Debbie Disses Marco

In typical liberal fashion, Debbie Wasserman Schultz flings mud against the wall to see if it sticks.  In an interview which aired yesterday the DNC chair said:

“Marco Rubio, in the polling that I’ve seen recently, doesn’t really make much difference and, in fact, in some cases actually hurts Mitt Romney or does very little,” she said. “Marco Rubio is a nice guy, but not someone who I think belongs on a national ticket for a lot of reasons.” 

 She, of course, fails to elaborate on any of those reasons or provide any polling information to substantiate her claim.

In fact, according to this article from the Tampa Bay Times, Romney is leading Obama in Florida and Rubio actually helps:

Mitt Romney has crept to a 6 percentage point lead over President Barack Obama in Florida, where a new poll shows a majority of registered voters don't think the incumbent deserves a second term. 

Romney's 47 percent to 41 percent lead over Obama would grow even bigger — to an 8 percentage point advantage — if the challenger chose Sen. Marco Rubio a running mate, according to Quinnipiac University's new survey.

Maybe Wasserman Schultz is referring to this poll which says Jeb Bush would be a better pick.

But polling aside, what are these "reasons" that the DNC chair suggests would keep Rubio off the national ticket?  He's "not someone who I think belongs on a national ticket for a lot of reasons."  That sounds sinister, doesn't it?

Usually when people make insinuations like that with no evidence, there isn't any.  I suspect that is the case here.

Speak up Debbie.  If you know something that should keep Mr. Rubio off a national ticket, share it with us.  It couldn't be his lack of experience on the national stage, could it?  Because pretty much everybody had more experience than Obama in 2008.

If DWS knows something relevant she should reveal what she knows.  Insinuations without evidence are meaningless.

Casey Anthony Walks Away

The headline of the day probably goes to The Other McCain:

HOLY FREAKING CRAP! Casey Anthony Becomes the O.J. Simpson of Baby-Killers

It's sad, but true.

I didn't watch the trial much; I watched the last couple of days a bit while I've been sitting here with this bum ankle (it's getting better, thanks).  The whole thing reminded me of the O.J. trial which I actually did watch way (way, way) too much of.

What we can take away from this trial, as best I can tell, is that pundits don't know everything, that trials really shouldn't be televised wall to wall, and that in Florida you can murder your child, throw her in a swamp, and get a great book deal in the end, which is likely what Casey will do.

Whether you followed the trial much or not, be sure to check out Stacy's post because it's hilarious:

While Casey has been acquitted of murder, she is certainly guilty of being a lying slut but — just like hogging up cable-news coverage — that’s not a death-penalty crime in Florida.

And then check out Donald Douglas who has an aggregation of links.

Professor Glenn Reynolds says:

I GUESS THE MORAL IS, “DON’T TALK TO THE COPS?”

And Drudge has Nancy Grace upside down:

I guess now we can get back to the real news.

More aggregation at Memeorandum.

The Casey Anthony Trial Is Wrapping Up: Anybody Care?

Since I can't move around too much right now I am parked on the couch with the television on.  The Casey Anthony trial is wrapping up today and going to deliberations.  I've watched precious little of this trial and followed it only in passing.

Anyone out there watching this thing?  Anyone care?  Fox News has been covering this thing like the OJ trial - practically wall to wall and all with a parade of "experts."

What do you think?

Charlie Crist On the Record

If you can stand to watch it, here is Charlie Crist confirming with Greta Van Sustern last night that discussions were indeed in which Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek agreed to withdraw from the Florida Senate race.  Crist says "those conversations did take place," and that Meek had agreed to "do what's right for the people of Florida and the people of America and stop a right wing radical" from getting elected to the U.S. Senate.

Crist, however, refuses to say with whom he spoke at the White House.  Naturally.



CNN reports Crist confirmed to them that the White House was involved.

Rubio's position on this:

“Secret deals, special favors, and political kickbacks,” the Rubio campaign wrote. “That’s the problem with Washington today, not the answer. Government shouldn’t be picking winners and losers. And typical politicians shouldn’t be cutting backroom deals to hold power at all costs.”

