Again: Rubio Demands a Debate with Crist

Charlie Crist does not deserve a chance to represent Florida in the US senate if he does not debate challenger Marco Rubio.

Crist started the race above 50% in the polls and Rubio started in single digits. Now that the race is tied 43-43 its time for Crist to give Rubio the respect he deserves.

If he doesn't, it proves he has something to hide. Rubio has repeatedly called for debates and Crist is running out of reasons to say no.

Here is the latest release from the Rubio camp on debates:
RUBIO COMMENTS ON CAMPAIGN'S GROWING MOMENTUM

Miami, FL – U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio today issued the following statement regarding the campaign’s growing momentum:

“While our campaign’s growing momentum and progress is encouraging, I recognize we still have a lot of work and a long road ahead as an underdog running against a sitting governor. I’m encouraged that our campaign, which is built around mainstream Republican values and a positive vision for America, is beginning to receive support from so many Floridians. I also believe voters are starting to realize that there are vast differences between me and Charlie Crist on a number of important issues.

“Throughout this campaign, I have asked Governor Crist to join me in a real debate of ideas. I strongly believe this campaign should be a debate about the best way forward for our party, our state and our nation on the issues Floridians care about most. Instead, Governor Crist has mostly chosen to ignore me or attack me. Lately, Governor Crist’s attacks on me have grown increasingly personal and removed from reality. Our campaign’s growing momentum helps explain why.

“Now that this race seems to be tightening, Governor Crist has a decision to make. He can choose to join me on stage to showcase the differing views that exist within the Republican Party, speak honestly about our records, and allow voters to choose between two sincere yet different visions for the future. Or Governor Crist can try to turn this into every other campaign he’s ever run by going negative and dismissing an honest debate in favor of smears, sound bites and slick advertising.

“Politics is at its worst when politicians place all their faith in money and negative advertising, instead of placing faith in the voters. But politics is at its best when individuals argue and debate ideas and let voters make an informed choice. I remain hopeful that Governor Crist will make the correct choice and join me in a positive debate of ideas.”

Marco Rubio Cuts Crist lead to 10 Points

It's official! Marco Rubio is a viable and strong conservative candidate for the US senate race in Florida.  Crist now leads by only 10 points. A 46 point negative differential for Crist since January. That is a HUGE number in what is becoming a close race with another 9 months to go.

Rubio has consistently gained ground against his moderate rival Charlie Crist.

Without a doubt,  this race is shaping up to be a contest between the "GOP Establishment" and conservative base. So far the base is not backing down.

Rubio has defeated Charlie Crist 14 to 0 in straw polls held throughout the state this year.

How long will it be before he beats Crist in statewide polls?

UPDATE:
Hotair.com weighs in. Shock poll: Rubio within 10 points of Crist in Florida

When will Charlie Crist Quit his Senate Race

There is a strange lack of miscues on the part of  the Crist campaign over the past week and an equally strange lack of  valid criticism  of Crist from the Rubio campaign.

Something is up!! We just dont know what it is yet...

As of today, I think Crist will quit his senate bid and claim that he is doing it for the "good of the party" and will run for Gov again. (Which he will win)

Crist has lost 14 state straw polls in a row (by huge margins) and Marco Rubio has gained the support of the base.

Rubio agreed to the invitation to be the keynote speaker of CPAC in Feb.

Crist hasn't been asked to speak, though he did get some attention at last year's convention that came just a couple weeks after the governor embraced President Barack Obama and his stimulus package during a Florida rally. People booed the mention of Crist's name, and in a 10-person straw poll of potential presidential candidates, he came in dead last.

Marco Rubio has received some major endorsements from the core of the conservative movement.
Club for Growth
CPAC
Jim DeMint
Mike Huckabee
Laura Ingraham
Jeb Bush Jr.
Dick Armey
Mark Levin
George Will
Karl Rove


With the growing support for Marco Rubio and falling poll numbers for Charlie Crist, it is just a matter of time before Crist decides that he should remain as Governor and not risk losing power all together. After all, he is a "pragmatist" (RINO).

Crist's run for senate is hurting the GOP establishment in Florida. I think he may finally  get it!

As a political junky, I can smell the failure that the Crist camp has tried to endure. They are floundering. I expect a huge announcement within the next 10 days if not sooner. I also expect Crist to endorse Rubio which will be followed by an endorsement of Rubio by Former Governor Jeb Bush. ( I can dream can't I?)

Note: Along with the support of the base, Rubio will enjoy a huge increase in contributions from the Club for Growth and CPAC endorsements.

