Crist: 'Keep swinging' the blues away

Floridians are losing their homes and watching retirement funds vanish. Gov. Charlie Crist's advice: Keep swinging.

"It's just like I say about the Tampa Bay Rays. ... That's an important message to our Floridians. Stay in the game, stay at the plate, keep swinging, keep working hard, do the fundamentals. We’re going to get through this. I know it's challenging. But a great president once said, 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' Those words are very important for us to remember today. Don't be fearful. Be confident. Be smart. But be confident. We're Floridians. We’ll be fine. We’ve just got to be smart."

Taking reporters' questions this morning, Crist sounded somewhat less bullish about the McCain campaign, which faces a do-or-die situation in Florida and has yielded ground to Democrat Barack Obama in polls.

"I'll be involved, but my first duty is to the people of Florida and to be their governor," he said. "I take that role very very seriously. So when I have time to be able to help, I’ll try to do that. But I know where my first loyalty is, and it’s to the 20-million people who live in this state that I love."

Crist, among those passed over for VP in favor of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, ducked questions about the sharp attacks she leveled on Obama during a two-day trip to Florida.

"Everybody runs their campaign the way they think is best to run it," he said when questioned about Palin's reference to Obama "palling around" with terrorists. "What I am proud of is the job she did in Florida as it related to getting out the message, firing up the base."

A few moments later, he said: "I think negative is in the eye of the beholder. There is always a back and forth, especially toward the ends of these campaigns. I don’t know if it’s fun for anybody."

While Palin is undeniably exciting the base, there is far less evidence that she is bringing in moderates and undecided voters. Asked if things would be different if he were running as McCain's No. 2, Crist said:

"I have no idea. I have no idea. I think what's important is people vote for the top of the ticket. I think he’s going to win Florida. So I think the question will become moot pretty fast."

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Comments

I'll be involved but my first duty is to the people of Florida and be their governor," he said. "I take that role very very seriously. So when I have time to be able to help, I’ll try to do that. But I know where my first loyalty is to and it’s to the 20 million people who live in this state that I love."

[I love Crist]

I love Gov. Crist, but he had better stay away from the McCain campaign before he gets linked to them and hurts his own re-election chances. I'm a Republican and I am not proud to say that I am even having a hard time sticking up for McCain anymore.

Crist was not chosen for VP and you can see he is pretty sour about it still.

We're Floridians We’ll be fine. We’ve just got to be smart."

fund education you asssmunch -- we are not smart

[Professor]

Biden says, "... You can't call yourself a maverick when all you've ever been is a sidekick."

McCain retorts, "At least I'm not a sidekick to the sidekick of an organ-grinder!"

Biden says, "I'm no sidekick. I'm a dirt bag politico/attorney from a slave state and once in office, we will have the sidekick of the organ-grinder dancing our tune."

McCain says, "That's what I'm afraid of Joe."

"It's a Wonder to Learn!"

[Tiny Tim]

Governor Crist is the smartest man I know, first GOP Chairman Greer sets up the pitch that things are going bad in florida and then Crist hits it out of the Park. The Mccain team has run the worst camapaign ever seen in Florida!

Is this the state version of the "fundamentals of the economy are great". What is Crist thinking. Now is the time to be annnoucing bold state economic initiatives, daily if you must. Now is the time to be reporting on increased state spending of your intiatives for florida business form monthly agency reports to you. Not talk about "keep swinging" to people that are not even in the ballpark because they are at home trying to keep foreclosure away, the bills paid and our childs healthcare taken care of. This shows how out of touch Crist seems right now. With no house, child and I mean, swooning from being now in love without an economic conern in the world, Crist needs to get listen people around him that understand and stop with the "smile and it will go away because its just all in your head" talk.

[Campaign Manager]

I suppose we should all should just be happy that Gov. Crist finally has a recovery plan.

The Republican Party in Florida and it's leaders are running from this mess called the McCain campaign as fast as they can. Since the day they arrived they have treated everyone from the Governor, Party Chairman, County leaders, RPOF staff, like dog poop. Pay backs our HELL! Good Move Governor Crist...

[Jared]

Too bad Gov. Crist wasn't so concerned with the people of Florida a few months ago. He was too busy running all over the country with John McCain trying to be his VP. Now that McCain's chances don't look so hot, Crist wants nothing to do with him.

Let's see.. people who are laid off, struggling to buy gas & groceries, and still waiting for their property tax "to drop like a rock" should simply be smart and confident and that'll solve their problems?

Listen up all of you folks facing eviction today from the Largo trailer park, since the park owner did not pay water bills:

"Don't be fearful. Be confident. Be smart. But be confident." Gov Crist.

Crist is a buffoon. Silly, happy talk while we are facing the worst economic times since the Depression. He's an embarrassment.

Arlene and Buzz just dont get it, At a Palin event Nat Commiteewoman Sharon Day asked for a Ticket to the Event and was told there were none left. plus they dont even talk to the county REC leaders and how they treated our Party Chairman was terrible, thats why people are not working hard anymore on the local level. This women Arlene does not return phone calls, e-mails and I hear she is very rude to people. No way to win a key state like Florida.

[Your move, RPOF]

Smart Republicans need to make sure they don't get linked to some of the ugliness that's starting to characterize these Palin hate rallies.

If people start to associate our base with the kind of folks who wear bedsheets on weekends, we're going to lose a lot more than this election.

The McCain brain team of Arlene, Buzz, Rick, Mike, will be gone on Nov 4th. The Crist machine of Lemieux, Greer, Eikenberg, Heffley, Rimes and others will still be running things and working for a great Governor on Nov 5th!

[I know what you did last summer]

Arlene, there's 26 days left to start convincing the Governor and Chairman how loyal you are to them and how much you tried to protect and help them. Ready set GO!

