Crist's popularity as governor doesn't always extend to members of his own Republican Party, and that might make him vulnerable as he runs for U.S. Senate.
Charlie Crist is swimming in campaign money, and polls consistently show him to be among the most popular politicians in America.
But something ominous and unpredictable is brewing in Florida, and a growing number of Republicans are starting to consider the unthinkable: the people's governor could lose his campaign for U.S. Senate.
``It's rare that I talk to anyone that's got a good thing to say about the governor right now. It's hard to find a real Charlie Crist ally,'' said former state Republican Chairman Tom Slade. ``Charlie Crist is a marvelous politician, but rarely do you use the word statesman with Charlie Crist. That's his vulnerability, getting branded as another self-centered politician, and he doesn't have many more opportunities to muff up before that happens.''
It's a testament to Crist's remarkable political skill, of course, that the entire world doesn't view him as politically vulnerable. Consider the climate.
His state is losing population for the first time in 60 years. Unemployment and foreclosures are soaring. Taxes haven't dropped like a rock as he promised, and Florida remains one hurricane away from bankruptcy. County Republican parties are openly revolting against Crist, while a charismatic young rival, Marco Rubio, is being hailed on the cover of William F. Buckley's National Review magazine as the future of the GOP.
Yet, click on local TV news in almost any part of Florida and there's a smiling Charlie Crist looking as calm and gracious as ever. Hard to imagine anyone could seem more honored and humbled to be serving Floridians.
Charlie Crist is swimming in campaign money, and polls consistently show him to be among the most popular politicians in America.
But something ominous and unpredictable is brewing in Florida, and a growing number of Republicans are starting to consider the unthinkable: the people's governor could lose his campaign for U.S. Senate.
``It's rare that I talk to anyone that's got a good thing to say about the governor right now. It's hard to find a real Charlie Crist ally,'' said former state Republican Chairman Tom Slade. ``Charlie Crist is a marvelous politician, but rarely do you use the word statesman with Charlie Crist. That's his vulnerability, getting branded as another self-centered politician, and he doesn't have many more opportunities to muff up before that happens.''
It's a testament to Crist's remarkable political skill, of course, that the entire world doesn't view him as politically vulnerable. Consider the climate.
His state is losing population for the first time in 60 years. Unemployment and foreclosures are soaring. Taxes haven't dropped like a rock as he promised, and Florida remains one hurricane away from bankruptcy. County Republican parties are openly revolting against Crist, while a charismatic young rival, Marco Rubio, is being hailed on the cover of William F. Buckley's National Review magazine as the future of the GOP.
Yet, click on local TV news in almost any part of Florida and there's a smiling Charlie Crist looking as calm and gracious as ever. Hard to imagine anyone could seem more honored and humbled to be serving Floridians.
0 comments