'm rooting for Crist,here

The return of republican moderation would really go a long way toward killing off the cancer that they brought to their party.

There really WAS a time that people had ideas that worked for Americans and participated in governing from those positions... regardless of party.

He'd be our answer to Scott Brown.

[glowing]

3. Actually, I'm rooting for the Dem, Meek... but if you want a puke, go for it.

[jaysunb]

5. Correction

Meek is choice #1

:)

[glowing]

2. His only chance is to run as an Indi.. which was a possibility before the teacher

crap.. no inevitable.

[Arkana]

4. Damn, Crist may be a Republican but I'm gaining more and more respect for him each day.

[Dr.Phool]

6. I had to hold my nose, really tight when I voted for Jim Davis for Governor.

Kendrick Meek is out of the same "New Democrat" mold as Davis.

[Arkana]

7. Jim Davis?

How could you hate Jim Davis?












































He created Garfield, man!

[2Design]

8. I would rather he beat this young kid in grownup clothes n/t

[WeDidIt]

9. Collins and Snowe should take notice

The teabaggers have painted HUGE targets on both.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Crist's is one of the more bizarre political stories of the year

[Egnever]

11. Pretty lousy article

This is old news. The new news is he vetoed the reprehensible teachers bill and is likely to run as an independent and if he does the polls show him wining. This article is late to the party.

[Canuckistanian]

12. Cyst, I mean Crist has been going downhill since last year

Marco (Polo) Rubio has captured the TRUE 'bagger demographic. There's a whole lot of pissed Floridians out there, although they don't know why.

And Rubio is their man.

[2Design]

13. I am sorry meek is weak - couldn't stand this rubio person - crist remaining gov

lots of hard choices but when the dems put up such weak candidates because they have been around forever is like the republicans putting up mcCain which was a sure loser