Does Gallagher Have a Prayer?

They're called "values voters," social conservatives, evangelicals, and Tom Gallagher is their favorite in the Republican primary for governor. Right?

Wrong, according to the non-partisan Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Charlie Crist, the candidate Gallagher has been calling a "liberal," actually is favored by those voters by a margin of 53 percent to 38 percent.

"It probably means that Crist has done a better job of convincing voters that he's what they want," said Peter Brown, Quinnipiac's assistant director. "Obviously, Gallagher has tried to run as the more socially conservative candidate. On the other hand, he's been running statewide here for more than a decade, and he has a record. It may well be that that record made it difficult for him to appeal to those voters."   

Overall, Crist leads Gallagher in the poll, 57 percent to 32 percent, with a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 points. From the statewide sample of 317 likely Republican voters, 45 percent described themselves as "born again" or "evangelical."

Quinnipiac asked this question: "Do you consider yourself a born again or evangelical Christian or not?" The margin error for that sub-sample is higher (plus or minus 8.7 points).

Comments

Tom is toast!

Eight ball says: "Outlook not so good"

Crist will win conservative voters, because that's what he is... a conservative.

no.

[terminator]

The St. Pete Crist Times at it again!

Isn't Qunnipac in Connecticut? The same state that has given us Joe Lieberman and Ned Lamonte?

Conservative isn't dodging the Roe v Wade question, supporting gay civil unions or giving amnesty and entitlements to illegals.

I hope all the media will remember this when they try to write that "value voters" don't matter. they DO matter, they fact is - they are discerning, and are not buying Tom Gallagher's message.

[read-the-record]

Tom is no conservative.

He has about as much of a prayer as Rod Smith does.

[read-the-record]

A recap for voters, courtesy of Tom's record:

** anti-voucher then and for choice now
** anti-gun then and for guns now
** criticized Jeb over ethics then and can't seem to find his own now
** pro-tax then and pro-tax now

[quote unquote]

Gallagher: "Each time you run, you're a different person."

Maybe Doster decieded to microtarget everyone but conservative Christians???? This is bad news for the Gallagher camp

Terminator:
Wheres the size 12 shoe? I have been asking you for a while and you havent answered!

[terminator]

1:13
Obviously you didn't see the posting from "fake terminator" who anted up and took responsibility.

Most likely a mischevious CC supporter looking to stir up trouble.

[terminator]

i liked the chamber poll better.

[Terminator]

I am officially calling the race now for Crist.

Charlie wins.

[remember '94]

Charlie Crist is favored by "values" voters, 53% to 38%.

They can still hear Tom's jabs at Jeb echoing in the wind.

So theres no nothing big in the workings for gallagher huh?
its over!

the true SCs and Christians see the real tom gallagher, they are not stupid. he thought they'd forget his voting record with all the smoke and mirrors. good to see majority of them will give their vote to crist.

[Banish TG.]

If it was anyone but Tom Gallagher calling Charlie Crist a liberal the charge might be able to stick. Gallagher is an arrogant and greedy man who has used his time in office not to push a conservative agenda but to enrich himself personally. Just look at how much the 2 candidates are worth (and where Tom has gotten that money). Now that Tom faces his political twilight he is attempting to once again be all things to all people. His latest courtship involving the religious conservatives. The TG campaign can "micro-target" these voters all they want. Fortunately this group of steady voters has long memories and just don't buy that Tom Gallagher is the one to hold their mantle. His personal history and recent ethics investigations have been enough to cast doubt in their minds.

On a side note, I must say that some of TG supporters are a disgrace and I'm ashamed to share a political party with them. Spreading rumors about Charlie (with no evidence)and his ex-wife (read it on this blog) in regards to sexual orientation is perhaps the lowest class of politics I've ever seen. There is no evidence yet just to have a political tool they whisper and crack tasteless jokes. Shame! Something that serious either needs to be exposed with proper evidence or left alone entirely. Don't these scumbags realize that if there was evidence the Dems would have used it already! For God's sake he's run for statewide office 3 times! Are they that naive to think the Democrats wouldn't have liked to have posession of the Attorney General's office!