Amen.  Crist looks more like a slimy opportunist than ever in this.

Marco Rubio For Florida Senate!

Gawd I wish I lived in Florida so I could vote for this man!  Love this ad!

Something Fishy In Charlie's Camp

How in the world did I miss THIS story yesterday?

State Republicans moved the three-way U.S. Senate race to a new level Saturday, with party leaders pointing to an audit of their books they say implies Gov. Charlie Crist— now an independent candidate for U.S. Senate — ran up potentially "hundreds of thousands" of dollars in inappropriate charges.

Party Chairman and state Sen. John Thrasher said the expenses came to light during the just-completed forensic audit by Alston & Bird LLP — which was the examiner in energy giant Enron's 2002 bankruptcy. He said the party may sue their former standard bearer to get the money back.

Not surprised.  When you lie down with dogs...

And the defense?  Crist's camp is crying foul saying

..."party bosses" should "stop playing the same old political games and take a hard look at their own nominee" before attacking Crist.

Moral equivalency is seldom a good strategy. 

Charlie Crist Knows Waffles

So Charlie Crist would have us believe that he "misspoke" when he said he'd have voted FOR Obamacare.  What he really meant, he says now, is that he would have voted against it because it's too big and it cuts Medicare Advantage.  That was probably AFTER his handlers reminded him that lots of voters in Florida rely on Medicare Advantage and might think poorly of his position.  Oops.

It's kind of like his "misspoke" when he said he was absolutely going to run as a Republican in this Senate campaign:

“To put these rumors to rest once and for all, as we have said countless times before, Governor Crist is running for the United States Senate as a Republican. He will not run as an Independent or as a No Party Affiliation.

It's kind of like he "misspoke" when he spoke in support of the stimulus but backed off of that and said he never supported it.

"I know it will help my state and that's why I support it!"

While in November 2009 he says "I didn't endorse it!"

Actually, during the debate between Crist and Rubio in March of this year, Crist said he'd vote to repeal Obamacare but he's also said he would not scrap Obamacare.  Which is it?

Which is it, Charlie?  Make up your mind.

How About "Liar"?

This one's a knee slapper!



I've got a word or two....

As Jim Geraghty points out, this is the guy who swore on national television, multiple times, he was going to run as a Republican.  No ambivalence about it whatsoever.

And now this is the guy running as an independent and who got sued this week for refusing to return campaign donations from Republican donors who believed him.

I've got a word...how about LIAR?

(Cross posted at Not One Red Cent!)

BREAKING: Jim Greer Arrested (UPDATED)

Scroll for updates.

Former Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer has been arrested at his Florida home.    The Washington Post reports that bail has been set at $105,000. 

As of right now the charges are unknown but the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will hold a news conference within the hour to announce a "major arrest."

This could foster some backlash on "lonely guy" Charlie Crist who handpicked Greer to head the Florida GOP and stood by him as party activists demanded his resignation after reports of lavish and excessive spending.

Check back for updates.

Update:  While we're waiting on that news conference, little quick back story on Greer:  You will remember he was dumped in January under increasing pressure and investigation of his lavish spending.  The Orlando Sentinel posted an article in April that described lavish parties at his home.  A criminal investigation was launched against him which concerned "a secret contract that put a portion of major party contributions into his pocket."

As for Crist, the Sentinel reports that Greer was a '"top-tier" fundraiser for Crist in 2005 and 2006. Exactly how much he raised from others is unclear, but he, his wife, mother and companies donated $8,000."  The Sentinel describes some of Greer's excess:

By then, he had developed a taste for expensive things. His $465,000 home, finished in early 2006, is a showplace: 3,700 square feet, with a wine cellar, swimming pool and a two-story entry that features a sweeping, curved staircase and chandelier. He also owns two others: a $240,000 condo and $125,000 town house, both at the beach in Brevard County. He bought a plane, although he's not a pilot. His children — three live with him and his wife — had a live-in nanny. He drives a black Mercedes-Benz, his wife a white Lincoln Navigator.

There's more at the link.

Again, at this point, however, we don't know why he's been arrested.

Update 2:  Greer is indicted with six felony counts, including fraud and money laundering and four counts of grand theft centering on his Victory Strategies LLC corporation.

