Charlie Crist supporters alarmed with Rubio

The most persistent rumor this week: Gov. Charlie Crist 44 percent Marco Rubio 30 percent in the race for U.S. Senate. The poll allegedly is the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s, but president Mark Wilson isn’t calling us back.

Is it true? A 14-point race? We have no idea. But Rubio people have told us about it. Crist people have told us about it. And the accounts of the five people from both camps to whom we spoke differ by only a percentage point or two.

Regardless, some of Crist’s top supporters are worried. They say that this isn't the only poll showing that Rubio is scratching and denting the Teflon of Charlie Crist, who has seen record job loss and home foreclosures plague his watch as governor. More and more, they say, likely Republican voters are leaning toward Rubio and away from Crist, who’s having trouble undoing his man-hug of Barack Obama.

Meantime, this morning, Florida’s unemployment rate hit 11 percentage points. A recent InsiderAdvantage poll showed Crist's job-approval ratings below 50 percent (but Crist's camp touted the higher poll numbers the Chamber released). And we hear that Crist’s camp is considering taking out ads on conservative radio – a sign of nervousness considering that the election is 10 months out. One market, Naples-Fort Myers, is the very location of the Obama affair. 

Crist has a considerable lead in name ID and campaign money. He has yet to start spending his money and, if need be, attacking Rubio. Risk: such attacks could bring Jeb Bush into the race on the side of Rubio, the literal sword bearer of Bush (who presented Rubio with his Sword of Chang). Clearly on Rubio's side: the Crist-loathing Club for Growth, which is poised to spend money to even up the odds.

Still, one top Crist supporter even speculated that Crist might consider withdrawing from the race and run for re-election. That probably won’t happen. But while the idea of Crist switching races is unlikely and probably absurd, the entertainment of such an absurdity by the Crist-can’t-lose crowd is noteworthy. They’re nervous. So is Crist, who’s unexpectedly dropping in at Republican committee meetings, where straw poll after straw by rank-and-file Republican base voters show the base favors Rubio.

Crist has presented his trademark what-me-worry face to the public, and he has dismissed the validity of straw polls. Yet he's showing far more interest in the race than he's letting on -- that is, straw polls don't matter, yet I'm campaigning for them..

Rubio has made such a dent by hitting the one-the-road chicken dinner circuit. Couple that with his aggressive use of cyberspace (Facebook and Twitter) and Rubio has a shot at upending the political wisdom by winning with retail politics in a TV state where elections are usually decided in 30-second intervals.

-- Marc Caputo

Comments

[I Luv Fake Wigs]

Ha ha ha, Cristi isn't a shoo-in for Senator, like he thought?

[george]

well, it wont be clear for a while, but it seems to me that rubee is the better candidate....for democrats and progressives, that is!

rubee will be appealilng to all the wingnuts, batkrap krazees, birthers, tenthers, tee-baggers, and the other effluvia at the bottom of the g.o.p barrell, leaving those with a lick of brains and common sense to vote for the democratic candidate....GO FOR IT, WINGNUTS, GO FOR IT!!

thanks a bunch!!

[Randall Stevens]

Going to pat myself on the back now...

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/09/marco-rubio-crushes-charlie-crist-in-another-rec-straw-poll.html#comments

Interesting thing going on... Charlie had to make a choice from the get-go... to attempt to participate or ignore the straw polls... given his positions on some issues, and the general perception that straw polls don't mean much... the decision was probably good...
The only problem Charlie now faces is that if Rubio gets within 10 points of him, he will need to reach out to the very people that have been voting against him, which will just further what most of us already know - he panders...
Add in that at that point, he will be lending credibility to Rubio, he really is in a catch 22...
Charlie's campaign has some tough choices at this point... but my guess is, there will be some vague 527 group created to begin questioning and bashing Rubio... and that will happen when/if Rubio gets within 15 points of Charlie... ultimately allowing Charlie to wash his hands of any negativity...
Posted by: Randall Stevens | September 18, 2009 at 10:22 AM

[Peter Rice]

Last evening (Thursday) Marco Rubio spoke at the Sarasota Republican Club to an over flow crowd of more than 200. Marco Rubio impresses and speaks the conservative policies of limited government, low taxes, and personal responsibility popular with almost all Republicans and conservatives. Marco Rubio connects with activist Republicans, those who volunteer, contribute funds, and will vote in the primary. Gov. Crist is far less popular with Republicans, in particular those who are active.

This Friday morning I heard the first radio advertisement for Gov. Crist on WFLA 970 AM in Tampa. The primary election is more than ten months away.

