How rough will Charlie Crist go in tonight's debate?

By Mitch Perry on Wed, Oct 6, 2010 at 8:40 am

Rubio has discussed reforming the program, but has always said that any changes would not affect anybody 55 or younger. He's also said that means testing should be looked at, and also hinted at changing the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit.

He also previously came out for privatizing Social Security, but realized he could be killed by taking that position in a state wide race in Florida and has since renounced that position. But expect to hear both Crist and Meek to reference that this evening.

Meanwhile, how about a new survey that defines the term "outlier?" That would be the United Faculty of Miami Dade College survey released Monday, which shows Rubio kicking major ass, but with Kendrick Meek in a statistical dead heat for second place, with Crist at 26.6%, and Meek at 25.7%. Though that may seem irrelevant, but for Kendrick Meek to be ahead of Charlie Crist for second place is a boost psychologically.

Meek now says he'll take Rubio head on in tonight's debate, saying yesterday, ""We have started a major focus on Mr. Rubio. He's an extreme, right-wing candidate that got his birth in the tea party."

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The major candidates for Senate (Which I guess leaves out Alexander Snitker) will engage in a debate tonight in Orlando at 7:00 p.m., and this could be the last, best hope for Charlie Crist to defeat Marco Rubio next month (the debate will be broadcast live on WFTS Channel 28, with Brendan McLaughlin joining George Stephanopoulos in posing questions to the candidates).

Although three different polls last week showed (to us) that Marco Rubio seems destined to win the longest Senate race ever, polls this week have showed Crist a bit closer, down roughly 6%.

But it's getting late, and Crist hasn't led in this race for what seems like a long time. Although the race appears frozen, what does Crist do to knock the smooth talking Cuban-American off his game?

How about talking about the allegations that Rubio used his Republican party credit card on a whole lot of personal purchases? Or his alleged involvement (remember the "hero" e-mail) in approving as House Speaker the new courthouse for the 1st DCA, a/k/a The Taj Mahal?

Or just on some policy differences? Though we have to admit with Governor Crist, we're not necessarily where he is on some of the issues (all the more reason to tune in tonight).

One is on Social Security, where Crist got hammered by former Governor Jeb Bush yesterday for being dishonest by portraying Rubio in a new ad as threatening to destroy the 65-year-old social safety net program.