Will Gov. Charlie Crist need to switch parties during Senate campaign?

Kos envisions Charlie Crist pulling an Arlen Specter and saving his bacon by switching to Democratic party - and would be fine with that: I predict that by the end of the year (or end of Q1 2010 at the latest), the polls in that Republican primary will be tied.

So the question will then be - at what point will Crist realize that he's in deep s---? It took collapsing poll numbers for Specter to hit the "panic!" button and switch parties. That's probably what it'll take for Crist to realize his problems, and when he does, he'll have a tough call to make: go down with his party, or pull a Specter and ditch it for better electoral prospects on a different line. That could mean a switch to the Democratic Party where he'd likely be no worse than the other senator from Florida, Bill Nelson - a marginally good Democrat, a step up from Landrieu, Nebraska's Nelson, and the Wal-Mart Twins (and no better).

Not sure Kos fully appreciates what kind of campaigner - and fundraiser - Crist is, or his ability to define and drown an opponent who poses a serious threat. Charlie ain't Arlen.

*

Comments

[Stop it !]

Adam: Your man love for Charlie continues at a staggering clip.

[.0]

Half the Governor's Office staff is already Democrat including many top advisors. What would be the difference. Really.

[tommy]

He wouldnt become a democrat, he'd just run as an independent and stomp everyone.

[Tampa Bay Conservative]

Silly Season arrives with the notion Charlie Crist would turn Democrat. That one can't pass the laugh test. The Kos obviously views Florida politcs from afar. FYI Kos -- Orlando is not the state capital.

[Odom didn't give money to Crist]

If Crist was a real Republican, he would have received a lot of money from Jay Odom - like Bill McCollum and others!

[Southern Belle]

If Christ planned to switch, he would have so last year. Why jump onto a ship as it begins to sink. BHO will be a one termer like Carter and Christ wants a political future. By mid-terms it will become clear that we need to bring back the grown-ups.

[Pay attention]

The real point is not whether or not Crist would switch parties, it's that a liberal like Markos Moulitsas wouldn't have a problem with it.

What does it say about Charlie Crist and his claims that he is a "consistent conservative" that liberal idealogues like Kos find him interchangeable with Democrats like Bill Nelson?

[Jason Straight]

He is a Republican aND his non record is shameful We dont want him you can keep him..When he is elected he will take his place in the permanant minority..What has he done to qualify as a Dem?Judicial appoinments of all his Frat Bros who were failed attys?Do nothing for working men BY APPROVING A SCREW JOB ON cOMP..Keep him please..He will beat Rubio hands down and win in nov.,McDoodie will loose to Sink and thats a fact jack.With the changing Demographic and registration trend the GOP will be lucky to hang on to the Gerrymandered Legislature.We have had enough keep Crist !

[Paul D. Harvill]

Well said, Adam.

Charlie ain't Arlen.

In more ways than you likely intended.

Arlen is a better Senator than Charlie will likely be.

[we don't want him]

The work comp bill will keep people on food stamps and medicaid for years,not to mention why do those companies get money from employers?
The stream lining of permits aka fill in the wetlands and heck with the aquifer.No need to have water experts,developers know far more then the water boys and girls.
Signing all those fee increases will bite you in the butt among the Dems.

[Wondering who Kos is?]

Who in the godd@mn hell is Kos. I spent the whole time I read that article wonder what the hell the guy was talking about. Only at the end did I realize that Kos must be a person.

Please, set a little scene for the reader.

[Southern Bell]

Belle, what grownups? The Republicans, the ones who ran the economy into the ground, the moral crusaders who screw around as much as the liberals, the strong defense team who all took deferments and send young untrained and unprepared heroes to war. These guys arn't growups, they all belong in elementary school detention for being clowns.

[Oxford]

Not going to vote for Charlie, but he will be elected by a wide margin. Why? Because he has not been held accountable for his bad administration by the media.