[terminator]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Life is beautiful! Chuck Crist, fatboy Greer, Frenchie Lemieux and the rest of the Crist brown nosers/butt boys are going to be eating sh*t come late August.

Charlie's numbers are going to continue falling and Marco's rising.

All the money on God's green earth is going to help the stuffed suit, empty chair, fake hair dyed, androgynous, spray tanned fairy known as Chuckles the Clown Crist.

He has been exposed for the fraud he is.

The base won't be supporting him even if he runs $10 million worth of ads.

As the old saying goes Charlie, "you make your bed and then you sleep in it".

Come September you'll be sleeping alone in your bed at your rented condo in downtown St. Pete thinking maybe you should have reported to work more often and actually did what you were supposed to rather than pretending you were a celebrity!

[2006 was a misread by LeMieux]

Crist thought he had beaten back the rise of Democrats----but the Democrats ran as conservative moderates, but rule like parasitic liberal socialists.....and Crist tied himself to that train........oops....

sorry Charlie

[Lyle]

Peter,

Why didn't Rubio talk about these things or do something when he was Florida Speaker?

That's my problem wth Rubio. Why now?

I don't buy it. Political convenience just won't cut it.

[2007---sucking face with liberal activits-----]

Charlie hugged and kissed man-made global warming activists Laurie David and Sheryl Crow.......ooopsss.....and LeMieux crowed that he, uhhmm, Charlies was the linchpin to solve the global warming crisis......oooopssss----we now know the Sun has other plans for our warm climate with its less active phase (and by the way--how much radiation does the earth core contribute to this dynamice planet----cause it awfully hot down there.........

[News]

Been on the Turnpike lately? The remodeled rest stops have new great restaurants with healthy food etc. Wonder if that would have happened if Rubio's crony had been allowed to keep the contract?

[Verity]

Lyle,
Rubio walked the walk as speaker too. Sounds like you aren't aware, but the House and Senate have to pass an identical bill and then the governor has to sign it. Rubio was always the Conservative, but the Senate and the Governor were adamant in their liberalism.

[T.D.]

I see the Cristies are being more aggressive on the blogs today. Wonder what that means...

[LEMIEUX=CRIST=SPECTER]

This is great news for Florida, for the Republican Party, and for decent Americans.

Likewise, it is horrible news for cronyism, turncoatism, RPOF slush fund corruption, Fatboy Greer, fat RPOF staffers, the Frenchman, Chuckles sycophants, Broward "God's Country" RINOs, putative Republican political opportunist hacks, John McCain, the Northeastern RINO establishment, Arlen Specter, and of course, the spray-tanned androgynous freak himself: Chuckles the Clown.

Rubio, a virtual unknown, is giving the sitting governor of (allegedly) his own party a major run for his money. He entered this race with almost zero name recognition outside Little Havana and the Capital Circle beltway, yet has galvanized the Republican base, has swept every straw poll conducted thus far, has more than doubled his fundraising, has risen almost 30 points in the polls in a few short months, has been endorsed by national conservative journalists, officials, and even talk radio hosts, and most importantly, has almost a year to continue the trend.

Chuckles the Clown, your backstabbing, RINO chickens are coming home to roost. I echo the sentiments of Termie when I say that your gig is up. I can't wait until January 2011 when you'll be sent home packing to that rented condo of yours, you worthless tool!

[people have become media voters]

Rubio did nothing as Speaker and his 100 ideas was a bust yet the press wants a race and they are making it happen. Not sure who would want to run for office now with all the mean nasty blogs and twisted truth press.

[Ralph]

11:11 He did. Crist sandbagged him. Governor trumps Speaker.

11:17 busy people don't generally have time to review Turnpike food. You clearly do.

BOTTOM LINE:
Charlie didn't made taxes drop like a rock.
Charlie didn't make insurance rates drop like a rock.
Charlie gave felons the right to vote back automatically.
Charlie embraced Obama and the socialism he stands for.
Charlie flirted with ACORN and the cheating THEY stand for.
Charlie is no Republican and all of Florida knows it. And we're about to let him know it too.

[LEMIEUX=CRIST=SPECTER]

11:17, are you referring to the Turnpike contract that was awarded to the client of one of Chuckles the Clown's closest little cronies Carlos Curbelo? The same political consultant who is continuing his hackery as the Frenchman's "state director" on a federal paycheck?

[what?]

what does this mean?

"One market, Naples-Fort Myers, is the very location of the Obama affair."

[Just saying...]

I love all the people who are complaining about the press now when they gave Charlie a free ride for 3 years and delivered him a victory over Tom Gallagher.

[Down with Sucky Chucky]

Bye-Bye Charlie.