Now a Memeorandum thread is up.

Update 3:  The official press releases will be coming out now that the press conference is over, but it was confirmed that Greer's bond has been set at $105,000.  The charges focus on Greer's Victory Strategies contract with the Florida GOP.  The corporation was set up to allow Greer to serve as a "vendor" with Victory Strategies thus enabling him to write checks to himself from the donations that came in.  "Mr. Greer used the money for his own personal lifestyle."

When asked about potential prison time, it was explained that each of the six charges is a felony count.  Three are third degree felonies which carry a potential five years each in prison.  The two first degree felony counts carry a maximum of thirty years each.

Greer was arrested without incident at his home around 9:15;  Governor Crist was informed around 9 a.m. that the arrest would take place.  No other charges are expected at this time.

Update 4:  Charlie Crist is "disappointed" says the Tampa Bay Buzz:

Gov. Charlie Crist didn't have a lot to say about the arrest of Jim Greer when asked this morning at a press conference dealing with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Crist, answering a question from the Times/Herald, said he was "disappointed" by the news.
"I have faith in our judicial system," Crist said. "I know they will handle it appropriately."  A second question seemed to center around whether Crist felt responsible for Greer's actions as head of the Republican Party of Florida. Crist answered: "I do not feel complicit."

Later Crist said the news would not affect his Senate candidacy: "As I said earlier, it's disappointing, it's surprising. Sometimes you're disappointed by people."

No truer words...

Crist Campaign Cracking Up in Florida

What in the world is going on with Charlie Crist?  I've all but blown him off as irrelevant in the past few weeks as Rubio has surged past him in the polls, but now with Crist's "dithering" and odd behavior regarding his status in the race, one can't help but notice.  Maybe that's his intent.

Larry Thornberry at American Spectator has been keeping an eye on Crist while I've had my head turned and posts a great piece this morning:

Well, there are promises and there are Charlie Crist promises. After two years of most un-Republican-like behavior, Crist appears to be on a path to making the obvious official by leaving the Republican Party. Finding himself behind Rubio by between 11 and 32 points, depending on which recent poll he consulted, for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat Mel Martinez resigned from last summer, Crist is left with the options of admitting defeat and withdrawing from the race or running as an independent. He has until the April 30 filing deadline to decide.

That's the big question right now:  will Crist run as an independent, a Republican, or drop out altogether.  It's interesting that nobody seems to really trust what Crist says.  Even though he has said countless times that he'll run as a Republican, who really believes that?  

The Wall Street Journal reports that Crist is already laying the groundwork for an independent run:

Several advisers to Mr. Crist say the governor believes that an independent candidacy is his only chance to win the Senate seat. He is moving closer to deciding to take that course, they say, but still has qualms about leaving the GOP.

Crist's campaign against Rubio has been primarily one of character assassination because even Crist knows he can't beat Rubio on the issues.  Met with disdain from Republicans, Crist has now pulled his attack ads against Rubio in some Florida markets.


The entire boondoggle gets even more complicated today as we get word that the Feds are now investigating Rubio and two of Crist's advisers regarding the use of party credit cards.  


Ed Morrissey at Hot Air points out that Rubio has the most to lose in this investigation:

Obviously, Rubio has the most to lose. Not only is he the front runner in this race, but he’s the one candidate whose name has been attached to the scandal. Running on a Tea Party platform of government reform and accountability, Rubio also has the most to lose in terms of public perception.

I would contend that is stating the obvious.  Rubio has already addressed this issue publicly and paid back the funds in question.

And, really, what does Crist have to lose at this point?

The Rubio - Crist Debate

Who in the world is in charge of Marco Rubio's schedule? The first Rubio v. Crist debate is about to begin at this incredibly early hour. I'll be blogging so check back.

Update 1: Crist comes out swinging, accusing Rubio of running only for the purpose of "enriching himself" by using funds to get haircuts and other personal amenities. Rubio counters nicely saying saying that the campaign isn't about personal issues but about the people of Florida.

