Trailing badly in the polls behind Republican candidate Marco Rubio and newly independent Gov. Charlie Crist, Congressman Kendrick Meek spoke to the AFL-CIO convention in Jacksonville on Saturday morning, desperately seeking their endorsement.
Meek, still the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, received a warm reception, but so did Crist when he spoke to the meeting Friday afternoon. With both Crist and the congressman seeking the AFL-CIO endorsement, Meek attacked the governor in his speech.
Im here in solidarity with you, said Meek, who talked about his mother, a longtime Florida politician, and her commitment to working Floridians. I need your full support, he said, insisting he had always been fighting alongside the AFL-CIO. I need you to be with me.
The nation is watching the decision you make today, said Meek. This state needs leadership and it needs it now. Not sometime leadership but leadership all the time.
Meek then took a shot at Crist, saying the governor was less than consistent in supporting labor issues. Meek said Crist had not always supported the Employee Free Choice Act. Meek also said he was the only candidate who supported the Obama healthcare plan.
Meek tried to offer distance between the governor and himself on a number of issues where Crist sided with progressives. Meek also attacked Crists environmental record and said he remained consistent in his opposition to offshore drilling while the governor was not. Meek insisted that Crist was inconsistent on SB6, supporting the measure to reform teacher performance pay before he vetoed it.
Meek also said he offered more support to the Obama administration stimulus plan than Crist did. When it comes to the stimulus, I didnt support it, said Meek. I voted for it.
If you cant stand with me now, when you can stand with me? Meek demanded, stressing his past support from the AFL-CIO.
Meek also attacked Jeff Greene, a real estate investor who entered the Democratic primary last month. Noting that Greene is a billionaire, Meek questioned the way his opponent made his fortune.
What kind of billionaire? asked Meek. The kind of billionaire who made his money voting against mortgages.
After his speech, Meek talked to the media about the Greene campaign. I dont think his checkbook is going to dictate victory, said Meek, noting that Greene had entered the race at the last minute and had not lived in the state long.
Meek addressed his own struggle in the polls, noting that members of the convention told him last night they had no intention of backing his campaign because he is in third place.
Were being set up right now, said Meek. He said his mother told him that God was setting her son up to be the leader that Florida needs. I want you to know that I play the David role well. We know that story.
I need you to be with me, said Meek. Im asking you to fight, scratch, bite and do what you have to do to help me win.
Meek talked up his campaigns efforts in Jacksonville as well as other areas in the state where Democrats have traditionally fared poorly in statewide races. Our strategy has always been a general election strategy, said Meek, noting that his team has also targeted the Panhandle -- all the counties along I-10.
The AFL-CIO will endorse a candidate for the U.S. Senate as well as other races in Florida on Sunday.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859
