Gov. Charlie Crist reports raising $4.3 million for Senate bid

Charlie Crist announced that he raised a whopping, Florida-record-busting $4.3 million for his U.S. Senate campaign. Not clear yet how much of that can be spent in primary and how much is restricted to the general election. Finance director Dane Eagle says details such as cash on hand and won't come out until the July 15 filing deadline.

“I am humbled by the support that I am receiving from the people of Florida and around the country,” said Gov. Crist. “I take their support seriously and continue to work every day to honor the trust and confidence they have placed in me.”

The campaign says Crist averaged $86,000 per day over 50 days.

"Clearly Gov. Crist’s record of cutting taxes, fighting for Florida’s students and fighting for the safety, rights and freedoms of all Floridians is resonating with people across the state and around the nation," said campaign co-chairman and former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack.

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Comments

[john]

Corruption at its best. It is easy to raise money.

[john]

Could someone show where all the money is coming from?

[jennifer]

Can someone please tell me who the idiots are that keep believing in this fool!

[Cynical Idealist]

Jennifer....they're called REPUBLICANS!

[Mike]

He meant to say...

“I am humbled by the lobbyist support that I am receiving from the people of Florida and around the country,”

[DR]

They can raise $4.3M to fund a stupid campaign, but the state needs to cut funds from cops, firemen, etc. Yeah, that makes sense. That looks like someone who cares about the community.
And where does the money come from? How much is the salary of a politician again? Getting $4.3M to play the pawn of big businesses. America is starting to crumble like the Roman Empire. Corruption from within. Just sick.

[Joe Cool]

How much came from out of state? How many donors gave the maximum, thereby rendering them useless for the remainder of the campaign? The longer Rubio can stay in the race, and have his small, in-state donors give multiple times, the worse it is for Gov. Crist.

[YourReaderWantToKnow]

Can we get some real news...? Like, what is brewing in the Michael Jackson tragedy?

[out with Crist]

Pathetic. Maybe if he actually worked as hard at being a governor as he does raising money and running for other offices, Florida might be in a little better shape. Doubtful though, after all, we are talking about Charlie Crist and the rest of the Florida Legislature...

[John Warm]

1:14 - Are you dumb or naive, because those are your only two options.

[)(]

i'd like to see the details of the fundraising - who donated, when and where the fundraiser was held - lined up next to Charlie's governor schedule.

based on the amount of time he spends in the gov office, $4.3m seems shockingly low!

[terminator]

cynical idealist:
you know that's propaganda at best.
the real Republicans who truly believe in lower taxes, fiscal discipline, smaller government and more freedom are supporting Marco (that would be called the "base").
RINO's, sychophants and the monied interests are supporting "stuffed suit, empty chair" Chuck Crist.
Chuck Crist, bought and paid for by the special interests!
FloriDUH, last in education.....first in corruption!

[The "Forgotten" People]

Proof positive that Chuck is the best empty suit, corrupt, self-serving, closet gay political puppet that special interest money can buy. How long before his puppet masters pull the “do it the way we tell you or we’ll go public with your real gender preference” card? Trust me, they already have the photos.

If this man (?) actually gets elected to anything again by the good people of this State… then we are not good people at all, and deserve what we’re turning into.

[Steve]

I am a republican, and I am not voting for him. I don't know of any republicans voting for him. To me he is a democrat. His policies sure match a dem. He supports Obama/Global warming/ no oil drilling. Sounds like a liberal to me.

[Steve]

I am a republican, and I am not voting for him. I don't know of any republicans voting for him. To me he is a democrat. His policies sure match a dem. He supports Obama/Global warming/ no oil drilling. Sounds like a liberal to me.

[You'll get what you pay for]

Doubtful this is only Primary money what is the real total?

[Reasonable GOPer]

Wow - what a flat out rejection of Rubio and his far-right agenda.

[how 'bout them repiggies]

Didn't all you clowns line up to vote for Crist two years ago?

Oh well, the attention span is short with the little gnomes of Teabagistan.

