Miami Herald: Former President Bill Clinton tells Democrats to back Crist with big turnout

[flpoljunkie]

Former President Bill Clinton tells Democrats to back Crist with big turnout


Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who is now running as a Democrat in this year’s governor’s race, stands alongside former President Bill Clinton at Crist's campaign rally in downtown Miami. Clinton and Crist didn’t talk about jobs or the economy as much as Scott, but Clinton made sure to talk about issues that Gov. Rick Scott shies away from: expanding Medicaid and approving a minimum-wage increase — bread and butter Democratic issues


DEMOCRATIC DUO: Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who is now running as a Democrat in this year’s governor’s race, stands alongside former President Bill Clinton at Crist's campaign rally in downtown Miami. Clinton and Crist didn’t talk about jobs or the economy as much as Scott, but Clinton made sure to talk about issues that Gov. Rick Scott shies away from: expanding Medicaid and approving a minimum-wage increase — bread and butter Democratic issues ANGEL VALENTIN / GETTY IMAGES

BY MARC CAPUTO
[email protected]

Bill Clinton sounded worried.

“Typically in nonpresidential years, Republicans vote better than Democrats do,” the former president said Friday night at a Miami campaign rally for Charlie Crist. “And we’re not going to let that happen, are we?”

The crowd of several hundred shouted back a loud no.

Clinton’s concern cropped up time and again in his 25-minute speech designed to vouch for the Democratic bonafides of Crist and fire up the faithful so that Florida Democrats can win their first governor’s race since 1994.

This year, Democrats are trying in the most-unorthodox of ways — with a former Republican governor who was an independent before becoming a Democrat. Crist faces the weakest incumbent in years, Gov. Rick Scott, whose poll numbers have been poor since the political newcomer barely won office in 2010.

But after a $24 million ad campaign — most of it negative and trained on Crist — the race is close. A Tampa Bay Times poll this week found Scott ahead by 5 percentage points, but a SurveyUSA poll last week indicated Crist was up by 2 percentage points.

more...

http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/09/05/4330751/former-president-bill-clinton.html

[monmouth3]

1. With the certainty of a Crist win, he will then promise Florida to Hillary. It's all so simple....

[yeoman6987]

2. I just hope his transition to Democratic is real

It feels so weird to bash the guy a short time ago and now support him. Yes I moved to Florida!

[monmouth3]

3. I think it's real, the crazy repubs down here are the worst. I fear what Crist had to promise Big

Bill. I doubt his endorsement comes without some sort of "promise." We'll see...

[yeoman6987]

4. Thanks for the confidence boost

This is my first time voting in Florida. I am used to Maryland where Democrats are big time liberal.

[monmouth3]

5. I love Martin O'Malley. As far as Florida, until we rid ourselves of the tea party and other Reds,

it will be same ole, same ole. Welcome to Florida anyway, I'm a Jersey Girl but we do adapt....LOL...

[emulatorloo]

6. Or maybe Clinton is helping get rid of that crook Rick Scott

[flpoljunkie]

7. Rethugs have never forgiven Crist for extending voting hours in 2008

Scott immediately did away with Crist's making it easier for former felons to be able to regain their right to vote. Charlie Crist was much better on the environment.

Scott is supported by Big Sugar and big utilities, as well as the Chamber of Commerce.

Charlie called himself the People's Governor' when he was our Republican governor and was always supported by the trial lawyers in Florida--notably John Morgan who is the force behind the medical marijuana amendment on the November ballot.

I am wholeheartedly supporting Charlis Crist to be our next Democratic Governor.

[yeoman6987]

8. Your post makes me feel better about him!

Thanks!!!

[flpoljunkie]

9. Great!

[flpoljunkie]

10. Crist would work hard for Hillary, but if Jeb is the nominee, he could conceivably win Florida

Sadly, Jeb Bush was a popular governor. Let's hope he doesn't end up running--altho he told the GOP not to write him off for 2016 just this week.

[flamingdem]

11. What about his wife?

Isn't she an ex-con or something?

[flpoljunkie]

12. Columba Bush declared $500 for $19,000 worth of clothes and jewelry she bought in Paris in 1999

Columba Bush, long and awkward presence in the Bush family, speaks English haltingly and has rarely joined her husband on political stages. When Jeb became governor, she spent less time in the capital of Tallahassee than she did in their home near Miami, where the family, including Jeb, all spoke Spanish. Signs of trouble first emerged in 1999 when she went on a five-day Parisian shopping trip and bought $19,000 worth of clothes and jewelry and tried declaring only $500 at Customs (to hide the expenditures from her husband, she said). After the ensuing media debacle, she was kept out of sight. “My wife is not a public person,” Bush said at the time.

http://nymag.com/news/politics/elections-2012/jeb-bush-2012-10/index4.html

[DCBob]

13. If Jeb runs Crist would be a huge ally in Florida for whoever is our nominee.

Important because FL could end up being the deciding state once again.