Charlie Crist might have just joined the Democrats but hes trying to build his own base in the party.
Crist launched his campaign against Rick Scott in St. Petersburg on Monday. The timing and location wasnt a coincidence since St. Petersburg will be holding its mayoral election on Tuesday. Republican incumbent Bill Foster is facing a serious challenge from Rick Kriseman and Crist gave the Democratic challenger a little help on Monday.
Kriseman was a featured speaker at Crists kickoff and the former governor has been helping his mayoral bid. Theres little to lose for Crist in backing Kriseman despite some past tensions between the two. Kriseman even hit Crist over supporting the NRA and honoring Marion Hammer as late as 2012.
Despite the past problems, Crist gave Kriseman a boost on Monday. Crists announcement won media attraction throughout the state and Kriseman could shine in a little reflected glory. Kriseman also got a final opportunity to rally St. Petersburg Democrats a day before the mayoral election.
Kriseman wasnt the only Democrat to get a little attention from Crists event. Dan Gelber stood at Crists side as the former governor launched his campaign.
Gelber has a strange history with Crist. In Crists first two years as governor, Gelber led Democrats in the Florida House and was a fierce critic of the then-Republican governor. When Crist was the front-runner to be the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010, Gelber was running for the Democratic nomination and going all out in attacking the governor.
But both Crists and Gelbers Senate plans were dashed. Crist ended up running with no party affiliation while Gelber ended up as the Democratic nominee for attorney general. Both men ended up losing in 2010.
Since then, Gelber has remained a leading liberal voice in Florida and has been a key ally in introducing Crist to Democrats across the state. Theres even been talk about Gelber ending up as Crists running mate. Theres some logic to it and, despite losing to Pam Bondi in 2010, Gelber remains one of the sharper politicians on the Florida Democratic bench. Gelber would certainly make Crist more appealing to liberals and help reach out to voters in South Florida. It wont help the Democrats appeal to the center but Crists camp has to figure thats the former governors responsibility.
There were certainly other big-name Democrats in attendance, like Kathy Castor and Bob Butterworth who led DCF in the Crist administration. While Crists old friend George LeMieux tried to breathe life into the rumors that Bill Nelson will run for governor on Monday, Democrats are starting to fall in line behind the former Republican. Crist has a long way to go but hes starting to leave his fingerprints on Florida Democrats.
Tallahassee political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this analysis piece exclusively for Sunshine State News.