Update 2: Chris Wallace shows "The Hug" picture leading into a question about Crist's support of the stimulus. 211,000 Floridians have lost their job since the stimulus, Rubio points out. Crist responds by bantering about Rubio's days as a lobbyist. Wallace tries to bring him back to point. Crist says if he hadn't taken the stimulus funds 87,000 more people would be unemployed. Wallace asks Crist if he would have joined the three Republicans in the Senate who voted for the Stimulus and Crist says absolutely he would have.

Update 3: Rubio says his favorite Senator is DeMint; Crist says his favorite is John McCain. Uh, okay.

Update 4: Crist is back to the haircut thing again. Rubio chides Crist for the continuing personal attacks. On health care reform: Crist says pre-existing conditions should be covered. He says repeal and start over, then touts the current program in Florida. Wallace points out that one tenth of one percent of Florida's uninsured have signed up for the Florida program. It's not really covering Florida, Wallace points out.

Rubio says there are so many things wrong with the health care bill, first among them is that we can't afford it. He touts tort reform, portability, etc. He stays the first step is to repeal it. Rubio says people should have the same sort of option members of Congress have; the employer based system should stay, but there should also be a system where small businesses can pool together and set up something as well.

On Twitter, @RubioPress links to a video where Crist says he would NOT repeal Obamacare.

Update 5: On immigration Rubio says the Republican party is not the "anti-immigration" party but is the "pro-legal immigration" party. Rubio says he and Crist disagree on amnesty - Crist would have voted for the McCain plan and Rubio says he would not.

Rubio says we need significant entitlement reform. On social security, Rubio says it cannot survivie in its current form. He advocates increasing the retirement age gradually. He advocates the Ryan Roadmap. Crist does not advocate increasing he retirement age. He would not change the cost of living adjustment. Crist says the answer is getting the waste and fraud out of the system.

Crist is dying to get off topic and talk about taxes. Wallace tries to channel him back but Crist holds firm and moves to taxes.

So, on taxes, Wallace points out that Crist broke his promise to Florida voters when he raised taxes and higher fees at the DMV. Crist says that's "not a tax, it's a fee. If you don't drive, you don't pay it."

Update 6: On the tea party movement: Rubio says the movement has been mischaracterized in the press. Wallace wants to know why Rubio won't allow himself to be vetted by the tea party movement. Rubio says he's unaware of the vetting process.

Update 7: Wallace asks whether or not Crist will switch to Independent. Crist says "I'm running as a Republican...this is a great party, we have a great future. I'm running as a Republican."

Rubio: "The governor likes to call himself a Reagan Republican. I don't recall anyone ever having to ask Reagan if he was going to run as an Independent."

In closing, Rubio's line is "Who do you trust to stand up to Barack Obama?" He says we can't trust Charlie Crist to do that. Crist's closing focuses on personal attacks again and accuses Rubio of "cooking the books."

Overall, I'd give this one to Rubio because he tried to stay focused on the issues. Crist was more interested in running Rubio down than in putting forth his own agenda. I think Crist's choice of McCain as his favorite Senator tells us what we need to know about him, as well as his decision to stand behind the failed McCain/Bush amnesty plan.

Point for Rubio!

Rubio Leads Crist and Announces Stimulus Money Bomb

In exciting polling news today, word comes from Rasmussen that Marco Rubio leads Charlie Crist in the Florida Republican primary 49-37!

Charlie Crist has tanked faster than a rock in a pond and now Rubio moves ahead for the first time. Will Crist stay in the race? Erick Erickson thinks not.

Even better, Rubio has announced his Stimulus Money Bomb fund raising drive. It's common knowledge by now that Crist spoke out in support of Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan last year. As the one-year anniversary of the stimulus approaches, Rubio is asking that over the next ten days you donate some configuration of that figure, for example, $7.87, or $78.70, or even better, $787.00! His goal is to raise $1,000 for every $1 billion that was wasted through the stimulus.

You can donate to Marco here.



Cross posted at Not One Red Cent!

(More at Memeorandum)

Charlie Crist Trying to Heat Things Up in Florida

The Crist/Rubio match up in Florida is heating up with the arrival of new campaign manager Eric Eikenberg in the Crist camp.

