Republicans are cranking up the attacks on former Gov. Charlie Crist, the Democratic front-runner to challenge Gov. Rick Scott next year, even as Democrats continue to insist they have momentum.
Former state Rep. Rick Kriseman, the Democratic candidate, defeated Republican incumbent Bill Foster to become the next mayor of St. Petersburg in Tuesdays elections. Democrats wasted no time in pointing to Krisemans win as bad news for Scott in 2014.
Voters have again rejected the candidate backed by Rick Scott and the Florida Republican establishment, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant insisted on Tuesday night. The voters of St. Petersburg have shown Rick Scott and his Republican allies that they have no faith in the GOPs ability to help middle class Floridians.
Democrats kept up that line of thought on Wednesday as Scott Arceneaux, the executive director of the Florida Democrats, insisted that Krisemans victory would have implications in next years elections.
This is just the first step in the long road toward defeating Rick Scott and stopping the tea party right here in Florida, Arceneaux wrote supporters on Wednesday. Weve got a chance to elect a Democrat to fill the seat formerly held by Congressman Bill Young. That special election is going to be here before we know it and we've got to make sure we are ready to turn this seat blue.
Crist launched his campaign in St. Petersburg on Monday with Kriseman at his side. The former governor did not play up the impact Krisemans win would have in 2014. Congratulations to my friend and the new mayor of St. Petersburg Rick Kriseman on his election tonight, Crist posted on Facebook on Tuesday night. Rick, it was truly an honor to campaign with you. I know you will serve St. Pete well.
In the meantime, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) continued to launch broadsides at Crist on Wednesday, trotting out two congressmen -- Rich Nugent and Steve Southerland -- and state Sen. John Legg, R-Port Richey, to hit the former governor.
Nugent hit Crist for seeking a U.S. Senate seat in 2010 instead of running for a second term as governor. Crist ran for the Republican nomination but, after being passed in the polls by Marco Rubio, left the GOP to run with no party affiliation. Crist joined the Democrats at the end of 2012.
"When times were tough and Florida families were facing huge job losses and record unemployment, Charlie Crist failed as governor, Nugent said. He abandoned our state during tough economic times to focus on his next runs for political office. We need a governor who we can trust to be laser focused on creating jobs, paying down our debt, and improving education. That governor is not Charlie Crist."
Southerland and Legg insisted Crist had no principles.
"Charlie Crist is like a box of chocolates -- you never know which Charlie you're going to get, Southerland said. Time and again he's changed his positions and political party whenever convenient in order to keep his political career moving forward. We deserve a governor we can trust to stand by their principles and not be swayed by the winds of opportunity."
"Here goes Charlie Crist again, Legg said on Wednesday. Charlie Crist is hoping we will forget everything about his career, including all his flip-flops. Crist is hoping Floridians will forget all his different positions on every issue. One thing is for sure, Floridians will remember his lack of leadership on jobs, economy, and education. Crist's leadership consisted of saying one thing to one group one day, and something totally opposite to another group the next. Florida needs a leader not a politician."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
