As he attempts to lead the state during a tumultuous legislative session and prevail in a tight battle for the U.S. Senate nomination, Gov. Charlie Crist is increasingly finding himself isolated from the Republicans who control both houses of the Legislature and whose help, or lack of, could determine his political fortunes.
Members of the Republican leadership, including former chairmen of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), said that Crist has burned many bridges to both Republicans and conservatives.
"Crist was out of touch with the base before his fall in the polls, and he is out of touch now,"U.S. Rep. Jeff Millersaid.
I think Crist has isolated himself from the Republicans, added Tom Slade, a former state senator who served as chairman of the RPOF from 1993 until 1999.
Another party insider, who wished to remain anonymous, said a number of Republican activists no longer trust Crist, because he remained loyal to former RPOF Chairman Jim Greer. The governor's stubborn show of loyalty to Greer prolonged Greer's departure as well as the hot glare of media coverage shining on Greer's questionable handling of party funds.
Crists town hall meeting in Jacksonville on Friday underscored how the governor can no longer count on Republicans to continue to rally around him. The event was the first town hall meeting Crist has held since May 2009.
Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, the new RPOF chairman did not attend, even though the event is in his district. Thrasher was not alone: A large number of Jacksonvilles leading Republicans skipped the town hall meeting.
Conservative Republicans have not forgotten or forgiven Crist for his embrace of the Obama administrations federal stimulus funds, and they have flocked to the standard of former House Speaker Marco Rubio, Crists rival for the Republican Senate nod.
Polls this week showed Rubio holds an overwhelming lead over Crist. A survey from Public Policy Polling (PPP) has Rubio beating Crist by 32 points and an Insider Advantage/Florida Times Union poll had Rubio up by 34 points.
The PPP poll also showed that Crist remains unpopular among Republicans with 29 percent approving of him and 56 percent disapproving.
On Sunday, in a column in The Miami Herald, Miller, an early Rubio supporter, explained why conservatives are increasingly frustrated with Crist.
It is disappointing that Crist has talked more in the past week about Rubio's haircuts than he has about fighting the Obama agenda, Miller wrote. But, it's also not surprising. Because on issue after issue, Crist actually supports the Obama agenda. From the stimulus to tax increases to cap and trade, Crist walks in near lock step with the White House.
Miller expanded on those comments Friday. "The last time I talked to Gov. Crist was the day I told him I would not back him in the Senate race," he said. "I have not heard from him since. He has isloated himself from Florida's congressional delegation."
Crist defended his support of the stimulus during the State-of-the-State address on March 2 and attacked Republican governors who criticized the stimulus funds but accepted them anyway.
The stimulus package was enacted last year in hope of jump-starting a national economy that was in the dire depths of recession, Crist said during the speech.
So, given our budget shortfalls and given that Floridians were paying for part of the stimulus package, doesnt it make sense to spend our energies maximizing the benefit of that package? Crist asked. Isnt that more helpful to Floridians than engaging in hollow ideological posturing that achieves nothing?
Such comments do not help Crist with his fellow Republicans. A number of leading Republican legislators, including the incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, expressed concerns about the tone of Crists address and his continued defense of the federal stimulus package.
Slade said Crists history has also caused voters, and Republicans in particular, to distrust the governor.
Crist plays political hopscotch, Slade said, referring to the governor's various campaigns over the years. These include runs for the state Senate in 1986, 1992 and 1996; the U.S. Senate in 1998 and 2010; education commissioner in 2000; attorney general in 2002; and governor in 2006. With the exception of his 1996 campaign, Crist has never sought a second term in office.
Voters dont want politicians who are as selfish and ambitious as Crist, Slade said. If you bought Crist a T-shirt, the shirt would read Its all about me.'
