Poll: 7 in 10 Fla Republicans would prefer Jeb Bush as governor

The single biggest threat to Charlie Crist’s political future probably isn’t his U.S. Senate primary rival, Marco Rubio. It’s former Gov. Jeb Bush, who could give Rubio an enormous boost if he chose to.

A new St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald/Bay News 9 poll underscores how much Bush’s shadow still looms over Florida almost three years after leaving office: Forty-six percent said they would rather have Bush leading Florida today, while 41 percent said Crist.

More striking, 71 percent of Republicans would pick Bush as governor today,while only 22 percent of Republicans said they would pick Crist over Bush.

“Is there a path to victory for Marco Rubio? Yes, but it involves the support of Jeb Bush,’’ said pollster Tom Eldon. “Crist may have appointed the last senator, but Bush has it in his hands to appoint the next one.”
Despite their occasional public professions of mutual respect, the Crist-Bush rivalry is among the worst-kept secrets in Florida. It has served as an undercurrent in everything from Florida’s presidential primary contest between Mitt Romney and John McCain to the current debate about the future of the GOP.

(Story here)

Comments

[PINELLAS FOR CRIST]

PINELLAS FOR CRIST:
http://pinellasforcrist.webs.com

[Independent Voter]

Its not nostalgia that is causing these poll results. I voted for Charlie Crist, but have become so disgusted by his lack of understanding of the basic tenets of his job. He is the Governor, and yet, he has provided no leadership. He didn't lead on the budget, instead choosing to submit a budget that allowed him to say he fully funded education and other priorities, while knowing full well the legislature would have to cut the budget. That wasn't leadership, it was pandering.

I can't think of a single priority of Crist's where he either made a difference, or tried to make a difference. Sure, he jumped on liberal causes like restoring convicted felon voting rights; cap and trade; expanding gambling (which is the only thing he is fighting for); and he's always been eager to get in front of the camera. And, by the way....NONE OF THESE WERE ISSUES HE RAN ON. He went left after getting elected.

Contrast that with Jeb Bush. For the record, I voted for Buddy McKay, and then voted for Bush for his second term. Jeb earned my vote because he eschewed putting his finger up to see where the voters mood was before staking out a position. Instead, he planted his flag, stayed firm in his conviction, and he made real progress.

His education reforms HAVE improved education. And he did it while being attacked by the left, despite the sit-ins, and despite the media criticism. And because of him, more kids are actually prepared to enter high school. Crist??? He flies to Michigan and takes credit for Jeb's reforms.

He took on the trial lawyers and forced the legislature to come back several times in order to get some reforms. Crist??? He panders to the trial lawyers.

He took on the special interests in health care and tried to reform Medicaid, which is going to bankrupt the state. Despite reports that the reforms are saving the state money, Crist has done nothing to build on them.

Bush set out to recruit a bio-tech enterprise to Florida. He was successful, and now Scripps, Torrey Pines and Burnham are in operation in Florida, creating jobs. Crist???? Showed up at the ribbon cutting.

People are paying attention, and I'm so glad. I wish Jeb would run for Governor again. I'd enthusiastically vote for him, and would even help his campaign any way I could.

If Bush doesn't run, I hope Crist is reading this, and hears the message that he has been a failure as Governor. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, and my opinion is not based on our poor economy. It is based solely on the fact that the only thing Charlie Crist really cares about is his own career. What he perhaps should have learned most from Jeb Bush is, if you actually make Florida your priority, and if you work hard, and if you stand on your principles, whatever they are, "the people" will stand with you come hell or high water. Unfortunately for Charlie, its too late.

[RIP RINO's]

The beauty of the Jeb endorsement is going to be not only that it ends Crist's political career, but Lemeiux and Greer's also. Talk about an embaressment of riches.

Within twelve months those three jokers will have gone from running the state to having their political careers ended. Classic.

[terminator]

while everyone on this blog knows I can't stand Jeb primarily because of his xenophobia regarding teachers and teacher unions, his "drill and kill" FCAT high stakes testing ed policy and his blame everything wrong with Florida education on teachers mentality, at least I respect the fact the guy had BHAI's and then worked his butt off to pass them no matter how unpopular or how ineffective they were later proven to be.

Charlie never had any vision, didn't know and didn't care to know policy, was never committed to his current job and merely used each position as a stepping stone to the next highest level on the political ladder.

Floridians have finally sat up and began to take notice which is why Charlie's poll numbers are "dropping like a rock".

I don't think most Floridians would like to see either back in the Governor's Mansion (we've learned some valuable lessons from each) but people do recognize those who WORK HARD not political opportunists who talk a big game but don't walk the walk.

Love Jeb or hate him, he did walk the walk. Too bad for him and the wingnuts that crackpot brother of his ruined his future with such a putrid performance over the past eight years.

He did all Americans a great favor though because Jeb is much smarter and much more dangerous ideologically than his born again Christian idiot big brother so in a perverse kind of way we should be thanking W!

[NWFlaw]

Let's not go too crazy here...Jeb not only endorsed--but did commercials---for a since long forgotten opponent of Alex Villalobos...and Villalobos won. Would it be important--yes...but in the end it comes down to the candidates.

[XX]

Charlie Crist in the White House?

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!

