Charlie Crist

As National Proxy, Florida's A State To Watch

Rick Stone — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Florida has always been a state to watch, if only as a guilty pleasure or perhaps in self-defense. But some major political stars are aligning and the pundits are beginning to agree, Florida will really be a State To Watch from now at least through the 2016 election.

The personalities-of-the moment are here. The game-changing demographics are here. And the Florida stage is set for epic -- and deeply symbolic -- political confrontations.

2012: A Year Of Electile Dysfunction In Florida

Phil Latzman — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 18:46:58 +0000

In 2012, Florida remained the state that can't vote straight.

Gun Control Debate: Is Florida "The Gunshine State"?

Elaine Chen — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000

On the Florida Roundup: The tragedy in Connecticut hits home in what some people call “The Gunshine State,”as Florida has over a million concealed weapons permits, the most in the country. Do you feel safer? We hear your reaction to Florida’s milestone. And will gun control be on the agenda in Tallahassee?

Rick Scott Finds Little Cheer In New Survey

Rick Stone — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:15:37 +0000

Gov. Rick Scott would be in serious trouble if an election were to take place today.

According to the latest Quinnipiac poll, his approval ratings remain in the cellar and 52 percent of Florida voters think he does not deserve a second term.

Republicans are the big asterisk in the survey of 1,261 voters taken last week. Sixty-three percent of GOP voters approve of the governor's performance and 55 say he deserves another term although 53 percent are hoping another Republican candidate replaces him in the 2014 election.

What Charlie Crist Has To Say About Rick Scott’s Handling Of Election 2012

Elaine Chen — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:34:38 +0000

In what may be a preview of the governor’s race, former governor Charlie Crist directly criticized Governor Rick Scott before a U.S. Senate hearing on voting rights. Crist was critical of Scott for helping to pass a 2011 election law that limited early voting hours.

Ex-Senator George LeMieux Sounds Off On His Former Boss Charlie Crist

Phil Latzman — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:49:11 +0000

Former U. S. Sen. George LeMieux was once Charlie Crist's closest confidant as his chief of staff, so valued by the ex-governor that it was Crist who appointed him to fill out the term of the retiring Mel Martinez in the Senate in 2009.

But things have changed drastically in three years.

After an unsuccessful attempt at being elected to a Senate seat last year in the Republican primary, the Broward native is now chairman of the Gunster Law Firm in Fort Lauderdale.

5 Reasons Crist Shouldn't Run For Governor

Elaine Chen — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:50:47 +0000

If state Democrats have doubts about Charlie Crist's break with the GOP, he'll be giving them more proof on Wednesday.

Crist will be testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Voting Rights on the impact of Florida's 2011 election law. He will be joined by a Democratic state representative from South Carolina and a liberal advocacy group, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

How Florida Fails To Prepare Students For College

Elaine Chen — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000

On the Florida Roundup: Florida has its new Education Commissioner, former Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett. We’ll learn why Jeb Bush fans are thrilled and the teachers unions are not. NPR’s StateImpact Florida reporter Sarah Gonzalez will tell us why many of Florida’s high school graduates are not ready for college work. And we hear from you on Florida’s growing need for remedial education and what the purpose of high school should be. Tweet us @WLRN.

NEWSCAST: State Gives Green Light To FPL Rate Increase

WLRN-Miami Herald News — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 13:05:37 +0000

Is Democratic Party Trying To Stuff Charlie Crist Down Rank-And-File Throats?

Rick Stone — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:01:53 +0000

Former Gov. Charlie Crist has a great resume, a moderate-to-liberal heart and he's just made a public and decisive rejection of the Republican Party. Does that mean he's automatically the next Democratic candidate for governor?

As former Miami Herald political writer Beth Reinhard writes in the National Journal, not necessarily...particularly, if the rank-and-file thinks the party is stuffing Crist down their throats:

Three Signs The 2014 Governor's Race Has Already Started

Ashley Lopez — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:55:31 +0000

Yes, the 2014 gubernatorial election is months and months away, but there are already some signs that election season has started right back up again.

Crist Urges GOP's 'Live And Let Live' Faction To Follow Him To The Democratic Party

Rick Stone — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:19:12 +0000

Former Governor and brand-new Democrat Charlie Crist explained his qualms and misgivings with the Republican Party last night in an interview with Chris Matthews on MSNBC's "Hardball" program.

Crist said his disenchantment grew as he assessed the Republican leadership views of immigration, education and voter suppression.

"As a live-and-let-live kind of guy who wants to be tolerant, who wants to be kind, who wants to be compassionate," Crist explained, "the leadership doesn't seem to embrace that kind of view."

NEWSCAST: Florida Lawmakers Weigh In On Debt Crisis

WLRN-Miami Herald News — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:58:02 +0000

Republicans are upset that the president wants the debt ceiling included in budget talks. Meanwhile, former Republican Governor Charlie Crist switches parties.

Details from WLRN-Miami Herald News:

Charlie Crist's Measured Journey From Republican Via Independent To Democrat

Ashley Lopez — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:30:00 +0000

It's official, folks. Former Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist is now a Democrat.

Top Republicans Confess: Voter Suppression Was Goal Of 2011 Florida Election Law

Rick Stone — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:01:00 +0000

The whole idea behind the voting law state legislators passed in 2011 was to discourage Democratic voters.

That's the bottom line in a Palm Beach Post story by Dara Kam and John Lantigua. Although the law was presented as an urgently needed defense against voter fraud, sources including former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and former state GOP Chairman Jim Greer and some Republican campaign consultants tell the Post a very different story:

Jilted GOP Reserves Special Anger For Crist

Rick Stone — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Former Gov. Charlie Crist is taking fire from the Republican press release machine now that speculation is growing that he'll challenge Gov. Rick Scott as a Democrat in 2014.

The AP and Sarasota Herald-Tribune suggest there's an angry personal element to this that transcends ordinary politics, probably because Crist was once a Republican governor and the darling of his party. But now he's a cheating rat.

Why Charlie Crist Supports Democrat's Bill To Restore Early Voting

Rick Stone — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Former Gov. Charlie Crist is standing with state Democrats in favor of a bill to fix election problems that embarrassed the state last week.

State Rep. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg is the House sponsor of the bill, which would restore early voting to 14 days and allow non-government buildings to be used as early voting site.

Crist's name continues to surface as a possible Democratic challenger to Gov. Rick Scott in 2016. He has left the Republican Party and remains an independent who likes to call himself "Citizen Crist."

Charlie Crist's Costly Stand For Early Voting

Rick Stone — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:02:12 +0000

Dismayed after black citizens, voting early, handed Florida to President Obama in 2008, state Republican leaders showed up in Gov. Charlie Crist's office to demand a law that restricts early voting.