I'm happy to see that you folks have rediscovered fiscal responsibility and limited government, after being asleep at the wheel during the eight years of the Bush/Cheney regime, nodding off blissfully during the multi-trillion dollar repiggie testosterone boost called Iraq, and dreaming sweetly during the Bush/Cheney snooping into private financial affairs and intimate details of private life.

You were against it, before you were for it.

You were for it, before you were against it.

Ah, the sheer inscrutability of repiggie logic...

[ufalumni]

Heres a reality for the Rubio people: the REC/ tea party/ and republican club people are a very very small portion of the Republican Party. It takes money to win elections and reach the majority of voters who are not involved. In some political activity. Crist raised 4 million dollars more than Rubio. If Rubio was running for mayor of a large city in Florida he wouldn't have enough money to reach voters, the whole state of Florida is currently out of reach on his budget. All that being said, Crist has a 70% approval rating among Republicans.. clearly the Republicans that dislike him are the minority.

[Money doesn't vote but Primary voters do.]

http://www.irreverentview.com/national-politics/chambliss-is-pimping-for-charlie

[...]

2:26 - "snooping into private financial affairs"

I do not really know who started it, but what administration is asking for private financial records of UBS?

[Brill]

Shame on you Charlie Crist to accept money from the Sembler Company while they let little Josiah Wineberger suffer a long court battle!!!!!!!

[Tampa Bay Conservative]

A very strong vote of confidence for Crist and his conservative approach here in Florida. Marco Rubio raised just $340,000, when to be viable in his run, he simply must outraise Crist. It's clear that is not going to happen.

[Buzzard]

Holy Mackerel! Considering most of us won't chip in more than $100 to a politician's campaign, and considering with the economy, it's a lot less for most people, that's gee-whiz, something like 50,000 donors!!!!

[brill = retard]

Hey brill, Semblers are not that keen on Mr. Crist, they just have no choice since he is the sitting gov..Any get a life why dont u abt wineberger

[Buzzard]

I bet marco wishes he had 50,000 contributors like Charlie does!

[Governor Limp Wrist is a Joke]

Charlie Crist is an embarrassment to the United States of America. I am proud to say I voted for Jim Davis two years ago over this clown. How does this man have a high approval rating? I know of no one either Republican or Democrat who likes the man.

[brill]

Dr. Crist was on the board of SEED Inc, Sembler ran Straight, Inc both Charlie and Brent were in SEED. They both did illegal drugs.

Both SEED and Straight abused kids.

Brent and Charlie are best friends. Crist is Sembler's "boy."

Otherwise Crist would not have recently given Sembler's wife an award for her work with Straight, Incorporated which abused thousands of children.

Check your facts

[Civic Activist]

Here is one Democrat that likes the Gober. I've never voted for him in the past, but will be voting for him in 2010. He, like all of us, has his faults but has proven that he is not a narrow minded Republican.

[Karl Marx]

Charlie Crist is the next Senator From Fla.....Charlie Crist is a panzy and a pathetic politician who is a poor excuse for a human being. Rubio is no better.

[easy there marquito]

love all the rubio backers who think that Crist raising more than marquito is "corruption at its best." I wonder if they'd see it that way if it was the other way around ...

whelp c-ya marquito ... you're toast.

[zenator]

The $380,000 that Rubio raised during the first quarter equates to less than 8% of the $4.3 million raised by Crist. Put differently, with a fundraising average of $86,000 per day, Crist raised more in 4 days than Rubio did in 3 months.

There is a none to subtle message here. "If you can't run with the big dogs, then stay on the porch..."

[Buzzard]

"There is a none-too subtle message here. I can be bought, but I ain't cheap."

[Charlie Wins]

The right wring just can't stand the further proof that Charlie truly represents what most people believe it. The other R running is too far-right, the vocal minority may think he's great, but that's out of touch. If they continue, the party will be a dinosaur quicker than you think.

[jim]

Crist raises campaign funds...Citizens raises their rates...coincidence? I think not.

[Buzzard]

This is not will of the people money. This much money, this early in the game stinks of big guys with big bucks who want to bury the whipper-snapper Rubio before he can get out of the gate. Because they know he gets a start, he'll win.

