Hello Cl readers, nice to see you back in this space.
Before I departed for Southern California last Thursday, I wrote that with that Quinnipiac Poll showing Charlie Crist with some viability if he were to drop out of the GOP Senate race and run as an independent, how would the governor react when asked if he was thinking that way by members of the media?
He wasn't really asked about that when he announced last Thursday that he would be vetoing Senate Bill 6, but last night he told News Channel 8 :
"Over the next 10 days, I will thoughtfully and deliberately consider this decision and strive to come to a conclusion that I believe is in the best interest of the people of Florida."
Translation: this is very possible.
Naturally, the blowback is coming back-hard. Florida and Washington Republicans could deal with Crist in the past because, well, they've had to. But even the idea that he is contemplating jumping out of a race that he cannot win (because in part he cannot credibly run as far to the right as Marco Rubio has) has set the dogs out to tear him down.
This article appears in Apr 14-20, 2010.