Marco Rubio: Crist does not respect informed voters

In this short audio clip from 92.5 FM Fox News with Mandy Connell, Marco Rubio says that Charlie Crist does not respect the intelligence of the electorate.

His answer was in response to a question about Charlie Crist's radio ads which came out last week.

Crist's ads were deceptive at best and downright misleading when it comes to his record.

Marco Rubio Speaks at the Sarasota Republican Club

(Photo courtesy of Republican Party of Sarasota-
Marco Rubio with the President of the Sarasota Republican Club, Chuck Volker)

Jeremey Wallace of Harold Tribune has the hightlights of Marco Rubio's appearance at the Sarasota Republican Club today.

Here are some excerpts of the story:

...Rubio said he feels he’s the only candidate in the race for Senate committed to fighting the Democratic agenda: “I’m running for U.S. Senate because I disagree with them. I’m running for U.S. Senate because I believe the majority of Americans disagree with them. I’m running for U.S. Senate because I believe that the majority of Americans deserves a voice in Washington that will stand up to this agenda and offer an alternative — a voice that will stand up and say that America in this century can be greater, more exceptional, more prosperous, more upwardly mobile than the one of the 20th. And I’m running for U.S. Senate because I do not believe that there is a single other person running in this state for this position who believes these things, will fight against these things and will offer a clear alternative.”

That alternative, Rubio said, includes fighting for a balanced budget amendment, for a simpler federal tax code and against attempts to create a single-payer health care system...

Rubio Campaign Responds to new Crist Radio Ad

The Crist campaign decided to spend a little of it's huge war chest by releasing a radio spot today which is airing on conservative talk radio shows. Here is the text of the Crist campaign ad. I will add the audio when I can get it. Read the Rubio campaign Response below!

Udpate: Here is the link to the audio of the Crist ad.

Washington is out of control, yet the president has the same tired answer for every problem – to spend more of your money.
I’m Charlie Crist. I’m running for the U.S. Senate because Washington needs a dose of Florida common sense.
In the last two years, federal government spending has grown by over 25 percent.
Here in Florida, I’ve slashed government by 10 percent. That’s $7 billion.
And we’ve passed the biggest tax cuts in Florida history.
Last fall, the conservative Cato Institute graded all 50 governors with a fiscal report card.
I’m proud to say that I was ranked #1 in America.
Less government, less taxes. It’s more than a slogan. It’s my commitment and the record I’ll bring from Tallahassee to Washington.
We can’t spend our way into prosperity or tax our way into growth.
Let’s cut the size of the federal government and return your family’s money so you can decide how to best spend it.
I’m Charlie Crist and I approved this message.

The Rubio campaign quickly responded with a countering fact check of the ad and released the following statement.

“Just like government can’t tax and spend its way to prosperity, Charlie Crist can’t fundraise and spend his way into being a conservative. By hitting the airwaves this early in the campaign, it’s clear he’s concerned that his abysmal economic record, embrace of Obama spending policies and Marco Rubio’s rise are a recipe for his defeat. Despite his best efforts to sell himself as a conservative, Charlie Crist can’t fool Floridians who are feeling the pain of the Crist economy and know his record of embracing wasteful stimulus spending, raising taxes and supporting cap-and-trade." -- Alex Burgos, Rubio campaign spokesman

The Sun Sintenal has a Great breakdown of the ad and tears it apart.

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.

Video: Marco Rubio at Candidate Fest explains why he is running

Marco Rubio answers the question, "Why are you running?"

"Because I think America is the single greatest civilization in human history. I believe that everthing that has made this country great is being threatened by the direction that this leadership would take our country..."

Karl Rove Endorses Marco Rubio-Snubs Charlie Crist

Former Presidential advisor to George W Bush ,Karl Rove, has endorsed former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio for US Senate.

Rove chose Rubio over moderate republican and current Florida Governor Charlies Crist.

Rove joins a list conservative big shots in supporting Rubio.
Rubio has been endorsed by:
Senator Jim DeMint
Ginny Brown-Waite
Mike Huckabee
Laura Ingraham
Mark Levin
Dick Army
Newt Gengrich
and many other well know conservative.....

Read the entire story at MSNBC.

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).

