Joe Henderson
The only thing Florida Democrats want to know this week is whether Charlie Crist can beat Ron DeSantis.
If you believe the polls, the easy answer is “no.” I’m not saying DeSantis wouldn’t lose votes if he stepped outside the state Capitol and shot someone, but if that did happen, Republicans would find a way to blame Joe Biden.
DeSantis’ backers are confident, even cocky, about the outcome. And there’s a lot of justification for that. The Governor has money to burn, a résumé his supporters love, and his “Free State of Florida” schtick is marketing genius.
Given that, is it even reasonable to suggest Crist has a path to victory, even if it’s a rocky, narrow trail on the edge of a high mountain?
That depends on whether he can stitch together the groups DeSantis targeted over the last four years. Republicans see DeSantis as a man of action, but others see a bully. There may be more in the latter camp than the Governor’s obedient flock might think.
Put it this way: Democrats didn’t like Rick Scott but weren’t fired up enough to beat him. But they loathe DeSantis, and that kind of anger can be motivating.
Start with teachers.
Yes, he gave them raises, but he also gave them ultimatums about what they can say in the classroom — or, more importantly, what they can’t say.
Out of one side of the Governor’s mouth, he railed at the height of the pandemic about the importance of in-person instruction even if it put teachers’ health at risk. His tirade about “woke” teachers “indoctrinating” students came out of the other side of his mouth.
DeSantis also championed a law that makes it easy for parents to sue teachers and school districts if their little darlings hear something in class that they don’t like.
Thousands of Florida teachers decided to take a new career path rather than put up with that noise. That’s a key constituency for Crist.
Crist also needs major help from Black voters. From the infamous “monkey it up” quote DeSantis said about Andrew Gillum to the unnecessary and racially tinged “anti-riot bill,” the Governor repeatedly marginalized Blacks.
He pushed for voting restrictions — er, security measures — that appeared to target minority communities. And Susan Lopez, his hand-picked replacement for suspended Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, wants to revive Tampa’s racist “Biking While Black” prosecutions.
“They’ve decided to declare war on our community again,” Connie Burton, longtime Tampa civil rights activist, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
He pushed the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law and used transgender students as a campaign prop.
And, of course, DeSantis went all-in on a law that severely restricts abortion rights. He is playing with fire on that one.
A Florida Policy Survey last month showed 57% of Floridians disagreed with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
There’s also the widespread belief that DeSantis will run for President in 2024. Is he using the top office in Florida as a staging area for larger ambitions? That’s an issue Crist can exploit.
Even with all that, many things have to go right for Crist. More importantly, things have to go way wrong for DeSantis.
Crist’s game plan was to build his campaign from the ground up. He spent a lot of time in areas considered DeSantis strongholds. He made the case that DeSantis is an autocrat and divider.
It worked well enough to overwhelmingly convince Democratic Primary voters that he is their best chance to beat DeSantis. Crist says he can do just that.
Now, he has to prove it.
26 comments
Charlie Crist
August 24, 2022 at 8:13 pm
– Vote RED for far right propaganda and rural idiots de-evolving back into apes as a result
– Vote RED for lies and grifting
– Vote RED for fake patriots and terrorists
– Vote RED for abominable stupidity
– Vote RED for plutocracy
– Vote RED for right wing police state
Impeach Biden
August 24, 2022 at 8:18 pm
BLUE for defund the police.
BLUE for unlimited carjackings
BLUE for storefront smash and grabs.
BLUE for nightly city fires.
BLUE for free college and cell phones.
BLUE idiot national officers like Biden / Harris
BLUE idiot energy secretary Granholm
BLUE for the Fauci Fraud
Charlie Crist
August 24, 2022 at 9:28 pm
^ Vote RED for far right propaganda and false information like this guy spews. Yeah needs a trans baloney pitter pattered on his forehead…knock knock… nobody is home.🌭😆
Mark Anderson
August 25, 2022 at 10:52 pm
Freedom for Florida, unless your a woman.
An independent Thinker
August 25, 2022 at 4:34 pm
– Vote BLUE for Marxist BS, Lies, and propaganda. Liberal idiots pushing sexual content in public education
– Vote RED for lies and their secret police state
– Vote RED for terrorists and freed criminals everywhere
– Vote Blue for FREE everything, paid for by taxpayers
– Vote BLUE for a 1984 World
– Vote BLUE for NO police. NO protection.
Jerry
August 24, 2022 at 9:08 pm
“Those who support the governor should stay with him and vote for him. And I don’t want your vote.” -Charlie Crist
Not very interested in unity, are you Charlie? That’s OK. I’d never vote for you anyway. Your whole party has no interest in anything other than power and control. Lockdowns, mask and vaccine mandates, branding concerned parents as domestic terrorists, out of control spending, soaring crime and homelessness in the cities, expanding an already overreaching Big Brother government, restricting our 2nd amendment, etc.. No sir, you do not have to tell me twice. I will never vote for you!
Charlie Crist
August 24, 2022 at 9:31 pm
^ Victim of far right propaganda.. probably terrorist and bioterrorist supporter. One of those that ran around coughing in people’s faces. Socially irresponsible…also probably supported the orange crime boss…yet complaining about crime in cities?
