With a sustained negative campaign taking a toll on the images of both Rick Scott and Charlie Crist, the combatants for governor are looking for a little outside help to get them through the final nine days before voters decide a winner.
For Crist, a Democrat, that means turning to former President Bill Clinton, who today will campaign in the Tampa Bay region with Crist. Clinton is scheduled to speak at a rally at Cyrus Greene Park in Tampa.
Approval ratings show why Clinton is the one coming to Crist’s aid instead of President Barack Obama. While fewer than 50 percent of people polled have a favorable view of Obama according to the latest polls, Clinton has seen a surge in popularity. In a CNN poll over the summer, 66 percent of respondents said they had a favorable view of Clinton — higher than any other current or former elected Democrat in the country.
Sarasota Democratic Party chairwoman Rita Ferrandino said Clinton can do what few people in politics seemingly can do these days: appeal to both parties.
“Bill Clinton is respected across the aisle,” Ferrandino said.
Ferrandino said Clinton is perfect to help Crist because they both innately have a populist appeal that can reach moderates like few others can.
While Crist is hosting Clinton, Gov. Rick Scott will be on the East Coast doing his part to appeal to voters in the middle by bringing in New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the Republican governor of a Democratic state.
Scott and Christie are set to attend six events over 11 hours from Miami to Palm Beach County.
The barrage of negative television attacks has undoubtedly taken a toll on the candidates for governor. Just 40 percent of likely voters in Florida said they had a favorable opinion of Scott according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday. Crist is at 42 percent.
Scott is already planning one final stop in Sarasota County before Election Day. He is scheduled to attend a rally in Venice on Saturday to help get out the vote. That free rally starts at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday at the Center for Surgical Excellence, 8421 Pointe Loop Dr., Venice.
Grudge politics
With one sentence, former presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani made clear what he thinks of Crist, a former Republican, during a campaign stop to support Scott in Miami.
“I’ve never met a person in politics that I disrespect more than Charlie Crist,” Giuliani said.
The animosity isn’t a surprise. When he was running for president in 2008, Giuliani pushed hard to get Crist to endorse him in an all-or-nothing campaign to win Florida. Crist refused, but the Giuliani campaign said Crist assured him he wouldn’t endorse anyone in the race. But just days before the presidential primary, Crist publicly endorsed Sen. John McCain instead, helping McCain carry Florida and ultimately win the GOP nomination.
But Crist has long denied he had any agreement with Giuliani. In his book, Crist said Giuliani just wanted to hear what he wanted to hear.
“Ever since, Rudy has grumbled to friends and reporters that I somehow double-crossed him,” Crist said in his book.
Giuliani did just that in Miami, telling reporters that Crist doesn’t keep his word.
Giuliani’s support of Scott is surprising given the harsh critique the former New York City mayor had of him in 2010. Back then, Giuliani supported former Attorney General Bill McCollum for governor and warned that Scott “is not a guy who should be governor.”
Jindal in Sarasota
Weeks after he said he was “thinking and praying” about whether he will run for president, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is set to be in Sarasota on Tuesday at an event promoted as a get out the vote rally but one that also gives Jindal a chance to meet some of Florida’s most influential Republican donors.
Jindal will headline a rally at the Sarasota Hyatt in which donors are being asked to give as much as $100 to meet the potential presidential contender. That event includes free tickets for general admission and starts at 7:15 p.m.
Jindal’s appearance comes just days after U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, was on Longboat Key at a fundraiser with U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan. Ryan is said to be considering a presidential bid in 2016, as is former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is scheduled to be in Sarasota at a rally Nov. 3.
