FL: Final Davis--Crist Gubernatorial debate tonight, Oct 30, 7 pm ET, NBC affiliates

[seafan]

Cross posted from Florida forum.

Tonight's debate between the candidates for governor, Republican Charlie Crist and Democrat Jim Davis, will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. from WFLA-TV in Tampa and on state NBC affiliates, including WTVJ-NBC 6 in South Florida.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/15882219.htm

''We are going to send a message to George Bush and Charlie Crist that we refuse to stay the course,'' Davis told a fired-up crowd of more than 1,000 teachers' union members in Orlando on Friday.

Tonight's debate could be a make-it-or-break-it moment for the Tampa congressman, who is trying to close a dwindling but stubborn gap in the polls while running far fewer television commercials than Crist, the state attorney general. Davis' latest ad is his toughest yet, warning voters that Crist will bring ''no change'' and has ``no plan.''

''This is going to come down to the wire,'' Davis said Saturday in between campaign stops in central Florida. ``We are marshaling our resources wisely, and it's all about timing.''

Even Crist is now talking about ''change'' on the campaign trail, sensing the momentum that appears to be building against the GOP political establishment.

(((((:rofl:))))

Democrats are running fiercely competitive races in three Republican-leaning congressional districts in Florida. ''Change is coming,'' Crist said three times during last week's debate.

''Florida is going to have a change,'' he repeated while campaigning in North Florida the following day. ``The question is whether or not it's going to be positive change that believes in reducing taxes, or negative change that believes in raising taxes. I think that Florida wants positive change that will lower taxes.''

(((:eyes:)))

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/15882220.htm

Check out this photo. Many of Charlie's recent photos look like this. But, yet, Charlie says Jim is the one who is dour(!)

http://imgsrv.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=SH&Date=20061029&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=610290867&Ref=AR&MaxW=228
PALM BEACH POST / BOB SHANLEY
Charlie Crist tends to say what people want to hear on taxes and insurance.

[flpoljunkie]

1. Tweety just promised to stay away from the questions regarding Crist's marital status.

Matthews was speaking to Craig Crawford and Chuck Todd on MSNBC. Craig said this was the year, because of Mark Foley, the Republicans needed to run a "Brady Bunch" candidate. Obviously, they have not.

[BlueManDude]

2. Is Matthews moderating this debate?

Why do Dems continually agree to let folks like Russert and Matthews moderate debates?

[flpoljunkie]

4. Indeed, he is, tho Crist was afraid of Tweety and insisted on podiums rather than a sit across.

[Justitia]

3. So, the Clinton marriage is fair game, but Crist's status is not? Sure, I see.

Tweety couldn't shut up about the Clinton marriage for weeks recently, but Charlie Crist's martial status is sacrosanct.

That's rich.

[seafan]

5. The NY Times wondered about it last week, interestingly.

Race for Fla. Governor Showing Signs of Tightening

October 27, 2006

And the contest has gained a shadow of controversy, in part because of widespread public discussion about Crist’s personal life stemming from news reports speculating about his sexual orientation.

This matter did not gain prominence in the GOP primary, but has drawn public attention in the wake of the sensational scandal involving former Republican Rep. Mark Foley, who quit Congress and his bid for re-election Sept. 29 after revelations of inappropriate advances he had made to teenage male pages.

The unmarried Crist has for years deflected allusions about his personal life. The subject gained momentum when an alternative South Florida newspaper, the Broward-Palm Beach New Times, reported Thursday that a male GOP staffer claims to have been intimate with Crist and also named the attorney general’s longterm male partner. The paper interviewed Crist, who denied the claims made in the story.

Political scientist Lance deHaven-Smith at Florida State University told CQPolitics.com Thursday that the contest was bound to narrow as Election Day approached. Florida, despite the Republican trend, still can produce highly competitive statewide races — with no better example than the forever-controversial 2000 presidential contest — and voters were likely to become more invested in the contest and take sides as the race comes to a close.

But deHaven-Smith added that the Crist rumors have certainly played a role in Davis’ catch-up. “I would think that the Foley scandal has had an effect,” said deHaven-Smith, who added that questions regarding Crist’s sexuality may have also shifted some “white born-again evangelicals” toward Davis, as defined in the Quinnipiac poll.

snip

[seafan]

6. Kick On MSNBC w/ Chris Matthews now.

[jenmito]

7. Crist believes marriage is sacrosanct just like the one between

him and his wife...before their divorce! :rofl: So that's why he's against gay marriage. :eyes:

[demo dutch]

8. Crist is getting hammered!!!!

[jab105]

10. I don't get NBC...please give me a playbyplay!!

thanks!