Via Memeorandum, the National Journal's On Call reports that the Crist campaign is going on the offensive, challenging Rubio's "failure to advance some conservative causes while leading the state House, for spending excessively while in the Speaker's office and for dragging his feet on immigration legislation that many Republicans favored."

Eikenberg said, ""Over the last five to six months, the governor has been focused on governing and our opponent's been running around the state because he doesn't have an office," Eikenberg said. Meanwhile, Rubio "has had five to six months of the ability to go around and say whatever he'd like, and that's now changing."

The Rubio campaign responded by requesting debates between Rubio and Crist with the first suggested date of December 17. In a letter to Eikenberg yesterday, Rubio adviser Pat Shortridge pointed out that Rubio had challenged Crist to a series of debates earlier this year, saying "At that time, Marco acknowledged the differences that exist between him and Governor Crist on issues like wasteful stimulus spending that has failed to create jobs, cap-and-trade, property tax reform, judicial appointments, property insurance and a struggling Florida economy that has seen unemployment rise to a 34-year high. Marco expressed his belief that several debates would help bring these and other differences to light. Unfortunately, Governor Crist has shown no interest in debating Marco thus far."

Rubio has closed the gap to just a 15 point lead in the latest Qunnipiac poll, down from an earlier 29 point lead. Rubio continues to pound Crist in straw polls all over the state, the most recent by the Republican Club of South Sarasota County in which Rubio tops Crist 70.2% to 16.5%.

Eikenberg formerly served for four years as chief of staff to former Republican Congressman Clay Shaw of Fort Lauderdale and has recently served as Crist's gubernatorial chief of staff. Eikenberg speaks of “Charlie Crist’s brand of common-sense conservatism," but I don't think that's the kind of conservatism we need in the Senate. I don't think Florida really thinks so, either. If common-sense conservatism means supporting Obama's Stimulus plan, for one thing, well, no thanks. Charlie's support of cap and trade is "common sense"? Nope, again.

According to The Buzz, Rubio isn't worried about the addition of Eikenberg to the Crist team. Rubio supporters point to his work on the campaigns for both Clay Shaw and George LeMieux. They both lost.

(Cross posted at Not One Red Cent!)

Is Charlie Starting to Choke?

Josh Kraushaar at Politico says Crist is "panicking about his Florida Senate primary against Marco Rubio" and goes on to list a number of nasty nettles in the Crist campaign, the first of which is the firing by Crist of his longtime communications director Erin Isaac.

If that weren't enough to make Crist crazy, the Sun Sentinel has a front page story on the Scott Rothstein, one of Crist's largest financial backers, who is now in trouble with a Ponzi scheme. Robert Stacy McCain posted about that days ago.

If that weren't enough, Crist is now acting as his own press secretary:

In terms of press coverage lately, Crist has been having a bad stretch -- largely of his own doing. (The stimulus support he insists he never gave, Obama man-hug tape notwithstanding; his insistence he didn't know Obama's recent Florida itinerary; the uproar over an anti-Rubio Web site that had the participation of an RPOF paid consultant; and public floggings by former press buddies Wolf Blitzer and Chris Matthews, etc.)

Crist also lately has been acting as his own press secretary -- calling the Times' Adam Smith to set up an interview on Political Connections, and arranging the Times' recent interview in Gainesville with himself and first lady Carole Crist. The governor also recently instructed reporters to call his cell phone directly -- rather than using a "go-between" in the press office.

It's way WAY too early for a victory dance, but I'd say Charlie has some problems.

(H/T: Memeorandum)

(Cross posted at Not One Red Cent!)

Marco Rubio Picks Up Club for Growth Endorsement

Marco Rubio is movin' on up!

Today, he picked up an endorsement from Club for Growth. In a statement, Chris Chocola, the president of Club for Growth, said:

“Marco Rubio is the real deal, one of the brightest young stars in American politics today, and a proven champion of economic liberty. He is a dynamic spokesman for the principles of limited government and economic freedom, and he will make a fantastic senator.”

Their full statement is here. This isn't really a surprise, but it's good news nonetheless.

