Rubio slices into Crist's lead in Senate primary in Florida

[bobbyw24]

Rubio slices into Crist's lead in Senate primary
By Aaron Blake - 10/21/09 07:22 AM ET

Marco Rubio (R) has dramatically cut Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s lead in the Florida Republican Senate primary to 15 points, as the race appears to be taking on a whole new life.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:iv-wyhxl1OTztM:http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/Marco%2520Rubio.gif

Rubio, who recently announced that he raised a solid $1 million in the third quarter, now learns that Quinnipiac University has him significantly reducing Crist’s lead in the polls. While Rubio trailed 55-26 two months ago, he is now holding the popular governor to 50 percent of the primary vote and trails 50-35.

The results resemble a reported Chamber of Commerce poll that had Crist up 44-30 and stirred talk of some unrest in the centrist governor’s camp. And it is good news for a Rubio campaign that has been trying to prove to potential donors and endorsers that it is for real.

Rubio has very good numbers among Republicans, with 44 percent viewing him favorably and just 3 percent unfavorably. Crist is seen positively by 63 percent of GOPers, with 30 percent having a negative view of him.

In the general election, Crist holds a wide lead over Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.), 51-31. But if Rubio can win the primary, he would start by trailing Meek 36-33.

UPDATE: Perhaps to bite into Rubio's momentum in the poll, Crist has scheduled a "major endorsement" announcement Wednesday. It will take place at 4 p.m. at Fraternal Order of Police headquarters in Jacksonville.

For more info:

http://www.marcorubio.com/

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/64047-rubio-slices-into-crists-lead-in-senate-primary

[Bucjason]

nice ....take Crist down !!

[davesxj]

They both suck.

[Matt Collins]

Yes there are legitimate questions about Rubio that need to be answered. The fact that he's "NOT Charlie Crist" is not good enough.

[erowe1]

It would be so cool if Smith played the spoiler and drew just enough votes away from Rubio to give Crist the nomination. That would be just what all those posers who think Rubio is worth supporting have coming to them. Plus, it would show the party that its constitutionalist wing is to be taken seriously and won't be bought off with decoys like Toomey and Rubio.

[FSP-Rebel]

I saw an article recently saying that Rubio has the support of the 9-12 movement, so he must be a little better than Crist.

[erowe1]

I saw an article recently saying that Rubio has the support of the 9-12 movement, so he must be a little better than Crist.

I'd like to see their reasons for supporting Rubio and not Smith. It may be that this tells us more about the 9-12ers than it does Rubio. And if we're going on support from groups that are good, then it's worth noting that Crist was rated the single most fiscally conservative of all 50 governors in a study by the Cato Institute (which I'd put a good notch above the 9-12 movement) in 2008, and they actually gave specific reasons. I'm not saying Crist is any good, I don't think he is. But if I were in Florida it would take a lot more than any reasons Rubio has given yet before I'd get behind him.

[qh4dotcom]

Yes there are legitimate questions about Rubio that need to be answered. The fact that he's "NOT Charlie Crist" is not good enough.

Other than foreign policy, what's wrong with him? I've sent him donations

[angelatc]

Other than foreign policy, what's wrong with him? I've sent him donations

If I were in Florida I'd be volunteering for him. THere's a libertarian candidate that some posters like better, but I am married to a guy who knew Crist personally. They drank at the same bar, and there's no way he'd vote for him.

THere's nothing positive that will come from sending a Lindsey Graham clone into the Senate.

[RonPaulFanInGA]

15 points isn't too big a lead for Crist this early, but he's still at 50%.

[Time for Change]

Here are a couple good tidbits...
First from my REC...

At Wednesday night's Palm Beach County REC meeting, the committee conducted a straw poll to gauge its members’ preference in the forthcoming Republican Primary for US Senate. And once again, Marco Rubio delivered yet another backhanded slap to Governor Charlie Crist. The final vote was Rubio- 90, Crist-17, Smith-11 and Thorpe-4. Yet another convincing beatdown of our supposedly unbeatable governor!


Next is from Tampa

Marco Rubio crushes Charlie Crist in another REC straw poll

Tonight it was in Hernando County, Charlie Crist's back yard and Bill McCollum's native county. The tally was 46 for Marco Rubio, zero for Charlie Crist.

"I'm surprised but I'm not surprised,'' said party chairman Blaise Ingoglia, stressing the motion for the straw vote came from the floor, not the leadership. "They believe in Marco Rubio's message and his values. The people in Hernando County tend to be a little more conservative."

Buzz neglected to post earlier this week that rural Gilchrist County also held a straw poll, in which Rubio got 11 votes, Crist 1. REC Chairman Tommy Langford told us a little sheepishly that turnout was low because a cattlmen's meeting and high school volley ball match were going on that night. As for the result, Langford noted that Crist promised property taxes would drop like a rock, and people arte getting TRIM notices that show otherwise.

Selective reporting does not permit Crist a victory.

[itshappening]

Rubio is establishment backed, it's a false paradigm in Florida

both are awful sell outs.

[Matt Collins]

Rubio is establishment backed, it's a false paradigm in Florida

both are awful sell outs.Can you please prove this?

I believe you, but I want to send this information in Florida who like Rubio simply because he's NOT Crist.

[itshappening]

Can you please prove this?

