Rules of Engagement-There are none! Rubio vs Crist Debate 3-28-10

On Sunday March 28th, Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist will sit side-by-side on the set of the popular Sunday talk show Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. There are no rules and the event  may consume the entire hour of the program.

Recent polls show Rubio with a double digit lead over sitting Governor Charlie Crist in his  bid to become Florida's next US senator. That is the complete opposite from the way the polls looked as early as last summer.

Rubio spokesman Alex Burgos told me:

Format is Sunday Show-talk style. The debate will take place in FOX's DC Bureau, where the FOX News Sunday set is located. There will be no audience, and it is expected to last most if not all of the show (with some commercial breaks).

It will be the first time that the two candidates have met head-to-head to exchange their opinions about the future of the state and their role in Washington. It is MUST SEE TV if you are in to politics. It should be a "spicy" debate with each candidate attempting to further his views about the state of the nation and the state of Florida.

Marco Rubio WOWS Huge crowd in Jacksonville Beach

I attended the Marco Rubio event in Jacksonville Beach yesterday and was happy to see hundreds of people coming out to support Marco.  (photos below)

There were more than 300 people there. I know because I counted seats. (And all the standing people AND the people literally standing outside the door.

NewsJacksonville.com has  a great article about the event. Here are some excerpts and you can read the entire story by clicking on the link.

A cheering crowd. A massive, nearly identical lead in two polls over as many days. Marco Rubio walked into a Beaches community hall Wednesday seeming anything but the underdog he was just months ago...

To the crowd of about 300 packed wall-to-wall, Rubio said he couldn’t concentrate on popularity statistics. He had to stop, to sometimes-standing applause, as he reaffirmed his position against government-run health care, accused Washington of dismantling the free market system and said Americans are within plain sight of losing everything that makes the nation great.

The NewsJacksonville.com link also has a link to a dozen or more photos which are better than mine. Time to get a real camera for me. :)

Rubio: Congratulations to Charlie Crist for Standing O by Democrats

The Rubio campaign wasted little time in panning rival Charlie Crist for his State of the State address in Florida today. Crist was given a standing ovation by Democrats for his support of Obama's 787 billion dollar stimulus plan. Republicans actually BOOed him.

It really sounded like Crist was touting democrat policies with more and more spending. No mention of where he would find the money to pay for everything he proposed.

Rubio campaign:

CRIST DEFENDS STIMULUS AS THE "RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO,” DEMOCRATS RESPOND WITH A STANDING “O”


Miami, FL – In a rousing speech that brought Democrats to their feet, Governor Charlie Crist tonight delivered his final State of the State remarks, highlighting his support for the stimulus.

“Tonight, Charlie Crist tried to reinvent himself as someone who had no choice but to help President Obama pass the failed stimulus a year ago,” said Rubio for Senate spokesman Alex Burgos. “But Floridians know it was Charlie Crist who helped force the failed government stimulus down their throats instead of working towards a fiscally responsible alternative to stimulate the true job creators in the private sector.

“Charlie Crist's claim that he acted merely to get Floridians their fair share is not only untrue, it is offensive. Floridians' fair share was squandered years ago by out-of-control Washington spending, and the money Charlie Crist is using to fund his campaign year spending spree is actually being stolen from future generations of Floridians.”

"The Conservative Comeback Begins" Demint and Rubio Launch New Website

The Comeback Begins

Americans, regardless of party, are looking for common sense ideas and principled leadership that will stop an out-of-control Washington and put America and our families back on the path to a safer, more prosperous future.

The U.S. Senate is in desperate need of fundamental reform, and we are traveling across South Carolina to raise support for that effort.

On March 15th, join us to talk about this Conservative Comeback in the Senate. Be a part of this critical, exciting moment in America’s history by registering below. We look forward to seeing you on March 15th!

- Jim DeMint & Marco Rubio

View the entire site at Demintrubio.com

Marco Rubio BLASTS Charlie Crist for his Support of Stimulus Bill

Leading US senate candidate for the Florida Senate Marco Rubio has penned a scathing piece in NRO  blasting current Governor Charlie Crist for his participation in the passing of Barack Obama's stimulus bill last year.

Crist’s Stimulus Support ‘Unforgivable’ and Reckless [Marco Rubio]

I continue to be disappointed by Charlie Crist’s unwillingness to acknowledge how his support for massive, unrestrained, and reckless federal spending is inflicting long-lasting damage on our economy.

Last year, Republicans and Democrats debated the best course of action for re-igniting America’s economy. While Republicans were advocating for targeted efforts based on broad-based tax relief and spending reforms, Charlie Crist ignored those efforts, instead siding with Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats in favor of the largest spending bill in American history. That bill added more than one trillion dollars to our national debt and raised the debt ceiling. This is a debt our children and grandchildren will inherit.