The behavior of TG's supporters is even more appalling considering they claim to be Christian conservatives. They are hypocrites and opportunists who realize their ship is sinking and will do and say anything to win. This not the behavior of good Republicans (or Christians for that matter).

Come September 5th I will crow large and loudly about Charlie's victory. Republicans will at least be able to rest easy knowing that TG and most of his embarrassing supporters will be on the outside looking in.

[Banish TG.]

If it was anyone but Tom Gallagher calling Charlie Crist a liberal the charge might be able to stick. Gallagher is an arrogant and greedy man who has used his time in office not to push a conservative agenda but to enrich himself personally. Just look at how much the 2 candidates are worth (and where Tom has gotten that money). Now that Tom faces his political twilight he is attempting to once again be all things to all people. His latest courtship involving the religious conservatives. The TG campaign can "micro-target" these voters all they want. Fortunately this group of steady voters has long memories and just don't buy that Tom Gallagher is the one to hold their mantle. His personal history and recent ethics investigations have been enough to cast doubt in their minds.

On a side note, I must say that some of TG supporters are a disgrace and I'm ashamed to share a political party with them. Spreading rumors about Charlie (with no evidence)and his ex-wife (read it on this blog) in regards to sexual orientation is perhaps the lowest class of politics I've ever seen. There is no evidence yet just to have a political tool they whisper and crack tasteless jokes. Shame! Something that serious either needs to be exposed with proper evidence or left alone entirely. Don't these scumbags realize that if there was evidence the Dems would have used it already! For God's sake he's run for statewide office 3 times! Are they that naive to think the Democrats wouldn't have liked to have posession of the Attorney General's office!

The behavior of TG's supporters is even more appalling considering they claim to be Christian conservatives. They are hypocrites and opportunists who realize their ship is sinking and will do and say anything to win. This not the behavior of good Republicans (or Christians for that matter).

Come September 5th I will crow large and loudly about Charlie's victory. Republicans will at least be able to rest easy knowing that TG and most of his embarrassing supporters will be on the outside looking in.

[Banish TG.]

Sorry about posting twice! A little bit too click happy.

Well, they took a sampling of 317 Republicans/ Of those 45% - or about 150 described themselves as "Evangelical or born again".

Yes the St. P article says 53% of those same voters favor for Crist. Is he talking about 80 people in Florida?

I don't understant, is that poll conducted with only 312 Rs? All over the state?

Banish - I will wax Biblical: "Let he who is free of sin throw the first stone." I have seen enough disgraceful posts here abbout Gallagher's wife & kids to ... well... make a Democrat blush!

... and isn't your boy fond of saying the people's will must be respected (on class size anyway)? We'll see what the ultimate poll says next week.

I was thinking about this over lunch today. I think as a party, we have lost sight of what conservative means. It does have a religious aspect to it, but the overall backbone of conservative ideology is not the issues being trumpted by the "conservatives" today. Conservativism is low taxes, and a government who stays out of peoples lives. Now, the small majority of conservatives will have the religious issues as a major factor in their decision making, but it is a very small amount of the conservative populace now. We need to get back to low taxes and small government, and I believe this is what we are seeing.

Well said Banish TG

That poll may be reflecting their distaste with Tom going negative on Charlie and his supporters took his lead: the Tom supporter in WPB with the sign “sorry Charlie, no wife no kids, no home, not qualified” and her bio when she ran for senate reads Christian ?

Amen Brother 1:42!

so let me get this right...

SurveyUSA
Crist...60%
Gallagher...31%

Strategic Vision
Crist...57%
Gallagher...32%

Quinnipac
Crist...57%
Gallagher...32%

Conservative Christians
Crist...53%
Gallagher...38%

InsiderFlorida
Crist...39%
Gallagher...29%
Undecided...29%

so all along the Florida Chamber poll was the crap we all thought it was

Hear that? It is the sound of the fat lady is clearing her throat.

