Crist, Meek Unveil New Florida Ads as Rubio Mourns Father
Florida senate candidates Kendrick Meek (Democrat), Charlie Crist (Independent) and Marco Rubio (Republican), in a three-way contest for the vacant seat. While Rubio is mourning the death of his father this weekend, the other released new television spots designed to take voters from each others' base. (photo: Talking Points Memo/Wikimedia)
The Florida Senate campaign of Republican Marco Rubio has been temporarily suspended over the weekend in the wake of the death of the candidate's father, Mario Rubio, 83, who died Saturday at Baptist Hospital in Miami after a long battle with cancer and emphysema.
Meanwhile, the other two candidates in the three-way race for Florida's vacant Senate seat, Democrat Kendrick Meek and Florida Governor Charlie Crist, formerly a Republican now running as an Independent, unveiled new campaign ads.
Meek's ad, "Only One," features him on an airboat speeding through the Everglades, claiming to be the "only one" who championed various causes, including protecting the Florida wetlands. He's also seen ringing up purchases (while talking about credit card fees) and riding a public bus.
Not surprisingly, Crist's ad, "Best of Both," has the Florida governor showcasing his position between parties as a positive instead of a negative, professing his desire to take the "best of both" parties and leave the rest behind.
With recent polls showing Meek trailing the other two with somewhere between 16 and 20 per cent of total voters, the race appears to be shaping up to be between Crist and Rubio, who are currently within a few points of each other near the 40 per cent mark. In order to win, Meek has to take significant ground away from Charlie Crist, who according to recent Rasmussen data has greater support in the Democratic Party than he does in the Republican, picking up 36% of total Democratic voters in the state compared to 19% of Republicans.
The Republican Party has thrown heavy support behind Rubio, including a recent infusion of $2.5 million into advertising funds in the state for his campaign. They released a statement heavily critical of former Republican Governor Crist's new television spot, calling him "politically opportunistic."
It remains to be seen if Democrats will shift their support to Crist if they think Meek's campaign is not viable. The Republicans appear to need Marco Rubio to win more than the Democrats need Kendrick Meek to not lose to Crist, despite high level support from campaigners like former president Bill Clinton. Both Rubio and Crist appear to be jockeying for position for the 2012 elections, with Rubio cited as a current favorite for the number two spot on a Republican presidential ticket.
Rubio is expected to resume his campaign after the funeral of his father later this week.
Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek's new campaign ad for Florida senate, "Only One."
Newly independent Florida governor Charlie Crist's latest television commercial, "Best of Both," the candidate's latest attempt to carve out a middle ground between Democrats and Republicans.
On the Web:
Father of Senate candidate Marco Rubio dies in Miami - The Miami Herald
Election 2010: Florida Senate - Rasmussen Reports
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Ted Frier
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Comments
I've always like Charlie Crist well enough, but even though I consider myself and independent and think that everyone should embrace a flexible attitude toward the parties and focus on issues, I don't like to see politicians make a change in mid-stream like Crist did. I know it shouldn't matter if I really believe in independence, but it just seems...unseemly somehow.
Thanks Kathy.R
Meeks video clip was carefully crafted to appeal to important Democratic party constituencies, and it worked except that I couldn't help but wonder what the baby ducks that were crushed in the grass that the monster airboat thought of it, but they don't vote in Florida and for the most part neither do environmentalists. Grade B.
Crist looked truly on top of his game moving blocks around, but clinched the ending with the inclusively independent pitch to all Americans. Grade A.
Too bad about Rubio's Dad. I still hope he loses.
(R)ated for making me care somewhat.
Meanwhile, The Godfather of the Naples Mafia continues to deny any culpability in Medicare fraud as he eyes the Governor's office (and the FL treasury), crying, "Let's get to work!" Are those dollar signs in his eyes? Man! If I lived elsewhere, I'd be laughing!
{{{R}}}
Crist after all promises—or maybe just says—he'll caucus with the Dems. This is the same governor who opposed changing the law in Florida so children languishing in foster care could be adopted by gays. The fli-flop on this issue—now he wishes to lift the ban— is transparent and heartbeaking as Florida remains the sole state with such a restriction.
Oh what to do?
Lois
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