Another recent endorsement was from the Family Research Council Action PAC, saying “Marco Rubio has been a true friend of the family and the culture of life as a state legislator in Florida. Senators who will fight to defend the family against the radical leadership in the Senate are crucial to the future of our country." The rest of their statement is here.

The Club for Growth endorsement is huge in that it will help funnel some needed cash into the Rubio campaign. Crist has out raised Rubio so far, primarily based on name recognition, but that is starting to change.

Rubio picked up yet another straw poll this week, this one in Okaloosa, beating Crist 86 to 4.

Now that Charlie Crist is trying to claim he never endorsed the Stimulus, it's more obvious than ever who the candidate with integrity is. Florida sees it, too. As of October 21, Crist still held a 49% - 34% lead over Rubio but that's closing fast.

More at Memeorandum.

(Cross posted at Not One Red Cent!)

Rubio Gets Crist on the Defensive

Team Rubio has done a pretty good job putting Crist on the defensive with this video. On the heels of the Tuesday elections, Crist now declaring that he didn't actually support the stimulus, and the NRSC declaring that they won't push any cash Crist's way during the primary, the timing of this video is especially rich.

Crist hasn't really campaigned hard yet, and he can outspend Rubio easily; there's a long way to go yet. Send Marco some cash!



(H/T: The Weekly Standard)

Rubio Sneaking Up on Crist

As long as we're checking on the viability of RINOs vs. real conservatives, what's up in the Crist/Rubio race? This from the St. Pete Times:

The most persistent rumor this week: Gov. Charlie Crist 44 percent Marco Rubio 30 percent in the race for U.S. Senate. The poll allegedly is the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s, but president Mark Wilson isn’t calling us back.

Is it true? A 14-point race? We have no idea. But Rubio people have told us about it. Crist people have told us about it. And the accounts of the five people from both camps to whom we spoke differ by only a percentage point or two.

Regardless, some of Crist’s top supporters are worried. They say that this isn't the only poll showing that Rubio is scratching and denting the Teflon of Charlie Crist, who has seen record job loss and home foreclosures plague his watch as governor. More and more, they say, likely Republican voters are leaning toward Rubio and away from Crist...".

Well, well.

And the crazy-rumors are starting to fly, too. Like this one:

Still, one top Crist supporter even speculated that Crist might consider withdrawing from the race and run for re-election. That probably won’t happen. But while the idea of Crist switching races is unlikely and probably absurd, the entertainment of such an absurdity by the Crist-can’t-lose crowd is noteworthy. They’re nervous. So is Crist, who’s unexpectedly dropping in at Republican committee meetings, where straw poll after straw by rank-and-file Republican base voters show the base favors Rubio.

I don't think Crist will switch races, especially when he's had such a lead for so long. But that lead is, as I said, sinking like a rock.

It's still early; we're still a long way out from that race. But the tide is turning on old Charlie. Even Salon takes note that Crist is in for a battle he may not have bargained for.

Rove Writes a Check for Rubio

Well this is interesting...via Memeorandum, MSNBC reports:

"While Crist has financially overwhelmed Rubio to date, there are many Republicans -- particularly those in Flordia that are close to former GOP Gov. Jeb Bush -- who have publicly become more comfortable airing their skepticism about Crist in public. One of those Republicans with close ties to the Bush family, Karl Rove, has signaled his preference with his wallet. Rove confirms to NBC News that he has contributed a $1000 to Rubio's campaign, the donation will be made public when Rubio files his next FEC report (due Oct. 15). "

Will an endorsement from Rove help Rubio's momentum? We shall see. Some see Rove's endorsement as a vicarious endorsement from Jeb Bush who hasn't come out for anyone. Jeb is walking the tightrope not wanting to alienate either of them. Jeb has the same problem that the NRSC has in that Crist is "the favorite" so let's just go with him - never mind what he stands for. Rove's endorsement, or support, could be a silent nod from Jeb, at least, that's the way Ben Smith at Politico is reading it.

The Tampa Bay Buzz at the St. Pete Times is reporting that Rubio has earned over $600,000 this quarter which is enough to keep him going.

(Cross posted at Not One Red Cent!)

