Now that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has ditched the GOP to run as an independent, Democratic leaders have seen an 11th hour opportunity: Get former President Bill Clinton to push Democrat Kendrick Meek to drop out of Florida’s Senate race and endorse Crist to mount a heavier challenge against favorite and Republican nominee Marco Rubio. Yes, Clinton wants a former Republican to win instead of the Tea Party favorite.
It’s the lesser of two evils, but the plan would require a Democrat, albeit a weak one (he’s polling at 15 percent), to quit the race. Meek, a Clinton ally, was actually on board with the plan last week when Clinton approached him, but ultimately rebuffed the request to take one for the team. Clinton tells CNN Meek “was trying to determine what was the best thing for him to do. … He was trying to think about what was the best thing for Florida.” Had everything gone according to plan, we would’ve seen a press conference on Tuesday with Meek announcing his endorsement of Crist.
But now that’s not happening.
And Meek says it was never the plan, but rather a ploy by Crist to drum up support.
And it’s given the Rubio campaign a ripe opportunity for one last attack on Crist: “Charlie Crist truly will say and do anything to get elected and hold on to power. Secret deals to trade away principles for power is already the problem in Washington, it’s not the solution,” says an aide. Well, nobody’s ever accused Crist of sticking to his guns.
Below, Crist confirms to Greta Van Susteren the plan was indeed in place.
Here, Clinton speaks to CNN:
Cam
Donna Braizile was on CNN in the morning and said that Meeks should stay in the race and ignore Crist because…
“You never know what is going to fall out of the headlines, or the Newspapers, or THE CLOSET in these last few days.”
sobeken
Mr. Crist, for years you supported not allowing gay adoptions. Now when it is to your benefit to allow same, you expect to be elected again to public office?
I saw the documentary, “OUTRAGE”, which seems to make you a closeted gay. I look at your voting record and could not possibly support you as a candidate.
Enjoy the blessed life you share with you wife/beard, and forget about the gay community supporting you in your political life. It’s not going to happen.
gray hunt
Good OLD clueless Bill. He has made sure Crist will lose the black vote and the election….thank God, Crist is a bum by any standard.