Kendrick Meek greets Charlie Crist in less combative times in this April 2009 file photo. (AP/Lynne Sladkey)
by James Oliphant
It's time to update you on the most compelling race in the nation--at least by our lights--the cavalcade that is the Florida Senate race.
Previously: Gov. Charlie Crist was the favorite, the handpicked candidate of the GOP. Then he was deer-meat on the highway, courtesy of his moderate voting record and a primary challenge from conservative Marco Rubio. Then Charlie went independent, dodging the primary, game-changing the race and giving him, for the moment, the edge. All the while, Rep. Kendrick Meek, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has been lurking in the background, a supporting cast member waiting for some press attention to come his way,
Well, unfortunately for Meek, it has. The Miami Herald reports that an aide to the congressman received some cash for a down payment on a home from a developer of a Miami project that Meek was championing. The developer also hired Meek's mother, former Rep. Carrie Meek, and gave her a car to drive, the Herald said.
Kendrick Meek, who has been trailing in polls behind both Crist and Rubio, said he wasn't lobbied by his mother on the Miami project--which was never built--and knew nothing about the mortgage given his aide.
No, this is not Marco Rubio reading the new Rasmussen poll. It's a shot from April of the Republican submitting his qualifying paperwork for the U.S. Senate race. (AP/Lynne Sladkey)
Meek had hoped to take advantage of ethical questions dogging Rubio and Crist stemming from a federal probe into the use of Republican Party credit cards for personal expenses. That just got harder.
Meanwhile, a new poll suggests the bounce Crist received when he went all William Wallace on the GOP may be disappearing. A telephone survey from Rasmussen Reports has Rubio at 39 percent, Crist at 31 percent, with Meek at 18. While Rasumssen is considered by many polling experts to skew in favor of Republicans, the same outfit had Crist up by four points over Rubio just two weeks ago.
While Crist appears to be courting Democrats, Rubio, as of yet, doesn't seem to be chasing moderates. He named a new "policy advisory" council Monday, one that included some conservative Republican stalwarts such as Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, and Lynne Cheney, the daughter of the former vice president. Here's the campaign release.
Comments
Rubio lost his mojo when Crist went Indy.
The problem hardcore Teabagger candidates like Rubio are going to have is that they've boxed themselves in with only appealing to the hardecore Republican base nuts (Teabaggers).
Outside of right wing lunatic fringe land, they sound nuts.
Posted by: HHH | May 17, 2010 2:20 PM
Poor Democrats. They would love to be able to paint the GOP as public thieves, but there's always a Rubio popping up somewhere ruining it for them.
Posted by: John E | May 17, 2010 2:26 PM
Rasumssen is a joke and should never be taken seriously.
Rasumssen gets all of his funding from big money right wingers and his polls always reflect that bias. He's bought and paid for.
Posted by: Rick | May 17, 2010 2:28 PM
The big question in Florida is who will win in November, Rubio or Crist? In order for Crist to win he will have to get some support from some Republicans and a lot of support from Independents and Democrats. In the 2006 Connecticut Senate race Joe Lieberman won by winning some Democrats, Independents and a large segment of the Republicans. Crist may have an up hill fight in Florida.Time will tell!
Posted by: Depot- Jim | May 17, 2010 2:37 PM
This is why no one should EVER trust a poll from the rights favorite pollster - Rasmussen
Crist leads in every poll.....except Rasmussen's.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/2010_florida_senate_race.html
Posted by: John Dyslin | May 17, 2010 3:00 PM
----------------------------------------------------------
Democrats. They would love to be able to paint the GOP as public thieves
Posted by: John E | May 17, 2010 2:26 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------
We don't have to paint the Repugs as public thieves. They do that themselves.
REPUBLICANS BLOCK EFFORTS TO HOLD OIL COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE FOR ECONOMIC DAMAGE FROM SPILLS
.
http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/05/13/shocker-gop-blocks-effort-to-hold-oil-companies-accountable-for-economic-damage-from-spills/
.
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | May 17, 2010 3:13 PM
I forecast Meek losing even more votes and Crist picking up most of them. I think this poll will be very different in the next couple of weeks. Meek might still win the democratic primary but he will be battered by this and Greene’s attacks b/c of his involvement in the fraud case. Read my full analysis here- http://www.marcoenfuego.com/?p=104
Posted by: marcoenfuego | May 17, 2010 3:56 PM
This is why no one should EVER trust a poll from the rights favorite pollster - Rasmussen
Crist leads in every poll.....except Rasmussen's.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/2010_florida_senate_race.html
Posted by: John Dyslin | May 17, 2010 3:00 PM
John Dyslin, The Rasmussen Poll was one of the most accurate polls in predicting the Obama victory margin in 2008. Regarding the Florida Senate race I suggest you go back to www.realclearpolitics.com which you cited. If you read all the polls listed you would notice that it is the only recent Rasmussen Poll that has Rubio in the lead. The other polls you seem to be referring to were take a week before the most recent one. John, political polls are like college football polls and this can even change quickly.
Posted by: Depot- Jim | May 17, 2010 4:01 PM
Those allegations smell like a fresh bag of dog crap to me. They don't even meet the critical reading first step alarm. The pugs should be ashamed of all the mud they throw, but they never are and the sheeple always fall for it.
Am I supposed to believe that because his mom is employed by an employer and drives a company car (not that rare) that there is corruption going on?
Am I supposed to believe that large developers never do a "no down payment" gig or similar to hock their wares?
The pugs were obviously not comfortable with their vote being split so they decided to throw out a stink bomb on the democrat. Nothing new...happens every election....pugs are full of bullshit and they need to smear it around.
