Jacob Ogles
With the Democratic nomination for Governor secure, Charlie Crist launched his first General Election ad for 2022.
In a nearly two-minute video, Crist lays out his agenda for Florida in stark contrast to that of incumbent Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“Florida, we deserve better,” Crist says. “Somebody who actually wants this job.”
Crist’s campaign announced the video would send a message “hitting DeSantis on his attacks against women, against the LGBTQ+ community, against minority representation and against the state’s largest corporation, Disney.”
The advertisement hits a number of divisive moments from DeSantis’ term as Governor, which the Crist team characterizes as “four years of constant attacks and culture wars.” A lowlight reel includes footage of DeSantis shouting at the press for “spreading false narratives.”
“I’m standing in your way,” DeSantis says in one clip.
While DeSantis has leaned heavily on criticisms of media and progressive politics, recently saying Florida is where “woke comes to die,” Crist asserts that combativeness isn’t the leadership Florida needs to represent the state.
The ad includes an exchange on the Morning Joe show where former Florida Congressman Joe Scarborough asks about DeSantis, “who raised him?” That clip is shown right after footage of DeSantis infamously chastising teenagers at a press event for wearing masks.
Co-host Willie Geist makes a comparison to former President Donald Trump. “There’s a strange phenomenon that’s happened in the age of Trump which is that displays like that are somehow viewed as strength,” Geist said.
Crist in the ad says his candidacy represents a different direction.
“I’ve spent my whole life fighting for the people of Florida,” says Crist, who served a term as a Republican Governor from 2006 to 2010 before being elected as a Democratic Congressman in 2016.
The ad shows Crist graduating from St. Petersburg High School, and shares footage of the last time he was sworn in as Governor, perhaps encouraging viewers to imagine such a scene again.
“As Governor, I was proud of what we accomplished,” Crist said. “But now, Ron DeSantis is attacking Florida. He says he’s all about freedom, but only if you do as he says.”
He then lays into controversial steps DeSantis has taken, like signing a ban on abortions 15 weeks into a pregnancy and forcing the Legislature to approve a congressional map that could cut the number of Florida Congressman elected by Black constituencies in half.
The video also includes footage of protestors standing against a parental rights law branded the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by critics.
“For him, politics is all about power, resentment,” Crist says of DeSantis. “He wins. You lose.”
It also shows Crist bringing that message to a crowd of voters, where the Democrat draws applause asking “what is the matter with that guy?”
“I’m running for Florida to stop him and build a Florida that works for everyone,” Crist says
Testimonials show supporters’ faith in the message as Crist lists issues including affordable housing that he will prioritize if elected.
“We can do this together,” he said. “We can stand up to the hate, and with your help, we will win in November.”
Let’s make history, Florida.
Defeat fascism, defeat DeSantis. pic.twitter.com/o5AwUDtTjO
— Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) August 24, 2022
10 comments
PeterH
August 24, 2022 at 10:42 am
Today’s Republican Party needs to wake up! The Democratic Party needs to maintain common sense policies with moderation and avoid extremism.
Independent voters are today’s voice of reason and decide elections.
Gallop has polled nationally asking a simple question of Party affiliation….. here are the results:
Democrats 27%
Republicans 27%
Independents 43%
In Florida there are a total of 14,256,184 registered voters. Of this amount 4,143,819 are unaffiliated independent voters, 5,157,343 are Republicans and 4,955,022 are Democrats.
Independent voters are generally moderate in fiscal issues, liberal in social issues and for the most part college educated. Appealing to the middle wins elections. Independent voters decide elections.
If Americans want women to control their own bodies, qualified teachers to replace DeSantis’s culture wars in classrooms, intelligent teacher-student conversations concerning the social issues facing Americans in the 21st century, non-bullying discussion about classroom students who are different, common sense gun regulations, and a new honest approach on how best to address climate change……AMERICANS MUST VOTE ALL REPUBLICANS OUT OF OFFICE. REPUBLICANS ARE AMERICA’S PROBLEM.
Tom
August 24, 2022 at 1:32 pm
You are joke, peter h, with your retread topics.
Dems lost 250,000 vote lead, GOP picked up over 350,000 new registration. They now lead by 225,000 new. That’s over 500,000 Peter.
We do deserve better, much better than a sell out hypocrite liar. Chameleon crisp is a disgrace. Going to get tar and feathered you double dealing liar, sell out.
Enjoy it.
Bill
August 24, 2022 at 4:51 pm
As an independant, desantis has done nothing for me with his culture wars and childish name calling, bullying BS and I’ve personally lost friends to covid because we never shut down when it was peaking. I’ll admit that he has a better than average chance of winning but it won’t be with any help from me. He can can act the clown (redo of the Dukakis tank helmet stunt) with his top gun nonsense all he wants but I’m hoping it will be close enough to make him stop and think about winning while alienating so many other in the state.
Impeach Biden
August 24, 2022 at 8:37 pm
DeSantis served as an Officer in the United States Navy. How about that geek Dukakis? You are an independent as much as I”m a Nancy Pelosi cheerleader.
Bill
August 25, 2022 at 7:48 am
He served as a lawyer. Actual navy pilots are giving him crap for pretending he was one of them. An yes, I’m actually a registered, anti-trump independent. Sorry to break it to you but plenty of people neither like culture wars and bullies or hippy dippy liberal BS. We’d be the kind of people that desantis might want to stop ignoring. trump found that out the hard way.
Tom
August 25, 2022 at 2:15 pm
Bill Moron, the Gov served as a captain, and attorney to Seal team.
You idiot!
Tom
August 24, 2022 at 5:06 pm
Hardly Bill.
You ain’t a independent! You liar.
You are a liberal blow hard.
DeSantis saved Florida, period.
You are delirious. Ingrates like you are pathetic.
Stop thinking you get fondler cuomo as gov or nazi Whitmer.
Kids in school, businesses saved, parents worked, society thrived. No kids suicides. On and on. 2.7% unemployment. 7.8% wage growth, 24 consecutive months of job growth.
Go hate like chameleon does, he’s getting ass kicked.
More Repubs voted than Dems in primary. Wait til November.
As for the BS on Dukakis comparison, I live through that. That was a joke!
Top Gov add is far from that!
Bill
August 25, 2022 at 7:58 am
I find it remarkable that you can string this incoherent drivel together and push the post comment button. Truly remarkable. Gimbus.
Tom
August 25, 2022 at 2:09 pm
Facts are funny things for you pathetic Dums!
You are just a liberal apologist.
Don’t pretend to be a independent mind with me.
I’ll bust your balls and any other liberal cry eye, happily. I call all you hypocrites out.
Charlotte Greenbarg
August 25, 2022 at 7:40 am
Oh Jacob, you omit Charlie’s “I don’t want your vote!” 🤣🤣
Comments are closed.