Our nation’s debt has exploded so rapidly that it is threatening our standing in the world, while significantly diminishing the options policymakers have to address the looming over-leveraging crisis facing our country.

In many ways, the stimulus is emblematic of Washington at its worst and underscores the differences between me and my opponent. Charlie Crist remains a leading voice in support of a stimulus that was falsely sold to the American people as a job creator, was rushed through the legislative process with little chance for review or revision, and was loaded with special-interest pork that will do nothing to help the 1.1 million Floridians who are without work.

Now, after a year in which independent analysis has proven its failure to meet the objectives under which it was sold, those in Washington and around the country who committed America to this failed policy continue to place their political careers above the best interests of our country.

The differences between my opponent and me on the stimulus and on the virtues of limited government versus a heavy-handed, big-spending government represent the defining issues of this campaign. Although Charlie Crist’s support for big government policies has diminished his standing with Floridians who believe in the free enterprise system, I hope it won’t continue driving him to the desperate measures we’ve seen from him lately in a vain attempt to change the subject.

Floridians deserve a serious debate on the major issues and challenges of our time, and I hope Governor Crist will engage in this kind of campaign moving forward.

Update:
Campaign spokeman Alex Burgos adds the following:

Two polls released this week show Charlie Crist trailing Marco Rubio by 18 points. Two of his top campaign advisors have jumped ship. And former Governor Jeb Bush is now saying what more and more Floridians are thinking – that Charlie Crist’s support of the stimulus was “unforgivable.”


So what does Crist do? Focus on governing? He hasn’t been doing much of that for three years, so why start now. Will he make his own compelling case for bigger government and more spending, and let the chips fall where they may? Nope, he still insists on calling himself a “Reagan Republican.” So instead, he has opted to lash out with his most false, negative and personal attack on Marco Rubio to date.

“These desperate attacks aren’t the work of a 'happy warrior' being civil, but they are clear signs Charlie Crist is giving up on a real debate on the issues in favor of bitter character attacks.”... 

Crist takes "DeBait" Finally Crist v Rubio debate will be on Fox

Governor Charlie Crist has refused to debate his senate primary rival Marco Rubio for months.

FINALLY, now that he is losing in the polls , he has decided to debate Rubio during Cris Wallace's Fox News Sunday.

RUBIO FOR SENATE COMMENTS ON UPCOMING DEBATES

Miami, FL – Marco Rubio for Senate today released the following statement following Governor Charlie Crist’s decision to finally accept Rubio’s call for debates.

“After eight months of waiting, Marco Rubio is pleased Charlie Crist has finally accepted our long-standing invitation to have a real debate on the issues affecting Florida's and our nation's future,” said Rubio for Senate spokesman Alex Burgos. “For nearly a year, Charlie Crist has avoided a serious policy debate or an honest discussion of his record. Instead, he has relied on the broken politics of shrill name-calling, cynical reinvention and petty attacks.

“Only now, when his campaign is increasingly desperate and willing to say and do anything to turn the tide, has he apparently realized the importance of a substantive debate on the issues.

“FOX Network has shown serious interest in this primary campaign since day one and was the first national news organization to extend an invitation for a debate. Marco Rubio gladly accepted immediately and will be happy to debate Charlie Crist on Meet the Press or anywhere else after he has kept his commitment to have the first debate on FOX on March 28. No national news organization has shown greater interest in covering this race than FOX. It’s unfortunate that Charlie Crist doesn’t understand this."

It's about time!! I have chronicled Rubio's repeated requests for debate and Crist's seemingly endless quest to refuse them.

Here are some of those stories starting in JUNE of 2009:

Marco Rubio Calls for Debates with Crist (June 22, 09)
Video: Marco Rubio Ad-Let the Debate Begin  (July 7, 09)
Crist Hides from Debate with Rival Marco Rubio (August 21, 09)
Rubio Calls Crist's Bluff-Debate Me Then!  (November 17, 09)
Video: Here is why Charlie Crist Refuses to Debate Marco Rubio (November 18 2009)
Again: Rubio Demands a Debate with Crist  (December 16, 09)
Marco Rubio: Charlie Crist Will Not Debate Me (February 6, 10

Fasten your seatbelts and make the popcorn. This is going to be fun!!!

Charlie Crist Booed at CPAC10 while Rubio Receives Standing O

Current Florida Governor ,US Senatorial candidate, and moderate Charlie Crist was booed at the 2010 CPAC conference in Washington DC yesterday.

The boos occurred during the introduction of Crist's rival, conservative republican Marco Rubio.When DeMint happended to mention Crist's name, the BOOS began. DeMint proceeded to introduce Rubio as the Keynote Speaker for the first day of the event.