Even Dennis Baxley recently quesitoned Tom's credibility

[zenator]

The founder of our party also knew the formula for winning the peace. It starts with having malice toward none, and charity toward all.

Dennis Baxley is FINISHED! Charlie will not forget his behavior and his "letters to the editor" and his emails... neither will his House counterparts!

[baghdad brett]

Official statement:

"We have much to be proud of. Our superior crusade continues, and our successful micro-targeting efforts grow smaller by the day.

Do not believe false reports from the evil Northeast which show deficits of 20 points. We know the reality of the fact - our enemy continues to struggle.

Indeed, the Mansion drapes have been measured for our lavish redecoration.

We will savor our great victory."

That is the risk Tom Gallagher and his supporters like Baxley, Traviesa, Slade and Cardenas chose to take when they decided to go so negative. They burned their bridges. Of course, had it gone the other way, some of Charlie's supporters would have burned their bridges as well.

[terminator]

Banish TG:
Aren't you kind of like the "pot calling the kettle black"?

Zenator:
Now there's the right spirit but stop stealing Charlie's lines!

When is the other shoe dropping?

Hey Steve!

Keep trying to brainwash the voters in FL, maybe it will work!

I sure hope not.

I am one of those Florida voters that happens to believe in those old fuddy-duddy ideals such as.... human life is sacred, that marriages(unions) are between two people of the opposite sex, that fiscal issues matter, that having a vision and knowing details of public policy are critical, and more importantly, that taking a hard stand on key issues takes leadership rather than being all things to all people.

Congratulations Steve! You win First Place for being the best volunteer Crist campaign staffer for the entire State of Florida!

Considering you are supposed to be an objective news reporter, I'll give you an F(failing for biased); but since I have no voucher for another reporter, I guess I am stuck with you!

"Do you have a prayer" to ever be an objective journalist? I think not.

xx's and oo's
Your pal from Jax.

[Banish TG.]

No not at all. We all know that personal stuff gets dragged into a campaign. It's just the lows that I've seen the TG crew go to is unbelieveable. Either prove your slander without a doubt or behave yourself like a decent person.

terminator...i really hope you got the veiled Abraham Lincoln reference and you are just being your usual assonine self

Dear Pal from Jax,

I am glad you still believe in those fuddy-duddy ideals. Tom Gallagher never has and never will. His record speaks for itself.

Human life is indeed sacred. A mother who has suffered the humiliation of rape, or who herself faces death, must enjoy that sacred right to live.

Marraige should indeed be between a man and a woman. And those who choose must enjoy the civil liberties our blessed country grants us all. If one's partner lay dying, then God would want those that love them the most to be at their side...even if the government does not.

Fiscal issues do matter too. We pay too many taxes in this government. Pennies for prisons may well have cost us millions, and our insurance rates continue to skyrocket with no one having helped in the last 4 years.

No one should be all things to all people. They should however, be honest to all people all of the time.

Signed,

The Winning Side

How did Baxley question TG?

"Winning" side the note was to Steve not you. Pennies for prisons was a referendum you dunce, to be voted on by the people. And what was the Sugar (tax) fee from Charlie Crist? Don't be a disingenous hypocrite.

Better to offer a referendum the voters to house convicted criminals than taxing a busniess; lousy argument. But hey, what do you expect from the team with no ideas. More of the same ole.

[stay away from my Party]

Hey Margaret! I hope you love the mailer BREC put out to registered Broward Republicans telling them the county Party endorsed Crist. Check your mail if not! If you live in Broward and missed it the first time (or the second time) you know now for sure. Choke on it!

Mr. Gallagher. YOU ARE A LIBERAL!!! and people know it!!! Priceless!!.

-----------------------------
"By Joe Follick
Ledger Tallahassee Bureau

.."Gallagher....1994 support of a sales tax increase
to build new prisons."