"Our Liberals Can Beat Your Liberals"

Lamest quote of the day? That would be from Brian Walsh, NRSC communications director. When asked about the Jeb Bush endorsement of Marco Rubio in the Florida Senate race and Jeb's criticism of the early NRSC coming out for Crist, Walsh said, "the NRSC believes Governor Crist is the best candidate to maintain the checks and balances needed in the Senate."

Seriously? The best candidate to maintain the checks and balances in the Senate? He said it. I wasn't looking at him when he said it, but I'm guessing he said that with a straight face.

Larry Thornberry at American Spectator responds this way:

It's truly hard to see how a politician like Crist, who has supported Obama's stimulus package, who's enthusiastic about cap and trade and other costly enviro-disasters, and who's as silent as the tomb about conservative social issues, could in any way be a check on the Obama socialist agenda. He's more of an enabler. This is probably why a friend of Rubio's told me he had come up with a great slogan for Crist's campaign: "Send Charlie to Washington -- he'll fit right in."

The NRSC believes that Crist can get elected. Never mind what he stands for. Never mind the issues! We don't care about no stinkin' issues! He can get elected! Well, so could Mickey Mouse, probably, but that doesn't mean we want him in the Senate. Crist may have an R after his name, which is what matters to Cornyn, but he's no conservative. And Rubio is beating the stuffing out Crist in straw polls all over the state.

Ruby Slippers refers to this Crist endorsement of Obama back in February when Crist spoke up for and defended Obama's leadership skills. Bah. If Crist calls incessant speech making and campaigning leadership, then okay. Otherwise, I'm not convinced and surely wouldn't have been back in February.

No, Crist is about as liberal as they come and can still put an R behind his name. He shows some gall even doing that, given his record of support for Obama and his agenda. Thornberry contends that the NRSC jumped the gun and erred in supporting Crist so early but says that if all that is required to run is an R behind your name, then he'd like to send you a bumper sticker: "Our liberals can beat your liberals."

Well said.

George Will Likes Rubio

I think George Will likes Marco Rubio.

In his column today, Will writes, "In January 2011, one Floridian will leave for the U.S. Senate. He is unlikely to be a former governor at odds with his party's nominating electorate, or the probable Democratic nominee, Kendrick Meek, a hyper-liberal congressman. Rubio intends to prove that 'in the most important swing state, you can run successfully as a principled conservative.' He probably will."

Will points out that Crist has made several poor decisions for Florida; one problematic and risky one was his government run property insurance program which has "driven private insurers to limit their business or even stop doing business in the state." When the next big hurricane hits, guess who is going to be on the hook for the bill?

For his part, Rubio understands how the Republicans got in trouble in the first place. In a speech this week he criticized Republican spending during the Bush years and their misdirection with regard to real reform and conservative principles. KeysNet covered Rubio's speech in Key Largo and noted that "Rubio said neither former President George W. Bush or congressional Republicans seriously pushed for what he considers real reform measures — term limits, a simplification of the federal tax code and the elimination of the capital gains tax."

Tomorrow's St. Petersburg Times has a recap of the straw polls to date:

Here are the votes taken so far:
Marion County GOP, Rubio 40, Crist 8, abstain 4;
Hernando County GOP, Rubio 46, Crist 0;
Gilchrist County GOP, Rubio 11, Crist 1;
Republican Women's Club of Duval Federated, Rubio 65, Crist 4;
Northwest Orange Republican Women Federated, Rubio 49, Crist 3;
Jefferson County GOP, Rubio 30, Crist 6;
Highlands County GOP, Rubio 75, Crist 1;
Pasco County GOP, Rubio 73, Crist 9;
Lee County GOP, Rubio 60, Crist 9;
Florida Federation of College Republicans, Rubio 19, Crist 6;
Bay County GOP, Rubio 23, Crist 2.

I know straw polls aren't scientific, but there's a pretty clear pattern here.

Making a tennis analogy, George Will referred to the NRSC's early endorsement of Crist as an "unforced error." It certainly suggests that the NRSC is as out of touch with the base as Crist seems to be if the straw polls are to be trusted.

(Cross posted at Not One Red Cent!)