The buzz: Crist may announce next week
The buzz in the Capitol is getting louder that Gov. Charlie Crist will announce his future political plans as early as next week. One source said Monday will be the date, and another said it will be next week, but no specific day.
Crist has said he would announce his plans after the session, which will end Friday. To do it this quickly suggests he wants to enter the Senate race as quickly as possible to prevent Marco Rubio from gaining early traction among Republican super-voters. In addition, if Crist were planning to run for re-election as governor, there really is no need to make a re-election announcement this quickly.
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From the writers of the St. Petersburg Times, The Buzz offers the latest news in Florida politics. This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the St. Petersburg Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.
Ha ha ha - let Rubio twist in the wind for a while before you call his bluff and make him back down, Charlie. Lil' Napoleon is going to have swallow that big ego of his or waste his last dime of politcal capital in a losing cause
Posted by: bawk bawk bawk! | May 05, 2009 at 03:43 PM
What a big secret.
Let's hope that the people of Florida wise up and see what is happening.
Maybe we can get a Democrat as our next Governor and build a surplus like Gov.
Chiles did?
Can we possibly hope that the little old ladies will also wise up and not send this empty suit to Washington.
Posted by: Paul | May 05, 2009 at 03:47 PM
I hope Chuck jumps in. Then we can get rid of both of these worthless hacks in one fell swoop.
Chuck and the Rube both gone… what a great day in Florida that would be!
Posted by: The "Forgotten" People | May 05, 2009 at 04:02 PM
Was this a surprise? Steve B's analysis is absolutely correct.
All Crist is concerned with is the next title he can get next to his name. He is the quintessential political opportunist who will say anything and do anything to keep his poll numbers up in time for the next election.
Wait until Florida goes through Obama's stimulus money and then is stuck with the strings that money came attached with. Where will the money come from them, huh Charlie? Where will Chuckles the Clown be?
In his mind, he'll be up in Washington, palling around with his fellow Democrats looking for ways to further screw the Republican Party.
Unless we can stop him and send him back to his rented condo in St. Pete.
Posted by: CRIST=SPECTER | May 05, 2009 at 04:02 PM
Paul maybe we can see our schools become the wors like Chiles and the Democrats did. Only JEB with the much-maligned FCAT and finally seeing our kids rise from Democrat ignorance.
Posted by: George | May 05, 2009 at 04:12 PM
Jeb's Floriduuh Legacy!
"Last in Education; First in Corruption!"
... go figure
Posted by: . | May 05, 2009 at 04:29 PM
This is good, Rubio has already gained traction.
Crist is about to get Spectered by a backstabbed conservative base.
Who would want him voting on a Supreme Court nominee after seeing who he nominated?
Posted by: Equalizer | May 05, 2009 at 05:07 PM
His plans need to be focussing on the job of Governor that he sought and was elected to. Stop with the political opportunistics. Do the job you were elected to do, Governor.
Posted by: mike | May 05, 2009 at 05:47 PM
Rubio will beat Crist in the primary and that will set up a Rubio vs. Meeks general election.
Posted by: Philosopher | May 05, 2009 at 06:21 PM
Adam Smith's recent article regarding the "spector" of a Crist-Rubio showdown was an excellent analysis of the situation. This GOP primary race has the potential to be a nationwide proxy over the future "heart and soul" of the Republican Party.
And, if Governor Bush gets involved by offering his support to his protege Marco Rubio, it will be an interesting and competitive race.
While his politics are a little too social conservative for me, I like Speaker Rubio - as he is young, articulate, energetic and dynamic. Support him or not, Rubio builds his public service around ideas, healthy debates and discussion over policy.
This is in sharp contrast to Crist, who has build a career by being the consumate political gameshow host. Nice smile, good tan, pleasant demeanor, always well rested... and an empty suit, void of any new ideas for solving some of the state and nation's most pressing problems. Basically, Crist wants to BE something, Rubio wants to DO something.
Crist may very well be the better General Election candidate, but every politican has a "shelf-life". I hope
Floridians will agree that it is time for him to go.
-mm
Posted by: mike m | May 05, 2009 at 06:49 PM
bye bye Chuck!
we're glad we barely got to know you.
talk about a sorry excuse for a Governor.
can anyone else think of a Gov who bailed mid term to run for another elected office? I didn't think so.
Chuck is doing Floridians a HUGE favor by leaving early.
Posted by: terminator | May 05, 2009 at 07:41 PM
Can he run for president of Afganistan? Because if he did, the Taliban would have a new feel-good president. What a joke of a Governor. Just get the hell out of FL Charlie, anywhere - PLEASE
Posted by: Get Lost A-Hole | May 05, 2009 at 08:26 PM
is washington the place that any republican wants to be right now?
aren't the conservative gop'ers on the ropes? aren't the moderate gop'ers throwing in the towel?
Posted by: izzy | May 05, 2009 at 10:12 PM