S FL Sun-Sentinel: Crist, Davis fired up after debate

[seafan]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-felxgov26oct26,0,978828.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines">Crist, Davis fired up after debate


Jim Davis


Charlie Crist


Governor's race more hostile as polls are closer.

By Mark Hollis
Tallahassee Bureau
October 26 2006

PANAMA CITY · On the day after their first televised debate, Democrat Jim Davis and Republican Charlie Crist worked to fire up hard-core political activists on opposite ends of the state amid growing signs of a tightening and increasingly hostile governor's race.
To energize his base, an upbeat Davis headed into Democrat-rich condominium communities in South Florida, where he hammered away on homeowner concerns about insurance and taxes, and told supporters Crist has lost his dominant-frontrunner status.

Crist, who campaigned in the Panhandle amid crowds of seniors, veterans and other Republicans, struck an aggressive tone, mocking Davis' debate performance as gloomy and warning backers that a Democratic governor would hurt them financially.
``I'm running against a guy who wants to raise your taxes,'' Crist told an early morning crowd at a Pensacola park....

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``We're going to have change in Tallahassee and it's either going to be a negative change or a positive change. I'm about positive change,'' Crist said. ``But did you see that other guy in the debate last night? Boy, is he depressing or what?"

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At South Florida events, including a stop in Aventura, Davis was clearly buoyed by his debate performance and by some new surveys that suggest he is rapidly gaining ground. ``So the race is starting,'' Davis whispered just before greeting a room of 75 supporters.
Focusing on homeowners insurance, the Tampa congressman attacked the state attorney general for failing to fight insurance companies that have hiked rates and canceled policies.

Activists who turned out for Davis said they see a change in the mood of the Democrat's campaign over the last few days. A widely mentioned survey by Quinnipiac University Poll, which has been tracking the Florida governor's race for months, showed it at a dead heat.

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