Life is not a baseball game Chuck! But since you have never personally owned a home, I guess you can't relate!

[Jason Straight]

Get rid of this bum pleeze!

I can hear Crist already. "I like that Barack Obama. He's an interesting guy."

3:12 - Too late. Association made.

"Stay in the game, stay at the plate, keep swinging, keep working hard, do the fundamentals."

This guy is a freaking idiot!

CAN SOMEONE PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE FIND US A GOVERNOR TO RUN AGAINST THIS MORON IN 2010?

"I'll be involved but my first duty is to the people of Florida and to be their governor,"

... this pinhead doesn't even know where his office is. What a groveling and pathetic embarrassment Chuck Crisp has become.

Crist is up to bat, George is on the mound and Greer is the umpire, Crist swings and misses , Wait Greer call's it a ball, How can that Be ?.

Doesn't he have a heated pool to swim in or something?

3 13??? Heffley? HAHAHA

stop putting Gov Crist and Greer together. He will be gone very soon. The Gov will not. Hows the Amex Jimbo? Moron.

[McCrist's World]

At the Door: “Knock-Knock-Knock”

From Inside: “Who is it?”

At the Door: “It’s the County Sheriff, Mrs. Jones”

From Inside: “What can I do for you, Sheriff?”

At the Door: “I’m here to evict you for non-payment of your mortgage, Mrs. Jones”

From Inside: “You can’t; Chuck said I could ‘Stay in the game’!”

At the Door: “I’m sorry, Mrs. Jones, Chuck’s a clueless idiot, and you have to go.”

From Inside: “But Chuck said all I have to do is ‘keep working hard, do the fundamentals.’”

At the Door: “Do you know what those ‘fundamentals’ are, Mrs. Jones?”

From Inside: “Not really, although his buddy John said they were… well… me!”

At the Door: “I’m sorry, Mrs. Jones, but John is an idiot too.”

From Inside: “Well… what are the fundamentals?”

At the Door: “It’s called; pay the freaking mortgage, Mrs. Jones!”

From Inside: “But I can’t because I got laid-off and Wall Street took the rest!”

At the Door: “Open the door, Mrs. Jones before I kick it down and tazer you’re A S S”

From Inside: “BANG!”…….

At the Door: “Mrs. Jones!… Mrs. Jones… Knock, Knock, Knock… hello, Mrs. Jones…

Greer is the most hated Chair in RPOF history. He writes all the pro Greer posts. Right "hammer" ? He will be gone soon. Promise.

NO, Greer is the second most hated chair in history. Anyone remember Van Poole?

Delmar , Rimes and other RPOF staff write all the Great things about Greer.

Who writes all the Pro-Crist posts

[Murph Knows All]

"hammer" aka "olde time party boss" must be getting desprat , now hes throwing his own staff under the bus. Stop blogging chairmen and raise some money to cover them amx bills

[terminator]

some of you chuckleheads on here must be delusional.
Chuck Crist will go down in history as one of the worst Governors ever!
The guy doesn't have a clue what to do because he has no policies and no solutions (almost makes you long for the days of Jeb Bush).
McCain is going down then Charlie and his buddies including "the Maestro", Greer, Arlene and company are going down after that.
Chuck and company are one and done!

Ps I'm glad they didn't give Sharon Day a ticket. She's a b***h and doesn't deserve one!

[terminator]

some of you chuckleheads on here must be delusional.
Chuck Crist will go down in history as one of the worst Governors ever!
The guy doesn't have a clue what to do because he has no policies and no solutions (almost makes you long for the days of Jeb Bush).
McCain is going down then Charlie and his buddies including "the Maestro", Greer, Arlene and company are going down after that.
Chuck and company are one and done!

Ps I'm glad they didn't give Sharon Day a ticket. She's a b***h and doesn't deserve one!

[terminator]

some of you chuckleheads on here must be delusional.
Chuck Crist will go down in history as one of the worst Governors ever!
The guy doesn't have a clue what to do because he has no policies and no solutions (almost makes you long for the days of Jeb Bush).
McCain is going down then Charlie and his buddies including "the Maestro", Greer, Arlene and company are going down after that.
Chuck and company are one and done!

Ps I'm glad they didn't give Sharon Day a ticket. She's a b***h and doesn't deserve one!

From what I have seen the RPOF has done the ground work in creating various councils and coalitions of people willing to work on the common goal as well as putting more of their staff in the field. All the McCain camp had to do in Florida is tap into those resources since they were already limited to paid McCain staff. Instead of listening to what the ground troops were facing or how they see best to organize things in their region, it was the FL McCain staff way or the highway. What happened to all the fun? The Obama camp is letting their volunteers lead the way. Was it b/c that is what they were advised to do during their 2-day volunteer training?

RPOF used to be a good and fun place to work, people were happy, treated each other with respect and the party was doing great things until 6 mos ago. Please, Nov 4th can't get here soon enough.

5:49 I couldn't agree more

[RNC Insider]

GOV CRIST BETTER WORK HIS BUTT OFF WINNING FLORIDA OR HE WILL NEVER HAVE ANY FUTURE IN NATIONAL POLITICS!

Take that to heart.

[Jason Straight]

Obama win win Florida ,Dems will pick up seats in the legislature Bogdanoff is toast say Bye Bye to your little friend,

Crist saying the McCain campaign is not his first priority is transparantly self-serving: if McCain wins, Crist is pretty much locked out running for President in 2012 or 2016; if Obama wins, the door is still open for Crist.

Like a rat on a sinking ship, as soon as McCain is down in the polls, Charlie jumps. McCain camp must be furious!

Chuck Sucks... and he/she/it is one-n-done!

Thank God!