I believe you, but I want to send this information in Florida who like Rubio simply because he's NOT Crist.

he's an Aspen institute scholar and Rove is backing him, what more...

it's a joke of a contest there. Rubio has managed to outflank the popular Crist but it's a false choice I think... :P

[Matt Collins]

he's an Aspen institute scholar and Rove is backing him, what more... How do you know Rove is backing him?:confused:

[RonPaulFanInGA]

How do you know Rove is backing him?:confused:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1009/Rove_donated_to_Rubio.html

[Matt Collins]

Thanks for the link...



http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1009/Rove_donated_to_Rubio.html (http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1009/Rove_donated_to_Rubio.html)

[tonesforjonesbones]

Rubio is better than crist. The libertarian guy has not a chance in hell of winning. The Libertarians should work on LOCAL and STATE elections and leave national alone until they can win something besides soil and water boards. They should be trying for local school boards, city and county comm;issioners etc...and once they have conquered that..move up. TONES

[qh4dotcom]

he's an Aspen institute scholar and Rove is backing him, what more...

it's a joke of a contest there. Rubio has managed to outflank the popular Crist but it's a false choice I think... :P

I saw a link that Rove donated $1,000 to Rubio...that's not enough proof that Rubio will do what Rove says if elected...anything else?

[sofia]

choosing between Crist or Rubio is like choosing between Arlen Specter or Newt Gingrich...


Rubio is an ambitious neo-con....Crist is a ambitious liberal...

they both suck

[sofia]

Can you please prove this?

I believe you, but I want to send this information in Florida who like Rubio simply because he's NOT Crist.

Rubio is Aspen-Rodel scholar...

lefty think tank backed by SOROS

[Time for Change]

Rubio is Aspen-Rodel scholar...

lefty think tank backed by SOROS

I don't know much about the guy and find this very interesting.
The assumption that people are selecting him because he is simply the other person is apparently pretty accurate, sad, but accurate.

May I request that you elaborate on this one a bit to assist those who are not as well informed?

Thanks in advance.

[Matt Collins]

lefty think tank backed by SOROSYes I know Rubio is connected to Aspen (says so on their site), but how is Soros connected to Aspne? :confused:

[sofia]

Yes I know Rubio is connected to Aspen (says so on their site), but how is Soros connected to Aspne? :confused:

Soros is a donor...as is Rockefeller

[sofia]

I don't know much about the guy and find this very interesting.
The assumption that people are selecting him because he is simply the other person is apparently pretty accurate, sad, but accurate.

May I request that you elaborate on this one a bit to assist those who are not as well informed?

Thanks in advance.

The Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies runs a fellowship program called the Aspen_rodel fellowship.

Its stated mission is to identify young up and comers who believe in "bipartisanship."

Aspen has a very globalist and socialist bent. Any Republican that associates with them should not be trusted.

Trey Grayson and Michael Steele are also Aspen-Rhodes fellows.

Goog Aspen and Aspen Rhodes

[FSP-Rebel]

Soros is a donor...as is Rockefeller
Yikes and Holy Crap.

[Matt Collins]

Soros is a donor...as is Rockefeller
Link? :confused:


The reason I'm asking this is because there are some very important people who are lining up to back Rubio that I have influence with. I'd like to show them a different perspective, if one exists, which it appears it does. But it needs to be substantial, not mythical.

[davesxj]

The Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies runs a fellowship program called the Aspen_rodel fellowship.

Its stated mission is to identify young up and comers who believe in "bipartisanship."

Aspen has a very globalist and socialist bent. Any Republican that associates with them should not be trusted.

Trey Grayson and Michael Steele are also Aspen-Rhodes fellows.

Goog Aspen and Aspen Rhodes

Ykes!:eek:

The Aspen Institute Leadership and Board of Trustees (http://www.aspeninstitute.org/about/leadership-board)

Edit: Here's there 2008 Annual Report and 2009 Overview (http://www.scribd.com/doc/18959198/Aspen-Institute-2008-Annual-Report-and-2009-Overview) where the Open Society Institute (easily connected to George Soros) is considered "Foundation Support", whatever can be said for that. Most other info comes from obviously slanted media outlets.

[Bucjason]

Rubio is better than crist. The libertarian guy has not a chance in hell of winning. The Libertarians should work on LOCAL and STATE elections and leave national alone until they can win something besides soil and water boards. They should be trying for local school boards, city and county comm;issioners etc...and once they have conquered that..move up. TONES


Well this IS a state election, but I agree with your point ...the libertarian approach is totally wrong . You have to start at the grassroots.

[sofia]

Soros and Rubio...

both affiliated with "bipartisan" Aspem


story on Soros..

http://www.aim.org/media-monitor/something-you-wont-see-on-cnn/

[Bucjason]

I'd like to see their reasons for supporting Rubio and not Smith. It may be that this tells us more about the 9-12ers than it does Rubio. And if we're going on support from groups that are good, then it's worth noting that Crist was rated the single most fiscally conservative of all 50 governors in a study by the Cato Institute (which I'd put a good notch above the 9-12 movement) in 2008, and they actually gave specific reasons. I'm not saying Crist is any good, I don't think he is. But if I were in Florida it would take a lot more than any reasons Rubio has given yet before I'd get behind him.


From Bob Smith's website on foriegn policy -

"Let me quote my friend former Speaker Newt Gingrich, "I am a hawk, but I'm a tight hawk.""
http://www.friendsofsenatorbobsmith.com/issues_nationalsecurity.php
Is Bob Smith really that much different??


I will make my decision on what the candidates say, voting records, and who I agree with the most... I don't get involved in all these 6 degrees to Kevin Bacon style connections some try to make to discredit people.

We shall see....

[HOLLYWOOD]

FOX 'HAPPY HOUR' just had Rubio interviewed in this big challenger to Gov Crist... Slick & Fast talker with pre-canned responses, says a lot of right dialog. You can watch the HH reruns this evening if interested.