[George]

Why not become a democrat? At least he would serve in the majority and have real power in the senate. If he wins as a republican he will just be part of a shrinking minority who just whines "no" to everything. Florida would get alot more too if we elect the democrat whoever it is.

[TA MAN]

Crist ditzed ta wong peeps.

Devron, you and C (GONE)

You both are not in Kansas anymore

[Equalizer]

This is just great, another day where the Tan Man gets chipped away at! Momentum is a beautiful thing. Just wait until the polls come out after a statewide blitz ad campaign runs where the Tan Man is tied in a gordian knot with the stimulus package and taxing energy more.

[Jim]

lol, this is too funny. First off, Florida voters do not take kindly to flip-flopping politicians. Gov Crist political career would be over if he switch to democrat. He believes in Reagan conservatism and would not fit in as a democrat either. If he loses the primary (ain't going to happen by the way), his best bet is to run again in 2012 against Bill Nelson.

[Jim]

KOS is a liberal political site that is a laughingstock to most Americans.

hope that clears it up 9:20

[2010 COMES CHANGE AGAIN]

New polls in Virginia & New Jersey has Republicans taking over the governors mansion from democrats.

Pres. Obama is getting very nervous and has already started campaigning for Gov Corzine. He was around 20 points down in last months poll.

[Clueless Smith]

Who but a liberal lemming would even read the Daily Kos, oh Adam Smith a clueless liberal that could never get a job a real paper.

[Jason Straight]

Hey Obama is wildly popular in FLORIDA...The GOP has had its moment in the dun..If the redistricting amendment passes its goose is cooked ..the Gerrymander has kept it in power past its tim..Do you thinks Mc Doodie has any chance with Floridas economy in shambles?

[whasup]

Shucking Chuckles might switch parties?

I thought this Dumbocrat had already joined Demobamacrats.

[Philosopher]

Crist won't be able to define Rubio or Meek because his failures will be the story of the race:
1. Failed on insurance reform
2. Failed on property taxes
3. Failed on restraining gambling expansion

[Philosopher? I don't think so!]

1. My insurance went down by $2,000

2.My taxes have gone down and will go down more this year

3.We have gambaling in Florida why not get the money from it dumbo?

P.S. Your Mamma would be so ashamed that she raised an idiot.

[Buzzard]

1. Your insurance went down because you're now insured by Bob's Discount Insurance and Janitorial Supplies Store
2. Your taxes went down because it's now being appraised closer to it's real value. They MAY go down more this year-along with your home's value- as we slide deeper into economic doo-doo. But chances are millage rates will be raised.
3. We have gambling in Florida. Ain't that an accomplishment.

P.S. I'm sure most of our Mammy's are all proud of most of us.

[Gator(R)]

Buzzard - good points.

I have insurance with 'Bob' as well. It was cheaper. Hope 'Bob' has enough in reserves for me and 'Philosopher'. I hope he has a crappy house:)

[Cisbemarlian]

Crist spent alot of time in the back rows of the Florida House this year. Just watched an observe him next year. Working them liberal leftist in the back is his forte'!

[how 'bout them repiggies]

The right-wing dingalings continue to alienate themselves from the main-stream Americans.

Personally, I would love to see the repiggies radicalize even further. A few more self-hammered nails in the coffin would be just the ticket for me.

[Equalizer]

Just great, we have a socialist out of convenience bragging about his cheaper property insurance becasue the government is subsidizing it on the back of the taxpayers. Once again the GOP is privatizing the benefits and socializing the risk. Sounds like a lot of Crist supporters will be first in line to get their "public option" health insurance policy.

[Does he support leftist (i.e. liberal) dictators like all other major Democrats?]

In a stunning decision, Dictator Barack Hussein Obama and his State-run media—along with ObamaFriends Dictators Fidel Castro (Cuba) and Hugo Chavez (Venezuela)—announced that he supports Honduran President Manuel Zelaya against the democratic Honduran forces. Note: After Obama’s stance on Iran, when he initially supported the ruling mullahs, this should come as no surprise to anyone.

