The Charlie Crist campaign brought its not-so-secret secret weapon, former President Bill Clinton, to Tampa Sunday on behalf of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist. The hope is that Clinton's appearance at a political rally will help lure voters to the polls before Election Day.
The Crist campaign said it had doled out 1,000 tickets to Sundays event at Tampas Cyrus Greene Park, but the attendance count was closer to 300 people.
Clinton, who appeared at the event on the same day as his wife Hillarys birthday, told the crowd Crist, from nearby St. Petersburg, is the guy who will get Florida back on its feet.
We are finally in a position to grow the Florida economy and shape it, he told the enthusiastic crowd. Charlie Crist will get the show on the road We get to make a new beginning, and we'd better make it with Charlie Crist."
Clinton was joined by several Florida Democrats who made their pitch for former Gov. Crists quest back to Tallahassee, all the while slamming Scott over his last four years in office.
Its time to vote if you believe in the state of Florida, in civil rights ... and equal pay, said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla. Because the guy thats in the governors mansion right now has got to go away."
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., took the one-two-punch at both Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi for ignoring the problems of Floridas middle class.
Rick Scott and Pam Bondi are no friend to the middle class, said Nelson, who vowed both he and Crist would work to restore justice to the people of Florida.
If you want a governor thats got your back, we need to vote, he said.
Clinton didnt just make a stop in Tampa -- he spent all day Sunday making the pitch for other Democrats in Florida, starting in Palm Beach Gardens to campaign for U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy and then to Tallahassee at Florida A&M to lend a helping hand to congressional hopeful Gwen Graham.
Virtually every poll has Scott and Crist running neck and neck, so early voting is important for both parties. As of this weekend, Republicans lead Democrats in early voting by 147,000 votes.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen via email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen
