Crist announcement scheduled Thursday

[John R]

Florida Governor Crist Quits

Will run as independent

Analysis: Crist decision sets up entertaining, unpredictable race - CNN.com

 

[Linda]

Will run as independent

Analysis: Crist decision sets up entertaining, unpredictable race - CNN.com

Whew - your thread title scared me - I thought that even Jesus had given up on us

 

[Douglas the Intrepid]

Whew - your thread title scared me - I thought that even Jesus had given up on us

Nope, he says there is still hope for you...;-)

 

[Santiago]

May not change his positions overall, but I suspect his opinions aren't nearly as far right as Rubio. This was more than likely a Republican race anyway whether it was two horses or three. IMO Crist is by far more moderate than his "former" Republican competitor.

IMO, the best thing that Democrats could do is offer their support in return for a few promises, ie: His agreement to fight further oil development in the Gulf that could impact the coastline....

I guess the good think for Republicans is that even though Christ is a moderate, he's a whore, and will vote wherever he's told to move up in the ranks. He's such a freaking idiot.

 

[Just Curious]

I think we need many more independents - if only to break up the us vs. them Dem vs. Repub mentality that is hamstringing our government.

I agree, but not like this. He is only going independent because he is afraid of losing the primary. He is not doing this to better Florida. It is one of the most selfish moves I have seen. I don't understand how someone can openly confess one thing and then when the pressure is on do the very thing he said he wouldn't do. Not a big fan of Crist to begin with, but this move shows that he has even less character than I thought he did.

 

[Arkiehawg]

I agree, but not like this. He is only going independent because he is afraid of losing the primary. He is not doing this to better Florida. It is one of the most selfish moves I have seen. I don't understand how someone can openly confess one thing and then when the pressure is on do the very thing he said he wouldn't do. Not a big fan of Crist to begin with, but this move shows that he has even less character than I thought he did.

If I understand correctly, you believe that he has no character because he left his party?

 

[skinnergy]

The GOP abandoned Crist because they do not have room for a moderate as the party has fallen under control of far-right, lunatic fringe. I don't fault him for his choice. The GOP left him no choice. Run, Charlie, run! Rubio is done.

 

[LuciferSam]

He's going independent because that will ensure a winning path to the senate. I don't know how anybody could fault him for that.

 

[rapunzel]

Rubio's advisor wrote a pretty spot-on analysis of the race, that in many ways parallels what Abe Dyk (Meek's advisor) had to say recently --

Crist?s current level of support, as measured by polling, in a three-way race is artificially high, while support for Marco Rubio and Kendrick Meek is artificially low.

According to both internal and public polling data, Crist is drawing support from a significant number of Democrats and approximately 25-33 percent of Republicans. In some current surveys, Crist actually beats Meek among Democrats. These numbers are based almost entirely on name ID, and as the race develops further they will change dramatically. For starters, there is very little chance Crist maintains his current level of GOP support. To quote Nate Silver of fivethirtyeight.com:

?It?s asking a lot of a Republican identifier to continue to support a candidate who has just ditched the party ? particularly when it seems to be motivated by expediency rather than ideological resolve.?

Additionally, Meek is still largely unknown, even by Democrats. But he is a credible candidate with access to a significant financial war chest. As he becomes better known there is every reason to assume that the overwhelming majority of Democrats will come home and support him.

Read more: Rubio camp releases ‘State of the race’ memo slamming Crist | The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment

Rubio camp releases ‘State of the race’ memo slamming Crist | The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment

Right now, Crist is getting by on name recognition. He is not particularly moderate, he is just responsive to the periodic huge outcry from the electorate. In a Republican party that has grown more and more ideologically radical, it's seen as a weakness to follow the will of the people over the will of the party. As voters learn more about Meek and Rubio, many of them are going to swing away from Crist -- particularly Democrats, who will find that Meek is a very appealing candidate. It will be a good race, but ultimately Rubio is too far right, and Crist is going to take more votes from his column than from Meek's. Democratic turnout will be the key.

 

[AlphaCrab]

Whoa...I just wrote a check to Charlie Crist's Campaign....ME:shock:...to a former Republican??? Stop Rubio at all costs!