Update 9:00pm--Just a thought. Smells like negotiations between Rubio and the Crist camp are going on...
The Rubio campaign's charlieandobama site has been down since the day after it was launched. That is almost when both campaigns started to "make nice.  Greer is getting a lot of heat along with the other "establishment" types in Florida. Charlie the "pragmatist" may be playing the role of a Lindsey Graham just to save his own bacon and run for Gov...(just a thought)

UPDATE: 11-17-09

With state Republican leaders gathering for a closed-door meeting this week – that could include a few calls for Chairman Jim Greer’s ouster -- a maverick county chairman weighed in Tuesday with a list of what he called GOP problems, and potential solutions...

...Steele said the standard would ease bitterness flooding through the GOP, spawned by the Charlie Crist-Marco Rubio U.S. Senate race ...

Now does any of this sound anything like what I posted above? It should....

Crist Drops Below 50% in Florida Senate Race

The latest Rasmussen poll for the Florida republican senate primary race has current Gov. Charlie Crist dropping below 50%.

Crist has 49% vs Marco Rubio having 35%. This is the first time that Crist has been below 50% against Rubio and Rubio has been able to cut Crist's lead in half since August.

Rubio is favored among the conservative base and Crist is seen as a moderate...or maybe even a little left of center. Crist has been called a RINO and nick-named "Wind-Sock" Charlie for his changing positions.

Update: 11-15-09: Marco Rubio Wins 14th Straw Poll in a Row

Last night Marco Rubio succeeded in winning his 14th straw poll in a row against Charlie Crist. Rubio has not lost a straw poll yet and has won all of them by impressive margins.

Some political aficionados are trying to downplay the significance of the Rubio wins but it is clear that there is an underlying current of true conservative enthusiasm within the conservative base.

Former Governor Jeb Bush practically endorsed Marco Rubio during an interview.

Bush said national party leaders should not be trying to push Crist as aggressively as they have. He said Rubio deserved a fair shot against Crist in a primary.

"I think he should be given a chance. I think that the idea that the national party would pick a winner a year and a half before an election is the wrong way to go."

If Jeb Bush is right and my instincts are correct I think that Charlie Crist may not be as confident in 2010 as he seems to be now. Money can buy you air time but it can not buy you character. That is a lesson that Charlie Crist could learn From Marco Rubio.

Here is the running total of straw polls held to date.

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

Palm Beach County: Rubio 90, Crist 17  (10-14-09)

Okaloosa County: Rubio 86, Crist 4 (11-08-09)

Orange County : Rubio 211, Crist 27 (11-13-09)

Marco Rubio vs Crist in Palm Bch Co. Straw Poll Oct. 14th

The Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee will hold the next straw poll in Florida's Senatorial race bewteen former House Speaker Marco Rubio and current Governor Charlie Crist on Wednesday October 14th.

Thus far, Rubio has crushed Crist in local straw polls. Rubio has skunked Crist 11-0 in polls across state. Rubio has won by HUGE margins.

Crist may be sensing the heat. He decided to make an unannounced visit to the Pinellas County Republican Party meeting Monday night.  This visit may illustrate that Crist is starting to understand that he is not held in great favor amongst many Florida conservatives and so he is scrambling to the right to stop the bleeding.

Crist's contributions dropped by half last quarter while Marco Rubio's contributions nearly tripled to 1 million dollars.

The Palm Beach Post printed the following on Oct. 11th:

Palm Beach County's Republican Executive Committee, which split 65-65 on an August motion to "censure" Gov. Charlie Crist for embracing President Obama's stimulus package and other departures from Republicanism, will conduct a straw poll Wednesday on the Republican U.S. Senate race between Crist, former House Speaker Marco Rubio and six other Republicans.

Udate: Rubio won the straw poll 90 to 17 over Crist. Click here for list of all straw polls held thus far.

Marco Rubio 49.Charlie Crist 0. Hernando County Straw Poll

It's obvious that there is "something" going on within the Florida GOP. There is an undercurrent of conservative thirst to elect a true conservative to the US Senate in 2010.


Regardless of the fundraising prowess of current Governor Charlie Crist and the support he has received from the elites of the party, Crist has not shown the ability to reign in the conservative base. This becomes overwhelmingly obvious when you look at the results the straw polls being held throughout the state. Crist has not prevailed in a single one and is being annihilated by Former House Speaker Marco Rubio.

Marco Rubio is running a grassroots campaign based on prinicples, values, and true conservative beliefs which reflect the hunger of those seeking fiscal responsibility and overall limited government.

Rubio may not be winning the fundraising battle (Yet) but he has tapped in to the very heart those seeking new representation in Washington. A US senate seat.

Here is a list of the county straw polls that have been held so far that illustrate the extraordinary margins received by Marco Rubio against Crist. It is hard to ignore and may be giving Crist a reason to be worried.