The truth is starting to come out. For months we've heard how much people love Charlie Crist, when I couldn't find anyone who actually likes this empty suit. Crist is a worthless, pandering, vindictive, Obama kissing, liberal.

If Republicans want to start taking their party back, they need to rid themselves of professional, poll pandering liberals like Charlie Crist.

[Randall Stevens]

What is the text of the radio spot?

Would be interesting to see it posted so we can all pick it apart!

[willie]

REJOICE as the puklikans line up in a YET ANOTHER CIRCULAR FIRING SQUAD:

im the most wingnuttiest here"...
NO, i am!....
you are not, I am!....

while the intelligent people of florida scratch their heads in wonder and awe:

"how can those people be so freakin' crazeeee?"

[Jason]

Greatest Story Ever Told:

OUTRAGE

Playing this month on HBO.

Don't miss it.

I hear the Crist campaign is encouraging house parties to watch it and then discuss.

[Greyhairremoval]

11:35 it means that people don't have lives because this ecomony sucks. And Obama sucks and so does every single politician in office and all of thier staffs. There should be a clean sweep and start over. Removal of all people and REDO.

[No More Political B.S.]

Charlie has supporters?

He must still owe some big pay backs.

[Watchit]

Remember these words. Crist/ Mori Hosseini/ Stanaki Land Deal. This is Charlies achilles heel. His corruption and dirty deals for major contributors like Hosseini are his undoing. Corruption Concerns!! Special Investigator for Souht Florida!!! LOL. He knows the Grnad Jury in about 4 months away on the Volusia OCunty FCT grnat where he got 5.9 million for his donor on land the FDEP ( DSL ) appraised at 3.2 million. FCT Grant 08-004-FF8.

[Jeff]

"But while the idea of Crist switching races is unlikely..."

Here's an idea. How about if he switches parties? That stimulus plan you supported Charlie working out real good, huh?

800 billion spent. 4 million jobs lost. Outstanding.

[Told you so]

Rubio didn't do this to Crist.
Crist did this to Crist!

Crist is an expert campaigner and projects the appearance of being a very nice guy, but when he got elected to a position in which he actually has to make decisions, his moderate/populist idealogy is exposed... and conservative Republicans won't tolerate it!

Rubio is simply reminding people what it means to be conservative.

[REPUBLICAN VOTERS OF FLORIDA]

THIS IS WHY WE WILL NEVER VOTE FOR LIBERAL CRIST EVER AGAIN!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cPsQl-LSZ4 NUFF SAID!! RUBIO 2010!!

[Biased reporting...]

So if Crist campaigns, then he's afraid of Rubio???? It's called campaigning...plain and simple. Is Rubio afraid of Crist if he campaigns...no, of course not, then it's just regular old campaigning.

Sounds like another Rubio hack reporter...where no matter what Crist does, he's afraid of Rubio, showing weakness, etc., etc., etc.

The real reason these anti-Crist pieces show up in the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay, and elsewhere is that the left is salivating at the chance that Rubio wins the nomination - because Rubio will be the far easier candidate to beat in the general election. Of course you can't tell that to the obnoxious Rubio supporters who just yell and scream.

[doesn't look like a hug to me...]

The non-hug. It looks like Crist just leans in to say something to Obama since it's so loud with all the Obama supporters...Big deal.

[SOCCER MOM]

JUST ONE DAY AFTER CRIST LOST THE STRAW POLL IN WEST PALM BEACH 90-17 TO MARCO RUBIO! CRIST FREAKED OUT AND IS SENDING OUT FALSE ADS THAT ARE GOING TO HURT HIM LATER ON! CRIST LOOKS SOOOO WEAK!!!!

[NOT A CRIST SUPPORTER ANYMORE!]

OOP'S!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh8PpF_yXg8

[Effie]

Really impressed with Marco Rubio after seeing him on MSNBC. Charlie Crist has been acting more like a democrat than a conservative republican. I will never forgive him for voting for the stimulus package (which didn't work). How is that change working for you?

I'M VOTING FOR MARCO RUBIO!

[Effie the Toad]

Really impressed with Mal Co Rubio after seeing him at the tea-bag fests and town halls with all the other brownshirts. Charlie Crist has been acting more like a corporate sellout lately, but he can't compete with Mal Co's fascist agenda. Mal Co is a true conservative republican. I will love him forever for trying to turn our state into a bankrupt ghetto like California with his irresponsible 1.35% plan - another in his long list of pandering to the rich. How is that Great Reagan-Bush Depression working out for you?

I'M VOTING FOR MAL CO RUBIO!