Charlie Crist looks to Democrats for campaign dollars

[Ed Barrow]

Source: Miami Herald

By bolting from the Republican Party, Gov. Charlie Crist has one place left to raise big money in his race for the U.S. Senate: Democrats.

A governor who once courted conservatives by calling himself a ``Jeb Bush Republican'' is getting help from liberal trial lawyers, union activists and even elected Democrats, who are shunning their party's Senate hopefuls, wealthy Palm Beach businessman Jeff Greene and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami.

...

In Tallahassee two weeks ago, civil trial lawyer Lance Block hosted a Crist fundraiser at his home that prominent Republicans also attended.

``We need more people like Charlie Crist in Washington to set aside the partisan bickering,'' said Block, a delegate to three Democratic presidential conventions who played a key role in helping Al Gore during the 2000 Florida vote recount.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/06/23/1697227/crist-looks-to-democrats-for-dollars.html?mitest=A_default

[skipos]

1. I wouldn't give him one red cent

until he pledges to caucus with Dems.

[BeFree]

3. I would

As long as he sent me a hundred dollars worth of campaign literature for that penny.
I can burn it to keep warm this winter.

The teabaggers drove him out of the Bushpublican party, and we owe them a debt.

But come November, the Dems had better pull together and put Meek in office.

[monmouth]

5. Meek is polling at 14%. He doesn't stray too far from home and hardly

anyone knows him in the rest of Florida. Crist most likely will win this one. Meek is not yet ready for prime time but his time will come.

[BeFree]

7. Early yet

Way to early.

The bush anchor will weigh heavily and Rubio will attack like a mad dog and tear Crist a new one.

The Meek shall inherit the senate. Be a good Dem and get with the program.
Crist is not your friend.

[IndianaGreen]

13. It may well be that a vote for Meek is a vote for Rubio

and Meek's poll number remain dismal, or get worse by election day, a strategic vote for the candidate most likely to defeat Rubio would be very reasonable indeed.

[Dappleganger]

10. Tell me just how many Dems

have not taken the pledge to caucus with Dems.

[skipos]

12. Is there a Dem senator you are worried about caucusing with Repubs?

Because I am worried about all the Dem support Crist is getting when the guy has given no indication that he won't vote for Mitch McConnell.

[IndianaGreen]

2. Interesting how this thing will play out in Florida

the choice between a distant third Democratic candidate, a crook and a fascist in Marco Rubio, and our closeted friend that just bolted from GOP just as Arlen Specter did. Will Crist caucus with the Democrats? No doubt! Will he win the election? According to the latest polls, yes!

Campaign money will always go to the perceived winner. I expect many of the big Democratic donors to start to place their bets with Crist. That's how politics is in this former republic of ours.

[Dr.Phool]

4. They're lining up behind him in Florida.

Goal #1 is stop Rubio at all costs.

He doesn't just play a fascist on TV. He is one.

[monmouth]

6. Perfectly stated...n/t

[DonCoquixote]

8. and THAT is why

The center wins at the expense of the left. Get one crazy right winger to run that is so noxious that we all run if fear, then put up a warm bag of manure that sincerely would do a better job then the crazy right winger, but will do many things we do not want.

[Dr.Phool]

9. It would be nice if we had a candidate on the left down here.

As it sits now, we've got a right wing turd and two centrists.

[Dappleganger]

11. Exactly!

And the sooner the dems down here realize it, the better. Just because there's a D after the name doesn't mean that's what they'll do.

[DonCoquixote]

14. True

But Meek, while being no Dennis K. is no Blanche Lincoln either, not he is a former GOP like Charlie.