[In the face of declining poll numbers, here's what Crist can do to save his campaign]

In the face of declining poll numbers, here's what Crist can do to save his campaign.

http://bit.ly/r9H6M

[Mary]

That must be why Charlie Crist is going around taking credit for FCAT & Jeb's edication policiy sucesses

[No wonder the average American thinks Republicans are nuts]

Jeb? JEB? Have we forgotten so soon?

[serious]

We miss JEB!

www.MyCongressmanIsNuts.com

[LEMIEUX=CRIST=SPECTER]

Chuckles the Clown, you are an absolute disgrace and FINALLY people are beginning to take notice of this fact. Your future should be nothing more than woefully lamenting your existence in that rented condo of yours...single and title-less.

[The People]

Another reminder for you Governor Crist, we are not stupid.

[The People]

Governor Crist, the next time you look lovingly into the camera and invoke my name, now you know I'll be thinking of someone else.

[Not news]

And if any question placed Ronald Reagan against anyone else, Republicans would pick Reagan. This is not news.

[Great Reagan-Bush Depression of 2008 continues...]

7:04 In these difficult times when our economy has been ruined by deregulation, corporate welfare, and tax cuts for the rich, and our environment is in serious danger from pollution and climate change, why would anyone in their right mind consider Ronald Reagan as anything but the author of this disaster?

[rivergirl]

Are there any other reasonable candidates for US Senate and Governor? I'm not happy with my current choices. Would love to know what the thinking folks on this thread think. Don't need to hear from the flame throwers.

[Buzzard.]

Your note says a lot, Rivergirl. How much do you actually know about any of these candidates that you haven't gotten from the Times, an obviously biased news source?

[whasup]

Jeb ought to endorse Super Mario, at the right time down the road, if for no other reason, for the simple fact that Shucking Chuckles thinks he already has the Senate race locked up and is looking way ahead toward a Presidential run. That's almost as audaucious as our current President, the big O, and this kind of political ambition must be blown up now!

[Just Say NO to Chuck!]

Looks like Floridians are waking up to the truth about Chuck the schmuck. If Florida elects this self-serving, unaccomplished, pretend-wife sport’n, fake tan, hair dyer, plastic doll empty suit to anything ever again... then we deserve the ramifications of our ignorance.

[says it all]

The first entry on this blog says it all: I'm not sure who you are "Independent Voter," but other than voting for Buddy McKay in 1998, I think you are brilliant. If there is a registered Republican out there who would vote for Crist over Jeb!, they are either an employee or family member of Crist's, have had their head under a rock for the last three years or have no idea of what it means to be a Republican. While your entry was lengthy, please come back and share your wisdom.

[mike]

The thought of Crist as our Senator is sickening...but the thought of him as President,now that is a serious illness...let's hope this clown,and I voted for him, I'm sorry to say, is out of politics soon, his paycheck is a waste of tax payer money !

[Scott]

Call on Greer to release the Amex statements,his e-mail is:

chairmanrpof.org

[Jeb2010]

Please, Jeb, for the love of Florida, because we desperately need adult LEADERship: please come back and run for Governor. Sorry, Bill McCollum, you just don't have "it." Maybe Jeb could ask you to run with him. BABY COME BACK! JEB 2010. WWW.JEB2010.COM (ok, so a guy can dream).

[Poundz Encircle]

Crist beats Jeb any day in my book. Thankfully, the excess baggage (not talking about rumors or what he's done, except eat) Jeb carries these days makes it clear he's not running for anything.

[This is news]

7:04 a few things about your post

Ronald Reagan is deceased, and even if he weren't, Reagan would be too old to run for anything.

On the other hand, the former governor is eligible to run and would win if he entered the Florida governor's race.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/jeb_bush_governor_race_052509

9:37 when liberals have nothing to offer of substance they resort to name calling. Weak, intellectually very weak. The former governor would be a welcome sight according to 71 % of the people polled in Florida.

[Photo Caption!]

Jeb – “I can’t believe this do-nothing, closet gay, liberal hack is representing our Party!”

Chuck – “I can’t believe the morons in Florida bought it!”

[Amateur Hour Alert: Another anonymous pro-Crist website springs up]

Amateur Hour Alert: Another anonymous pro-Crist website springs up.

http://bit.ly/gdhm7

[Randall Stevens]

1:24 - pander, pander, pander... LOL... Crist doesn't even have the b@!!$ to suck up himself, he needs a stealth group to do it... LOL!

[rivergirl]

Buzzard - 26 years of living in Tallahassee in both public and private sectors. I know 'em all.

No one has answered my question? Are there other viable candidates for Senate and Governor?

[CM]

10 out of 10 real Floridians would prefer for the carpetbaggers to go back to Maine for a vacation and leave us alone.

[cholouno]

The most astonishing thing I think is that anybody we be for either of these two lying thieves? Jeb or Crist? I am not talking about Republicans only. Most Dem reps need to be locked up as well for what they have done to our state and country. Truly, at what point does the citizens of the US realize we are getting robbed by all of them?

[cholouno]

Pretty soon all the old folks will have to resort to living in cardboard boxes. What's worse is the same folks will still be arguing who's better? Crist or Jeb?

[cholouno]

Last thought, anybody that uses the terms "liberal" or "conservative" does not realize that those labels are used to divide our country and make us hate each other. We have become a country divided and conquered by our government. We are US citizens first and foremost.

[tallyho]

Buzzard, rivergirl is trying to have an honest dialogue, why so defensive about her question?