Posted by: Xcellentform | May 17, 2010 4:10 PM
Maurice Ferre made the same point you just did in a Kos post a little while ago - that Meek doesn't have the credibility to call out Rubio and Crist's ethical issues.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/3/12/845474/-Florida-Senate-race-is-about-credibility;-Meek,-Rubio,-and-Crist-have-none
No one was listening then.... All the more amazing since that the original stories from the Miami press about Meek's earmarks to Stackhouse aren't that old. The media already knew about it, but was holding off, pretending that Meek was an inevitable candidate when they knew the whole time he couldn't win in the general. Shameful.
Posted by: Eddie M | May 17, 2010 4:23 PM
"We don't have to paint the Repugs as public thieves. They do that themselves."
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | May 17, 2010 3:13 PM
>
Oh, and the Democrats don't, "HHH"?. Did you even read the above article about Florida's Democratic thief, Meek? And have you ever heard about other Democratic thieves like Illinois' (my home) Alexei Gianoulias and the Daleys? There are more examples if you need them.
>
Hurray for my side, says "HHH", your side stinks! Like this is all your Little League game.
>
My god, your type are such silly children. But dangerous children, because you help to maintain this broken governance.
>
PS: and again, please stick to one post name.
Posted by: Reality Czech | May 17, 2010 4:26 PM
>>>>
John Dyslin, The Rasmussen Poll was one of the most accurate polls in predicting the Obama victory margin in 2008.
Posted by: Depot- Jim | May 17, 2010 4:01 PM
>>>>
And Rasmussen had McCain winning the Prez election all the way up until the last couple of weeks of the race.
Rasmussen is a dishonest pollster. He tries to set a pro Republican narrative with his polling and then he adjusts it at the end if it doesn't turn out the way that he wanted it too.
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/01/putting-r-in-rasmussen.html
Posted by: John Dyslin | May 17, 2010 4:48 PM
Anybody who thinks either one of these parties will save our sorry @$$es is a fool. Just sayin'.
>
We need new political parties, and more than just 2. That means we need a whole new system--proportional representation.
Posted by: Reality Czech | May 17, 2010 5:48 PM
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hurray for my side, says "HHH", your side stinks! Like this is all your Little League game.My god, your type are such silly children. But dangerous children, because you help to maintain this broken governance.
PS: and again, please stick to one post name.
Posted by: Reality Czech | May 17, 2010 4:26 PM
---------------------------------------------------------
"Free to Watch Libs",
I have no idea what you're talking about, but it's hilarious watching you melt down.
Thanks for the laughs, Biff.
Posted by: HHH | May 17, 2010 6:48 PM
Depot Jim,
Rasmussen had McCain winning the Prez election all the way up until the last couple of weeks of the race.
Rasmussen is a dishonest pollster. He tries to set a pro Republican narrative with his polling and then he adjusts it at the end if it doesn't turn out the way that he wanted it too.
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/01/putting-r-in-rasmussen.html
Posted by: HHH | May 17, 2010 6:52 PM
Ricky,
Never take Rausmussen seriously - except whne it comes to predicting election results.
http://www.fordham.edu/images/academics/graduate_schools/gsas/elections_and_campaign_/poll%20accuracy%20in%20the%202008%20presidential%20election.pdf
Reason why - he polls "likely voters", not all adults.
Posted by: Terry | May 17, 2010 7:04 PM
Depot Jim and the rest of the sane foks in the Swamp. This post is NOT from John Dyslin or from me:
This is why no one should EVER trust a poll from the rights favorite pollster - Rasmussen
Crist leads in every poll.....except Rasmussen's.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/2010_florida_senate_race.html
Posted by: John Dyslin | May 17, 2010 3:00 PM
The Deranged, Demented, Psychotic Loons from the Left are up to their ole tricks again now that Mark Silva is no longer on the job.
Rasmussen polling generally is right on as in the past decade his polling has most closely mirrored election results of just about any polling outfit.
Posted by: John D | May 17, 2010 7:46 PM
Well Rubio is a real Republican politician.As Floridas speaker of the house, he appropriated funds for colleges and hospitals, taxpayer money. Then received kickbacks from these institutions for himself and his lawfirm.Plus being investigated by the feds for credit card fraud! A real republican puppet for Jeb Bush!
Posted by: tom7001 | May 18, 2010 5:51 AM
And Rasmussen had McCain winning the Prez election all the way up until the last couple of weeks of the race.
Rasmussen is a dishonest pollster. He tries to set a pro Republican narrative with his polling and then he adjusts it at the end if it doesn't turn out the way that he wanted it too.
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/01/putting-r-in-rasmussen.html
Posted by: John Dyslin | May 17, 2010 4:48 PM
To John Dyslin and HHH:
This may come as a surprise to you but a poll gives you a picture at a particular time. And polls can change from one week to the next. Rasmussen was one of the most accurate polls for the 2008 election and that is a FACT. I suggest that John Dyslin, HHH and Don Fitzgerald get your heads out of the sand and look at the whole picture instead of your very narrow minded and highly partisan view of things. I suggest you go back to the RealPolitic site that you originally cited and look at the dates of the individual polls. The Polls do not always stay the same. I suggest you and Wake up and smell the coffee! Look at things with an OPEN MIND and you may learn something.
Posted by: Depot- Jim | May 18, 2010 10:59 AM
Former Miami Mayor, Maurice Ferre is by-far the most qualified candidate. Read more about his campaign and his solutions for Florida at http://ferre2010.com
Posted by: Lloyd | May 18, 2010 1:53 PM
Depot Jim, that is a fake John Dyslin making claims about Rasmussen being biased. The Loons from the Left are up to their old tricks again with Silva gone. You see ANY post signed under that name and it is a fake. Just like the Left.
Posted by: John D | May 18, 2010 5:30 PM