------------
By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor
Published July 3, 2005

..."[Gallagher]who used to oppose school vouchers and
school prayer?"..

--------------
The St. Petersburg Times,
7/3/05; Orlando Sentinel, 5/22/05)

Gallagher, “…a longtime moderate Republican who used
to call himself ‘pro-choice’ on abortion…,”

has said prayer in schools “causes a tremendous amount
of problems”

--------------
By LUCY MORGAN, Times Tallahassee Bureau Chief
Published May 21, 2005

...."Gallagher supported a services tax and suggested
getting rid of homestead exemptions."...

--------------
By LUCY MORGAN, Times Tallahassee Bureau Chief
Published May 21, 2005

....."Gallagher lost the Republican primary to Bush in
1994 after jointly buying ads that attacked Bush."...
---------------
Sun Sentinel “…Tom Gallagher, who unabashedly support
the right of a woman to have an abortion…”
----------------------

St. Petersburg Times: “On the other is Tom Gallagher,
a moderate Republican who endorses abortion rights and
enjoys support from Florida environmentalists.”
--------------------------

Tom Galagher 1994—"I'm pro-choice. . . . The choice is
one that individuals should make along with their
doctor. It shouldn't be a government choice."
--------------------------

1994: “ Jeb Bush, a Republican candidate for governor,
called Gallagher's plan “ill-conceived” and said
Florida did not need to raise taxes to fight crime.
People can't afford the government we have now," Bush
said. "He is making (Gov.) Lawton Chiles look like
he's conservative."
----------------------

July 1999 St. Petersburg Times: “On the other is Tom
Gallagher, a moderate Republican who endorses abortion rights

[terminator]

Banish TG:
I ask you again "aren't you like the pot calling the kettle black"?

"For he who is without sin cast thy first stone".

2:28
tsk tsk. Temper temper my good friend.
Why was it "veiled" and didn't Charlie use that in the first debate?

Does that mean Charlie and his minions have no intention of honoring that statement should they win?

You'll have a hard time getting any of the Gallagher supporters to do anything for you if that's the case!

[terminator]

CV:
why did you stop signing your posts?

Did you have fun the other night in Palm Beach? Too bad Charlie got hammered in the debate!

stay away from my party:
yeah, that should sway about all 200 of those hard working loyal BREC members who illegally endorsed Charlie.

You probably didn't realize that CC has ZERO support west of I-95.

2:40...from Sunday's Lakeland Ledger

Some of Gallagher's supporters say his past record as a moderate who was "pro-choice" has harmed his ability to turn hard to the right this year.

"Credibility of the messenger is very important, and it has been a handicap for him," said Rep. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican and stalwart supporter of socially conservative issues.

1:13
Terminator is swimming for shore after the Q Poll's realease, swim termie!! swim!!, hey did you tell david and Gopn1 you were jumping ship!!! PRICELESS!!
-------------------
"For Crist, Too Much of a Good Thing?"
terminator said...
6:52 PM, June 15, 2006

....."Naysayers, talk to me then. If all the polls are still pointing to Charlie Crist in late August then I'll concede your point."...
--------------------

There is a "mass exodus" ongoing of folks jumping ship like Termie from the GallagheerTanic!!!, major squables breaking out among Gallagher shrinking core team again!!!!!!! Guess Mike has worn out his welcome!! PRICELESS!!!!

2:42 penny for prisons was a referendum...that would've been a sales tax hike...that Gallagher supported

sugar was a fee on the growers to clean up operations..yes, they would've passed it on to consumers, but only consumers purchasing sugar

pennies for prisons would've taxed EVERYTHING we buy (that is taxable)

as it turned out, the prisons didn;t need to be built because Chain Gang Charlie helped lower crime in this state throughout the '90's and as AG since '02

[terminator]

CV:
I never ever said that.

That was "fake terminator" masquerading trying to take advantage of my celebrity status on this blog!

Once again, why aren't you signing anymore?