Audio:Marco Rubio on the Martha Zoller Radio Show

This is the audio from today's Martha Zollar Radio show. During the interview Marco Rubio discusses several issues and takes a , well deserved, swipe at Charlie Crist.

Rubio: "Charlie Crist is no Jeb Bush Republican!"

Marco Rubio Hits Back Twice as Hard

In a letter to supporters, the Marco Rubio campaign sent out this email in response to Charlie Crist's newest attacks against rival Rubio.

The Rubio team does not seem intimidated by the tactics. In fact, they hit back twice as hard asking for Crist to debate the issues.  Crist has continued to hide from any debates.

Here is the letter(with links):
Supporter-


We all knew this day would eventually come. After months of negative headlines about his stewardship of Florida, pretending he is unopposed in the GOP primary and refusing to debate Marco Rubio on the issues affecting Florida’s and America’s future, Charlie Crist has finally acknowledged he has a real fight on his hands and is reverting to his tried and tested approach of smearing whoever stands in his way.

Faced with Marco’s growing momentum and a public growing increasingly sour about his own record of supporting tax increases, the wasteful Obama stimulus package and cap-and-trade, Crist and his allies are lashing out with misleading, negative and personal attacks. As the Miami Herald reports today, “Crist allies are starting to push back at the notion that Rubio is a conservative’s dream candidate.”

Unfortunately for Crist and his allies, they are running up against a wall of respected conservatives who have seen Marco up close and can vouch for his credentials:

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich: “… has pegged Rubio as a rising national political figure and calls 100 Ideas ‘a work of genius.’”

Former Gov. Jeb Bush: “He’s got all the tools. He’s charismatic and has the right principles.”

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey: “Marco Rubio is a champion of freedom and an inspiring leader for the next generation of the conservative movement. His track record and conservative convictions are a breath of fresh air in a party looking for new leaders to advance the principles of limited government, lower taxes and economic liberty.”

Sen. Jim DeMint: “There is no question Marco Rubio will be a big part of the Republican Party’s future, but I believe if we are to defeat the forces of Big Government now controlling Washington, Marco Rubio needs to be a big part of the Republican Party’s present. He has the skills and ideas we need to rebuild our party, reform our government, and renew our nation.”

Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist: Rubio is “the most pro-taxpayer legislative leader in the country.”

Syndicated Columnist George Will: “His preventive medicine includes limited government, tax reform, spending restraint and removal of all impediments to the entrepreneurship that makes America a place ‘where poor people can put billionaires out of business.’”

National Radio Host Laura Ingraham: “He's not the favorite in this race, but he's the best one running. I'm all about supporting true conservatives.”

You see, Marco has the truth on his side and the conservative credentials to back it up. But he needs your help to get the word out and fight the smears, which is why we’re asking you to help today in two ways:

First, help make sure Marco has the resources to set the record straight by donating to his campaign. Your support will help ensure Marco’s message reaches all Floridians.

Second, urge Charlie Crist to accept Marco’s Debate Challenge. As voters, you deserve to see candidates go face-to-face on the issues of greatest concern to you. So far in 2009, Governor Crist has shown more interest in standing on stage with President Obama at a pro-stimulus rally than he has in standing on stage with Marco debating ideas. That’s not the kind of campaign you deserve.

Thanks for your support,
Team Rubio

Mark Levin Endorses Marco Rubio for US Senate

Conservative talk show radio host and best selling author Mark Levin endorsed Florida senate candidate Marco Rubio for US senate tonight.

The endorsement was made during an interview with conservative senator Jim DeMint.
Senator DeMint endorsed Rubio earlier this year.

Levin said to SEND HIM MONEY and vote for him!



I will post the audio of  Levin's endorsement when it becomes avaialble.

UPDATE: 10:50 PM
Here is a rough transcript  of Levin's endorsement:
This comes at about the 50 minute mark of the audio. The audio is available here .It's the 10/01 show audio.

...Rubio Florida and Toomey PA. These are two SOLID solid conservatives who believe in the Declaration of Indepencence........

Mark Levin: ...These are two solid conservatives (Rubio and Toomey) who are running against the system. Running against really their own republican establishment and running against the democrats. Mark, what can I do? Well in these states you can do something very direct and very specific. You can send these candidates money! You can make sure you are registered to vote.....It's that simple.... We need these men NOW!!!