Video: Charlie Crist and Bobby Bowden shoot the breeze.

A little video slice of life of Gov. Charlie Crist small-talking with FSU coach Bobby Bowden. -- Marc Caputo

Crist, in D.C. raising money, insists he's focused on 'jobs, jobs, jobs'

Gov. Charlie Crist is in D.C. today raising money at Holland & Knight but insisted he is also focused on the dreadful state of the Florida economy, reinforced by a fresh report about 11.2 percent unemployment.

"I just think it's so important to stay focused on jobs, jobs, jobs," the U.S. Senate hopeful said, adding a pitch for the special legislative session on SunRail. "I think we're on a very good path to hopefully be able to deliver that because that would mean a lot of jobs for our people."

Since it is such a pressing issue, should you be back in Florida instead of raising money? "Well, I'm dealing with it here, too. I'm about to meet with Sen. LeMieux to talk about that. He's our main contact for us dealing with the U.S. Department of Transportation. So I think it's all hands on deck."

Crist said he's not ready to debate GOP challenger Marco Rubio but will "next year." He said, "I have no real interest in doing it at this point and time. I think what we need to do is continue workin' hard and fighting for the people. You know, I've got a day job."

We hear Crist is off to New York later today for another fundraiser.

A closer look at the Daily Kos' U.S. Senate GOP primary poll

The liberal Daily Kos blog has released a poll with some intriguing results in Florida's Republican U.S. Senate race between Gov. Charlie Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio. Crist leads 47 percent to 37 percent among likely Republican voters, according to the poll, which is bad for the governor for two reasons:

A) That's a 43-percentage-point swing in 10 months.

B) The once-wildly popular Crist is below 50 percent.

If Crist switched parties to become a Democrat or an independent, the poll suggests he would do better.

Poll: Marco Rubio closing gap on Gov. Charlie Crist, Gov race tied

Robo poll from liberal DailyKos and Research 2000: Gov. Charlie Crist leads Rubio 47 percent to 37 percent among Republicans. In January, Crist led 57 percent to 11 percent. Among all voters, Crist beats Kendrick Meek 50-33, while Meek beats Rubio 38-30. Birthers prefer Rubio 54-31.

These trendlines are bleak for Crist, and there's little chance of him surviving. Remember, Rubio hasn't spent a dime on media yet. This is all grassroots driven, and the teabaggers are engaged, angry, and looking for the next Scozzafava. Crist is in their crosshairs, and the governor has been flopping all over the place hoping to stem this growing tide against him, and failing. Note -- 50 percent of Republicans still don't know who Rubio is. The more he raises his name ID, the better he does. 

The Fix calls 10 the most important number of the day.

 

5 Ways Charlie Crist can beat Marco Rubio

Almost daily, some supposedly savvy Florida political operative insists Charlie Crist has already lost the U.S. Senate race. It's a crazy suggestion considering Gov. Crist is leading Republican rival Marco Rubio by about 20 points in recent polls and so far has four times as much money to spend in the GOP primary.

But Crist, 53, is in a free-fall among likely Republican voters, say Crist supporters and detractors alike, while Rubio's trajectory is heading straight up. Crist's credibility among hard-core Republicans is practically gone, they claim, while the contest's ever-growing national attention ensures Rubio won't be as overwhelmingly outspent.

It's nine months before the primary — way too early for predictions. What's clear, though, is that Crist's long-held image as a man with remarkable gut instincts for politics and people is shot. It took him way too long to wake up to Rubio, and then he kept handing ammunition to critics, such as lamely insisting he did not endorse the $787 billion stimulus package that he campaigned for.

Governor, if you're reading this, here are five things you should do to fight Rubio's insurgent threat:

LeMieux setting up a PAC

Florida Sen. George LeMieux is setting up a political action committee -- Protect America's Future -- and signaling he's likely going to pursue elective office after his temporary gig is up next year.

"The goal is to use it as a vehicle to promote the ideas he believes in: Reducing the debt and promoting security and democracy through the world," deputy chief of staff Vivian Myrtetus said in confirming the news to the Buzz.

