Ignoring DC pressure, Crist mulls independent run (Florida)

[seafan]

Source: AP

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Charlie Crist said Monday he may quit his GOP primary race and run for the Senate as an independent, his once-promising career threatened by fast-rising conservative opposition.

After weeks of insisting he would stay in the Aug. 24 primary, Crist told The Associated Press in a phone interview he intends to be "very, very thoughtful and deliberate" as he makes up his mind. The governor trails conservative rival Marco Rubio by double-digit margins in public polls after holding a huge lead at the outset.

The race is being closely watched nationally as a test of the strength of the tea party movement vs. more moderate Republicans. Rubio rose from obscurity to a favorite among conservatives with strong support from tea party activists. Crist, a moderate leader in one of the nation's largest states, had been considered a potential GOP presidential or vice presidential nominee.

Crist said he intends to listen to Florida residents as he decides his political future. He must make up his mind by the April 30 deadline to get on the ballot, and he cannot run as an independent if he gambles on the primary and loses.

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Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gTukcfTSVtJlwIXLYjPrfXa0j54AD9F6EAIG0

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Tampa Bay's The Buzz had the scoop on AP several hours ago:

Gov. Charlie Crist tells me he's in no rush to make up his mind about whether to run as an independent for U.S. Senate, and he's not swayed much by national Republicans pressuring against an independent run.

"I'm getting all kinds of advice,'' Crist said, chuckling. "I take my cues from people in Florida. That's what I care about,'' said Crist. "I want to be very thoughtful in this. This is a decison that has to be made by the 30th and I want to do what's right for the people of our state."

It's been amusing watching John Cornyn, Mitt Romney, Rich Lowry, Al Cardenas and every other right-winger begging Crist not to run as an Independent.


Why?

Because a new Quinnipiac poll shows that in a 3-way race, Crist would finish first. That's not even considering that it would split the Republican vote.



The Governor must be giving the hard right conservative party of Jeb Bush and his young Tea Party darling Rubio some nasty heartburn.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. I'd donate $ to Crist if he goes I.

And fucks up Rubio's wet dream.

Hawkeye-X

[No Elephants]

17. How about donating to the Democratic candidate instead?

[Hawkeye-X]

29. Meeks?

You're joking, right?

Jack already left town.

Hawkeye-X

[monmouth]

25. Me too, in a hearbeat...n/t

[spartan61]

2. Can somebody answer a question for me???

This is taken from the original post:

"Crist said he intends to listen to Florida residents as he decides his political future. He must make up his mind by the April 30 deadline to get on the ballot, and he cannot run as an independent if he gambles on the primary and loses."

Here is my question. Isn't this exactly what Lieberman did? He lost the Democratic primary to Lamont and then ran as an I in CT. Why can he do this and Crist can't?

[seafan]

4. Connecticut law allows what Lieberman did. Florida's doesn't. n/t

[No Elephants]

14. Congress should enact uniform laws to govern federal offices like Pres, Senator and Rep.

Elections for federal offices should not be left to state law. The rules should be uniform, not vary from state to state.

[karynnj]

27. I think the Constitution specifically gives the state the responsibility

for Senator and Representative. In fact, the Constitution does not even say Senators have to be elected. That's why a CT Senator or a NC Senator, although Edwards had already taken himself out of what would have been a tough race, could run for two offices simultaneously, but not a MA Senator. Senator Kerry could not have run for President in 2008, unless he didn't run for Senate. (The same will hold if Scott Brown opts to run for VP or President in 2012.)

[LonePirate]

5. I'm guessing CT and FL have different state election laws and deadlines which permit it.

Lieberman was able to thwart the victory of the far superior Lamont because CT law allowed it. FL must not allow primary losers to run in the general. I will of course defer to someone with actual knowledge of FL election law.

[Lochloosa]

13. You are correct.

[Jennicut]

18. And it is too bad we didn't have Florida's law! We woulodn't be stuck with Liberman until 2012

here in CT.

Crist will run as an independent, he has no choice.

[DCBob]

23. I think its more just a timing thing.. April 30 is the deadline to file and the Repub primary..

is in Aug.

[Corey_Baker08]

3. Running As an Independent Would Be a Very Smart Move on Gov. Crist Behalf! n/t

[Jefferson23]

6. I have to say this is one fascinating turn of events...

[madfloridian]

7. Recommending another Seafan post.

Good for him.

I hate what it will do to Meeks, but he would not have won over Rubio anyway.

We do NOT need Rubio as senator or anything else.

[No Elephants]

20. According to the most polls, Crist does not have much of a chance against Rubio.

[madfloridian]

26. We must be seeing different polls.

.

[SarasotaDem]

8. I would

contribute $ as well if he ran as an independent ............

[msongs]

9. to point out the obvious -a progressive dem is running and this is DEMOCRATIC Underground nt

[Dappleganger]

11. The man also thumbed his nose at Jeb's cronies and vetoed SB 6...

a direct attack on the public schools and children of FL.

[No Elephants]

16. A progressive Democrat is likelier to hurt public schools and school kids? Is that your point?

[Mojorabbit]

12. True, but reality is reality.

Rubio would be a disaster for the state. Meek does not have the name recog to beat Crist. It is what it is.
I can't believe I am still up. I hope your evening is as lovely as mine has been! Hugs

[No Elephants]

21. IMO, instead of being defeatist, we should be talking instead of dropping a money bomb on Meek.

November is still a long way away.

BTW, according to latest polls, Crist does not have much of a chance against Rubio. So, why support him instead of the Democrat?

[DCBob]

24. In a 3-way Crist leads, at least in latest polling. Crist is still very popular in FL..

and the veto just made him even more popular. Also, his support of Obama's "socialism" is starting to look like it was the right thing to do. Of course as Dems we should support Meek but if he cant win then Crist is 100x better than Rubio. I think the best approach is work and donate to Meek and see what happens. If Meek is trailing badly and Rubio and Crist are close then I think the wise thing to do would be to throw support to Crist. Rubio would be a disaster and it would energize the Teabagger Repuke base even more and it could have implications for the 2012 GE as well.

[Jennicut]

19. Meek has a better shot of winning in a 3 way race.

[Democat]

10. This could be a preview of 2012 in reverse!

What if a teabagger gets a lot of votes - but not quite enough to beat Romney in the primaries. Do you think that teabagger will suddenly fall in line behind Romney or do you think he (or she) will run as a third party? I think a third party candidate from the far right is possible in 2012.

[No Elephants]

15. Run as an Indie, Charlie. Divide the Rethug vote! Improve Meek's chances! Just do it!

[DCBob]

22. Crist running as an I is the best thing that could happen from a Dem POV..

This throws the election wide open and drops Rubio back to earth. Thanks Charlie!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

28. Does this election have a runoff? -nt