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
Without a doubt. Rubio has a chance to win in 2010.

Marco Rubio Wins Gilchrist Straw Poll-Hernando Straw poll Thursday

Marco Rubio claims another victory in Florida county straw polls being held throughout the state. Rubio has not lost a single vote and continues to trounce current Governor Charlie Crist. Crist supporters are discouraging the straw polls! I wonder why....

Rubio defeated Crist 11-1 in the small county of Gilchrist. A larger straw poll is expected on today Thurday Sept,17 in Hernando County.

Here are my pervious posts on the straw polls for other counties:
First Straw Polls

Second post of straw polls.



Here is a link to the full story from TBO.com

Excerpts:

Hernando, with 48,966, will be among the larger counties where local party organizations have held straw votes. County Chairman Blaise Ingoglia wouldn’t predict how the vote will go, but said, “People in this area tend to be a little bit more conservative.” He wouldn’t say who moved for the vote.

Party organizations in about half a dozen counties have held straw votes in the primary, in all cases voting for Rubio. Rubio is pitching his campaign at the conservative side of the party spectrum; his backers have been seeking to hold straw polls in county organizations, and Crist supporters oppose them.

Marco Rubio: "Crist is a Fair Weather Republican"

From Politco.com

Marco Rubio does not hold back when he explains the tactics that Charlie Crist will use to try for a win in the 2010 Florida Senate race.

Rubio has been consistent in his values and policies while Crist has based his decisions on the latest poll results. Crist tries to use popular sentiment as a guide to HIS future and totally disregards those with true principles that disagree with him.

..."At the same time, Crist’s support for the stimulus continues to embolden conservatives such as Rubio to attack the governor as a fair-weather Republican — a complaint he has lodged repeatedly in their primary battle. Rubio’s campaign press releases now refer to the issue as the “Charlie Crist-backed-stimulus-bill.”


“I have no doubt that Charlie Crist is willing to go to Washington and oppose the Obama administration if it’s popular,” Rubio said in an interview. “If it’s popular to be with the Obama administration, he’ll be with them — that’s what he proved last February.”

Rubio Continues to Stomp Crist in State Straw Polls

Marco Rubio has scored yet another victory in a county straw poll. Rubio destroyed Gov Charle Crist 23 to 2 in the Bay County REC straw poll.

Rubio has not lost a straw poll yet that I have seen. Some party officals in certain counties are even afraid to conduct a straw poll for fear of the results.

It is unlikely that the committee, with about 300 members, will actually hold a poll vote Monday night. The more likely scenario: Some activists will push to set a date to hold such a vote and others will attempt to quash that -- at least for now.

Results from other straw polls are included in my earlier post here. Rubio won all of them in a big way..

UPDATE: No GOP Straw Vote in Broward County. Click here for the full story.

Is Crist Losing Ground to a Rubio Surge-Crist Censured in Volusia County

From Sun Sentinel.com
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist censured in his own state.
By Jack Furnari

In a move sure to strike fear in the hearts of the current regime in charge of the Republican Party of Florida, the Volusia County Republican Executive Committee passed a motion by voice vote Saturday morning censuring Republican Gov. Charlie Crist.

The Volusia motion ends with a wink and a nod to the Republican Party of Palm Beach County's own battle over censuring Crist. In what might be perceived as a plea for solidarity from Palm Beach County REC members, the resolution says: "Governor Crist's appointment of Democrats to boards is not limited to Volusia County. He also appointed Democrat Pricilla Taylor to the Palm Beach Board of County Commissioners; and he appointed Democrat Carrie Hill to the Palm Beach County School Board."

Back in April, the PBC Republican Party voted 66-24 to table a Crist censure motion introduced by REC member Steven Ledewitz until August. Now that August is here, the Board of Directors of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County, in anticipation of the motion being introduced again at the upcoming Aug. 12 meeting, recently voted 9-0 to oppose any motion to censure Crist.

Disclosure: As a member of the Board of Directors of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County, I voted, along with the rest of the board, against the local motion to censure Gov. Crist.

In an e-mail sent to grass-roots conservative activists across the state, former Palm Beach County resident and current Volusia County REC member Sally Stewart wrote: "This is the first step toward taking back our government. We need counties throughout the state to send a message that we don't like business as usual.... Our elected officials pander for our votes and when they gain office, turn their backs on us and do the bidding of the big-money lobbyists and special interests."

Click here to read the full article that spells out the reasons for the censure vote.

Rubio is gaining momentum and I think Crist is starting to feel the heat.