LeMieux could use the warchest to travel around and speak on the issues (boosting his name ID) and to contribute to political campaigns (cultivating key relationships). How about Charlie Crist? That's a possibility, Myrtetus said, adding it was too soon to know specifically. PACs can give $5,000 to a candidate.

Word on Capitol Hill is that LeMieux has already begun telling lobbyists and the move has stoked speculation about his political ambitions. One theory is that Crist's decision to appoint LeMieux to fill out the final 16 months of Mel Martinez's term was part of a grand scheme for a LeMieux-Bill Nelson showdown in 2012.

Actually, Escambia GOP "overjoyed" to hear Charlie Crist

In response to this post, came this press release: RESPONSE TO E-MAIL CONCERNING GOVERNOR’S ATTENDANCE AT ESCAMBIA GOP DINNER

 Pensacola—Statement from Escambia County Republican Party Chairman Susan Moore concerning private e-mail:

“Today, I was notified that a private e-mail that I sent to five members of the Escambia County Republican Party was forwarded to the media.  The five people that received the e-mail were supporters of Marco Rubio, who is running against Governor Crist for Senate.  In an attempt to unify the local party and encourage these five Republican Party members to attend our Lincoln Day Dinner, which financially benefits only the local Republican Party, I sent an e-mail asking them to support the Lincoln Day Dinner even if they did not support the Governor in his campaign for Senate.  Unfortunately, someone felt the need to forward that e-mail to the media and it has now been misconstrued to sound as if I was apologizing for having the Governor as our featured speaker.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  As a long-time volunteer on many of Charlie Crist’s campaigns, I personally asked Governor Crist, as well as members of his staff, if he would do Escambia’s Republican Party the honor of speaking at our Lincoln Day Dinner.  The Governor graciously accepted and we are thrilled to host him as our Lincoln Day Dinner featured speaker.  I make no apologies for asking the Governor to be our speaker and I am overwhelmed by the support within the community as people consistently call or e-mail me to say they would like tickets to the event, even though we have not had any local media coverage announcing the event to this point.  It is unfortunate that one or more of the five people that the e-mail was sent to felt the need to forward my comments to the media when I was simply trying to let these five people know that no matter who they support in the race for Senate prior to the primary, our sitting Governor is honoring us by speaking at our dinner event.  I hope that this statement will put to rest any idea that either I or Escambia County’s Republican Party is anything but overjoyed at hosting Governor Charlie Crist in Pensacola in early December at our Lincoln Day Dinner.”

 

Meek wades into unemployment comp debate, writes Crist

U.S. Congressman Kendrick Meek, the Dem who could find himself running against Gov. Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate, wades into today's unemployment compensation finger-pointing.

Here's his letter to Crist:

Charlie Crist mum on his Marco Rubio shots

Gov. Charlie Crist's campaign and acolytes have stepped up their pressure on his Republican U.S. Senate opponent, Marco Rubio. But not the governor himself.

Asked why his campaign is going negative now, Crist said "No reason. No reason. People deserve to know the facts."

What will you be telling people?

"We'll have to wait and see," Crist said.

Marc Caputo, Times/Herald

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Sen. George LeMieux raising coin for would-be Sen. Charlie Crist

Much of Charlie Crist's old campaign staff already is on the payroll of Sen. George LeMieux, so it only makes sense that LeMieux is now actively raising money to help Crist take over his temporary Senate seat:

You are invited to a Luncheon honoring Governor Charlie Crist Candidate for Florida United States Senate with Special Guests:GOVERNOR BOB MARTINEZ AND SENATOR GEORGE LEMIEUX Hosted by:PHIL BAKER-�SHENK, KATHRYN LEHMAN, ROB BRADNER, DAVE ROBINSON, RICH GOLD, & DAVID WHITESTONE  Friday, November 20th 12:00 - 1:30 PM THE LAW OFFICES OF HOLLAND & KNIGHT2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW, SUITE 100 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 HOST $2,500 / SPONSOR $1,500 / GUEST $1,000Please RSVP to Lisa Spies...

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