Brian J
August 24, 2022 at 11:27 pm
“Those who support the governor should stay with him and vote for him. And I don’t want your vote.” -Charlie Crist
This was Crist’s concession speech. Hillary learned that you can’t alienate half the voters and win and Crist just alienated more than half
Charlie Crist
August 25, 2022 at 12:16 am
Didn’t Hillary win the popular vote though? Before Biden blew the doors off the orange menace?
Mark Anderson
August 25, 2022 at 10:55 pm
It’s OK, your wife will smile and and vote for her freedom.
Jon
August 25, 2022 at 12:18 am
Charlie Crist and Val Demings both opposes Voter ID laws, are soft on crime (supports early release, no bail, supported de-fund the police.) Crist & Demings marched with Black Lives Matter as they robbed, committed arson, beat citizens in the streets and stole whatever they could. Crist and Demings did not condemn the violence. They support convicts the right to vote from prison, gun control, (beyond) weak on border security and opposed the wall. Crist & Demings supports the new leftist class room curriculum for very young children. The indoctrination not education in critical race theory who is a racist, transgender, bisexuality, homosexuality, gender identity, green new deal. Crist and Demings support Bidens war on oil, public funds for illegal aliens-including college, welfare for immigrants. Val Demings voted with Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden over 90% of the time Crist
recently stated “Joe Biden is doing a great job.” Nuff said.
VOTE FOR RON DESANTIS FOR GOVERNOR – MARCO RUBIO FOR SENATE- MATT GAETZ REPRESENTATIVE.
Charlie Crist
August 25, 2022 at 7:04 am
– Stupid Trump supporters said Trump was doing a great job 90% of the time even as he sat on his nuts and did nothing…comitted crimes.
– CRT has more positive impact than Church
– There is no war on oil. This is bs propaganda and lies
– The right to vote shall not be infringed upon regardless if someone comitted a crime
– Crist did not march with looters…you lying bastard
– Trump supporters still support Trump crime spree and terrorist attack on free and fair electoral process
Ocean Joe
August 25, 2022 at 7:59 am
Jon, do you have slogans and 3-syllabic chants ready for the day Matt gets indicted?
Mark Anderson
August 25, 2022 at 10:56 pm
Matt does like those young women, just like you.
Hope
August 25, 2022 at 7:33 am
Charlie Crist could have won the Primary without spending one penny of his campaign contributions. Now he has to rebuild and he has no chance; he’s a third time loser, his switching parties is musical chairs, and he’s the “flip flopper”. It’s just a matter of formality because DeSantis is the Best Governor in America and will win by a landslide!
*I am surprised this forum allows someone to use the name “Charlie Crist” that is identity theft and it does nothing to help Charlie.
Ocean Joe
August 25, 2022 at 8:06 am
He’s a two time loser, if that helps. Now go vote for Wallace.
Tom
August 25, 2022 at 10:25 am
Chameleon has run more and lost more. You are such a liar and dishonest liberal hack ocean.
Perennial candidate loser, flip flopper, weather vane, no character, no principal Or honesty. Just pathetic.
Enjoy chameleons tar and feathering.
LMAO
Charlie Crist
August 25, 2022 at 9:31 am
Identity theft? That’s a stretch by right wing filth who would like to see people who they don’t agree with locked up. However, tis you animals who are getting locked up. Furthermore, it is TRUMP who is a two time loser…lost popular vote in 2016 and was annihilated in 2020. Why don’t you mention Trump crime spree instead of stupid false claims of identity theft on a meaningless website.
Tom
August 25, 2022 at 10:20 am
Chameleon has guaranteed a 100% turnout against his sorry lying ass. He had a chance to attract 5% or less, but he owns it now with his vile hate speech and attack on F-GOP. Let’s just say it’s mutual!
The hate from incest corsin, idiot Elliot, masked with fake moniker crisp is juvenile.
Chameleon has nothing to run on. The haters are crawling on hand and knee vs America’s Gov and will fail.
The peeps, working, thriving, difference makers across the economic scale know who is in there side. America’s Gov proved he fights for them.
Enjoy chameleons tar and feathering.
Charlie Crist
August 25, 2022 at 10:44 am
No such thing as Americas governor. This ultranationalist, neo nazi nonsense.
Tom
August 25, 2022 at 11:22 am
Only ignants under the Soros Manchurian mind meld differ.
Enjoy incest Joey corsin, idiot Elliot.
Dumb ass.
Mark Anderson
August 25, 2022 at 11:00 pm
Soros pays really well tom. You do this for free?
Tom
August 26, 2022 at 7:57 am
LMAO, which demonstrates my better acumen, passion and knowledge.
You wouldn’t know it with the pathetic slobber these brain dead soros Manchurian mutter with his talking points.
I am the FP legend.
Charlotte Greenbarg
August 25, 2022 at 10:47 am
Joe, how much did Crist pay you to write this? LOL
Steve Emerson
August 25, 2022 at 5:30 pm
You are either a comic or sheep. I think the latter.
Tom
August 25, 2022 at 9:42 pm
You are incorrect sir!
I am Tom, the FP legend!
Destroy Soros Manchurian s daily, with joy!
Comments are closed.