Being booed at CPAC is not new for Crist. Crist was also booed at last years CPAC event as well. Something tells me that conservatives do not have warm fuzzy feelings for Crist.

(From CPAC 09)"Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R), who publicly supported President Obama's economic stimulus plan, finished last with 1 percent. Crist, who did not attend the conference, was booed by attendees, and pollster Tony Fabrizio, in announcing the results, called him "Barack Obama's favorite Republican."

The boos THIS year came just before the 1:00 mark of this video as Senator Jim DeMint introduces Maroc Rubio to the crowd.







After DeMints eloquent introduction, Rubio went on to receive several standing ovations during an inspiring and insightful 30 minute speech. Click here to watch to speech.

Marco Rubio Invites Supporters to Watch CPAC Speech Live

Direct from the Marco Rubio Campaign:

This week we're looking forward to Marco's appearance at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, where he will be delivering the opening keynote speech. Below are some additional details on this Thursday's event, including information on how you can organize a watch party with fellow supporters. In his latest video, Marco talks about why this event and speaking opportunity is so important. Watch here:




Marco will be speaking on Thursday, February 18th at 10a.m. EST at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. More information about the conference is available here. You will be able to watch his speech live online at C-SPAN's website.

In celebration of this occasion, supporters all around the state of Florida will also be hosting evening house parties where they can view the speech together. If you are interested in watching his speech with some of your relatives and friends on Thursday evening, please just email Luis@MarcoRubio.com so we can get you set up with the private webpage information.

Thanks for all of your support! This opportunity has been made possible by the support and encouragement of people like you who have stood with Marco. We hope you'll share in this important event.
Sincerely,

Team Rubio

Rubio Campaign responds to the Crist Valentines Day Email attack

The Rubio campaign wasted no time in responding to Charlie Crist's Valentines campaign email to his subscribers.

The Orlando Sentinel probably had that best line of the day though.

“Another fuzzy position from Charlie Crist.”

They said someone like me (a Rubio supporter) might use the line above and they were right! I just did.

The Rubio campaign sent out a recap of the week email to supporters which included the following.

CHARLIE AND THE DESPERATION FACTORY

Crist attacks Rubio's character to mask his deep love of bigger government, more spending

Miami, FL – Desperate Charlie Crist is at it again. At a time when his poll numbers are lagging and he sees Marco Rubio raise $860,000 in ten days while continuing to attract support from respected conservatives Mike Pence and Grover Norquist, Crist is launching yet another false, negative and personal attack on Rubio under the cover of a sweet Valentine’s Day treat.

“Charlie Crist’s love of higher spending and taxes will get him nowhere with Floridians this Valentine’s Day and certainly not in August,” said Rubio for Senate spokesman Alex Burgos. “These desperate attacks aren’t the work of a 'happy warrior' being 'civil,' but they are clear signs Charlie Crist is giving up on a real debate on the issues in favor of bitter character attacks.

"Given his long track record of dirty campaigning, we have long expected Charlie Crist would go this route of negative attacks. Charlie Crist has chosen this path because he can't win on the issues, but Marco Rubio remains committed to campaigning on a limited government and free enterprise platform to get Florida and our nation back on track."

Marco Rubio Raises over 800K in 10 Days

The Rubio campaign just announced a stunning total for the Marco Rubio Stimulus Bomb.

Here is the PR:

Thursday, February 11, 2010 Contact:

RUBIO FOR SENATE RAISES OVER $800,000 IN TEN DAYS
Miami, FL – Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate today announced that it received more than $860,000 in campaign contributions during the past ten days through its www.StimulusBomb.com campaign and from Sen. Jim DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund. The ten day total is nearly half of what the campaign raised during the entire fourth quarter of 2009.

“I’m encouraged by the support we’ve received this month from people who believe a return to limited government is what will keep America free and prosperous,” said Rubio. “We are pleased with our progress, but also realize we have a long way to go to compete with one of the most prolific fundraisers in political history."

This effort marked Rubio for Senate’s best fundraising week since the campaign first launched last year. The money raised was more than double what Rubio raised in the second quarter of 2009, and nearly matched the $1 million he raised in the third quarter of 2009. More than 11,000 contributors donated to both the Rubio and Senate Conservatives Fund stimulus campaigns, with donors registering an average contribution of approximately $75.

“Today’s encouraging news would not be possible without Marco’s positive, issues-based message and the growing support of people who support his vision for limited government principles,” said Rubio for Senate spokesman Alex Burgos. “Unfortunately, we are going to need every single penny raised to refute the increasingly desperate and dishonest attacks Charlie Crist has been launching at Marco Rubio on a daily basis.”