Marco Rubio Destroys Charlie Crist in Yet Another Straw Poll

From Florida's The Buzz

Marco Rubio crushes Charlie Crist in another straw poll
If Republican Executive Committees decided statewide primary elections, Charlie Crist's senate campaign would be in big trouble. The Pasco and Lee county RECs have held informal straw polls lately, where Marco Rubio blew away Crist among the party faithful. Last night, the Highlands GOP held their own vote that produced 75 votes for Rubio and one for Crist.

"People were very conservative and they don't like what's going on. They're just upset with the way things are going with Crist. They think he's abandoned us,'' said state committeeman Chuck Oakes.

-------------------------------------

This is the 3rd such trouncing that Crist has received from contender Marco Rubio. Rubio has consistently beaten Crist in such straw polls.

Earlier this year Rubio has beaten Crist in Pasco and Lee Counties. Here are some stats for each county mentioned above.

In Pasco, Rubio won 73 to 9 over Crist.
In Lee County Rubio won 60 to 11.
Very stunning margins if you ask me...

Lee County: The county makes up the entirety of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the most populous county in Southwest Florida.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2000, the population of Lee County was 440,888. The population estimate for 2008 was 623,725

Pasco county: U.S. Census Bureau for the county is 462,715. Its county seat is Dade City, Florida. It is the 38th fastest growing county in the country with a 30.6% increase and has grown by 105,403 residents since the year 2000.

Highlands county: The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the population was 97,346 Its county seat is Sebring, Florida. The county comprises the Sebring, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area.

It seems as though Charlie Crist may be starting to understand what that little sticker on his side view mirror means. "Objects in mirror may be closer than they appear"

Can't wait to see Rubio again. This time in Jacksonville Beach on August 4th.

Update:August 2nd 2009
From TampaBay.com

Local Florida Republican activists cool to Gov. Charlie Crist's Senate campaign...

Sept 3rd UPDATE: Marco Rubio wins another straw poll.

Rubio wins 65 to 4 over Crist

Marco Rubio is Winning Against Crist in a Subtle Surge

Florida Governor Charlie Crist raised over 4 million dollars for his senate campaign in the first quarter. That number seems very impressive until you look at some of the details.
When you compare Crist's numbers to his Republican opponent Marco Rubio, you may begin to see a different story than those you are reading in the Media.

So Crist raised 4 million and Rubio raised 340 thousand. That is more than a 10 to 1 margin. That number seems insurmountable until you dig a little deeper.

First of all the NRSC endorsed Crist right out of the gate without considering other possible contenders for the senate seat vacated by Mel Martinez. (They may live to regret that). Mike Huckabee excoriated the NRSC. Via MSNBC:

"Former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee (R)
on Tuesday lit into the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) for endorsing Gov. Charlie Crist over another Republican in Florida’s open Senate race. Huckabee announced his official support for former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) in a video Tuesday. In an interview with The Hill, he criticized the NRSC for turning its back on a true conservative. 'I’m disgusted that they would take a position in a hotly contested race when you have a quality candidate like Marco Rubio, who was the youngest Speaker in the Florida House,' Huckabee said. 'This is not just some nameless, faceless guy that decided to throw his name in, who had no chance and no credibility.'"

Secondly, the media have been talking about Charlie Crist for three years or more and that is a huge advantage to Crist and his campaign.

Any Google or Yahoo news search proves that Crist has more than a 7 to 1 advantage in face time and ink over Speaker Rubio. On Google News (at this moment) it's 1,803 hits for Crist and 325 for Rubio That number ,along with the NRSC endorsement, nearly correlates with amount of money received by each candidate.

The final point comes from some recent poll results.

...While the poll did show that Governor Charlie Crist still leads former House Speaker Marco Rubio by a 51-23 vote among all Republicans, the lead is based heavily upon his high name ID and Rubio’s low name recognition to date.

The numbers tighten significantly among Republicans who consider themselves familiar with both men.
Among those so-called “informed” Republicans, Crist leads Rubio by a much closer margin of 33-31 percent...

...But as today’s poll numbers show… if the Club’s money is able to drive up Rubio’s name recognition, it’s very possible that we will see the overall polls tighten significantly in this race...

There is a little more than a year to go before the 2010 primary and I am certain that true Conservatives will rally around Marco Rubio and tell Crist and Washington DC that they are fed up with the same old pandering pork barrel politics that we have experienced over the past few years.

Crist tried to ride the coat tails of John McCain to a more successful career and even appeared with Obama to support the stimulus package. He is NOT the kind of Republican I thought he was and I won't forget it.

Marco Rubio is building a grassroots campaign for Conervatism and he is beginning to gain on Crist. The surge may be subtle but it's steady and building. Republicans are starting to watch and listen and they don't like what they are seeing and hearing from Crist.
Marco Rubio deserves to go to Washington as the next US Senator to represent Florida!