[ufalumni]

Wheres the article about Rubio switching parties and becoming a Libertarian?

[Heck yes these guys help sooooooo much.Also thank you Rush for supplying this helper to our cause]

Well how 'bout them repiggies,didn't take long for your wish to come true.
Between you and me,we couldn't pay someone to do this much work to help the Democratic cause.I want to shake this guys hand but hate I gooey stuff on my hands.

"In a stunning decision, Dictator Barack Hussein Obama and his State-run media—along with ObamaFriends Dictators Fidel Castro (Cuba) and Hugo Chavez (Venezuela)—announced that he supports Honduran President Manuel Zelaya against the democratic Honduran forces. Note: After Obama’s stance on Iran, when he initially supported the ruling mullahs, this should come as no surprise to anyone.

Posted by: Does he support leftist (i.e. liberal) dictators like all other major Democrats? | July 02, 2009 at 10:51 AM"

[Buzzard]

Expeditious though it may be, I can't see Charlie being part of the pro abortion party.

[Buzzard]

10:22 - Morning, pig! Just get up?

[how 'bout them repiggies]

You repiggies screwed everything up in this nation and in the world with two terms of the Bush/Cheney regime.

The guy at 11:28 must be a total fool to ignore all that.
Where was that bozo during all the off-the-books trillions
approved by the repiggie majority for Iraq? 11:28 vastly demonstrates the repiggies as the Party of Stupid these days.

The Iraq imbroglio cured me of ever having any hope for the repiggie party. As this blog so often illustrates, one has to be
a lunatic, a moron, a crook or a sadist to be a repiggie these days.

[Ned]

What? Are you going to quote twitter next? You cheapen your newspaper by quoting idiotic websites like the one in your article. This is one of those numbskulls that believes because they say it, it is true. You just lost quite a bit of respect from this reader.

[Nope]

Did someone confuse Kos with The Onion? That's as dumb as h.b.t. pig's drivel.

[Gator(R)]

Obama just won the Iraq war so we can tick that off his to do list.

Have to admit he has some cojones.

[jason straight]

Tort reform=Dumping miliions of private corp liability into medicaid HUH?We maimum floriduh pays um..

[andrea thorn]

Crist's insurance plan will fail if a big hurricane hits this year, thus requiring Obama to step in. That will swing the state to the left, and Charlie can switch parties in conjunction.

With Republicans like Crist, we don't need Democrats.

[Jodie]

I seem to remember Tom Gallagher claiming that Crist wasn't a proper conservative Republican in the 2006 gubenatorial primaries. That didn't seem to hurt Crist too much back then; if Crist wins or doesn't win the Senate primary now, it's going to be again based on whether voters like his record in Tallahassee and not whether he's properly ideologically pure.

[terminator]

Jodie:
in the words of the late great Malcolm X: "you've been had, you've been bamboozled".
For all those blue haired retirees at Sun City Center who thought Charlie was "cute" with his fake tan and silver dyed hair, the chickens have come home to roost.
Chuck has screwed the pooch and left Florida citizens (those he professes to love so much) in the lurch while he shamelessly seeks higher office.
Wonder how many folks who voted for him in 06 would have done so if they knew Chuck planned on prostituting himself to the McCain campaign and then when that didn't turn out decided to run for Senate.
What kind of Gov bails after three years in office and a state in economic chaos?

[John]

Bob's Discount Insurance and Janitorial Supplies Store is fine with me as long as someone or the state pays out if there is a claim.

I love the cheaper insurance. Thank you gov crist!!

[RedFox]

Crist veto of HB 1171 has shown everone he shouldn't even be in politics. I don't think any party wants him.

[Reagan Voter]

Charlie-get out of the Republican party, you are a disgrace. Rubio come take the Senate. We need a straight ticket Republican sweep. McCollum, Rubio and Miller (district 24)