[terminator]

Zenator:
like we said before.....Jeb is the wildcard in this one.
If he commits for Marco then you've got a race. If he doesn't it's certain Marco will lose.
Charlie will have a hard time defeating Meek if Obama's poll numbers stay in the 50 something range or higher.
Not only do the Dems have a 600,000 person voter registration advantage, the Obama fundraising machine in play here in Florida, the ability to match Crist in campaign fundraising and lastly Charlie has little accomplishment to run on.
Most voters will remeber him as a nice guy who was unable to pull the state out of a bad recession and one who bailed out before he finished his term.
Ps No one likes a quitter.

[how 'bout them repiggies]

The Rubio lovers of Teabagistan are flush with bluster but not too well endowed financially.

Perhaps Buzzard could hold a bake sale, or forego his beer allowance this week.

[']

You nailed it Buzzard. And it ought to friggin' be illegal. This country stinks to high heaven anymore. I guess the only advantage to Charlie from the Chocolate Factory becoming a Senator, is that we will finally be rid of him. He'll be a nobody buried in the halls in DC. Bet a scandal will bust open his private life quicker up there than anyone has been able to down here...

[Buzzard.]

No way I'll give up my beer, Pig! But I hear there's a kegger fundraiser this weekend. Wanna come?

[Carol]

3:52 PM... I hope you're right. He needs to be out of areas where he can hurt people with his ignorance and stupidity. Maybe he ought to toss some of that money to families who have no bread on the table because their daddy or mommy, perhaps both, lost their income because of Mr Brilliant.

He is pathetic and sickening. And, single-handedly, has ruined many, many, many peoples lives (the present and future). I cannot wait until he has to answer for this mess. Hopefully I live to see it.

What goes around comes around...

[Claud P]

this pig person is a freaking idiot. no wonder he/she/it voted for this clown in the first place. crist is an idiot as well, and i hope he looses this race, his job, and that fake wife of his.

[john]

Crist is just like Sara Palin except he has no shame and still collects a paycheck. He quit as Gov. as far back as I can remember. This time why dont we all vote for the guy that collected less to run. You know someone honest. Besides Crist is just looking for a paycheck.

[BRILL = no clue]

Hey BRILL---just becasue they do things in public like give awards doesnt mean they are to keen on each other. You say i should check my facts, why do i have a feeling i know more than u do. and secondly the org was shut down so get over yourself. your probably they guy who went digging in mels garbage

[Dream On]

Does anyone seriously believe that the Obama forces will turn out like that agin for Meek? There are so many reasons that won't happen, one of which is that Charlie is not John McCain. But Jeb will not endanger his "status" or his ego by endorsing Rubio when Rubio is so far behind.

[zenator]

Termie:
Rubio is a former House speaker, who has never run state-wide, who has under 25% name recognition in his home county of Dade and who has no support from the RPOF. In the first quarter, he demonstrated that cannot raise the money he needs to compete. No way that Jeb burns up his political capital backing a candidate that appears, at least at this moment, to be a sure loser.

If Marco was smart, he would follow Gelber's lead and jump into the AG race, which is wide-open on the Repub side. He won't because he isn't.

[how 'bout them repiggies]

You little repiggies in Teabagistan should hold a white elephant sale for Rubio.

Your party is overflowing with white elephants.

[Buzzard.]

Zenator - you must be living under a rock if you think Rubio has under 25% name recognition in his home county. Hell, he has better than that statewide. And he would have money to compete if you'd just open your fat wallet a little bit further to make it an even race.

Regardless which one is the candidate, Rubio or Crist, either would be better than the altenative...a (wretch, excuse me) democrat. America will be fortunate if she survives the curse of Obama-Pelosi.

[Ross]

Best Senator money can buy.

[how 'bout them repiggies]

Little repiggies could always contact repiggie Senator Ensign of Nevada for some extra dough.

He just paid his married girlfriend's family 96 grand. These "defenders of traditional marriage" certainly do have expensive tastes in adultery, don't they?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/09/ensign-paid-mistress-fami_n_228931.html