[demo dutch]

14. Tough to do a play by play things are moving so fast. But Linn

Libertarian is tough as nails along with Davis and both are nailing Crist on everything. Chris Mathews is not letting him get away with anything and calling Crist on actually answering questions. Such "How much $ did you get from the insurance lobby"! They were just asked to rate Prez. Bush. Davis and Linn gave him an "F", Crist gave him B and was called on it!

[demo dutch]

23. This is the link to the debate.... Enjoy!

Click on audio link for the entire thing

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/elections/15889701.htm

[seafan]

9. Sparks are flyin' tonight! Max Linn is whacking on Charlie. n/t

[Awsi Dooger]

11. Am I missing something regarding paper trails?

Matthews and Crist are acting as if paper trails are a receipt that voters haul out of the voting place. Some type of nonsense about being paid $5 to go vote again.

I've voted on paper trails here in Nevada and you never touch the damn thing. It's simply a scroll on the side of the machine, behind clear glass, where you verify your choices before submitting the ballot.

[demo dutch]

13. Yes poorely explained!

[THUNDER HANDS]

12. Crist's eyebrows scare me

they're like two fuzzy catipillars doing the cha-cha.

[demo dutch]

15. That was awesome!!!! Crist got nailed!

[seafan]

16. That was AWESOME! I am out of breath just trying to keep up!

Crist had his head handed to him by Davis, Linn, and Chris Matthews too!

Whew.

I'll try to collect my notes and post some details shortly.

[seafan]

17. Davis hit several home runs tonight in the final gubernatorial debate.

He was forceful, succinct in describing his points and had no problem with Chris's incisive questioning.

He was very on point in what he will do, the moment he steps foot into the Governor's mansion. 40% reductions in homeowners' insurance the first year.
A $1 billion reduction in property taxes in his first year.

He described his fight with Bush and the Republicans in Congress to stop their interference into Michael and Terri Schiavo's personal life decisions. That resonates with so many people. And he immediately pointed out,"No he didn't!", when Crist claimed 'he did not support' Jeb Bush's interference. The truth was, Jim said, Charlie refused to take any position whatsoever, stepping back from the furor, while Davis fought *'s invasion of privacy, tooth and nail in Congress that Easter weekend.

Both Davis and Linn stated they supported gay adoption, but surprise, surprise, Crist stands there and said he opposes it. Crist gave the most mealy-mouthed answer on this.


Chris Matthews directly asked Charlie "How much money did you receive from insurance companies?" Charlie evaded, ducked and tried to weasel out of it by generalizing about 'what was really important was blah, blah, blah...'

But Matthews would have none of it. He repeatedly hammered Crist with the question and Crist would never answer it. At one instant, Charlie gave a little wan smile and looked like he'd just been caught with both hands in the cookie jar. His expression was quite telling.

After saying he 'didn't remember', Charlie said, "I've taken a lot of money from a lot of people."


Crist claimed that as AG, he can report that 'crime has substantially decreased in Florida' under his watch. But Davis jumped in and proclaimed that 'in the past 6 months, violent crime of murder has INCREASED, especially in Jacksonville and Orlando.

Chris then demands of Charlie "Why did you say that violent crime is down, when in fact, murder rates are UP?? Murder is violent crime, NO?? This reminds me of Marion Barry, saying 'if it weren't for murder, DC's crime rate isn't so bad...'" (paraphrased)

Crist was beginning to look nauseated, imho.

Crist also gave * a "B" for job performance. Davis and Linn gave * an "F".
Sort of cements for me where Crist stands, and it is right beside the biggest failure as a U. S. president in our country's history. And just like *, Charlie Crist is a cardboard pretender. That is painfully obvious tonight.


My overall impressions: Davis was the unequivocal victor in this second debate, as well as in the first. It was very clear that Davis is a serious policy planner, with the good of Floridians guiding his thinking.

Chris Matthews as the questioner was THE catalyst in fleshing out Davis' policy strengths in a bright contrast to Crist's shallow resume on plans, vision or credibility on the issues. For once, Chris's bombast and rapid interrogation of the candidates cut to the chase and illuminated these differences between Davis and Crist, and laid them bare to the public.

And, by having Max Linn in this debate at the last minute, he was able to score some KO's against Crist on multiple occasions.


Maybe this will be replayed somewhere....? CSpan, etc? Catch it if you can, because it was riveting! And for a gubernatorial debate, that's saying something.

Crist gave a pitifully thin appearance tonight.



Our choice is now clear. Jim Davis will be an outstanding Governor. And we will welcome him to clean out 8 miserable and exhausting years of Jeb Bush's forced rule.

Great showing, Jim Davis! Now, on to Tuesday!

[seafan]

18. Here's what Jeb thinks of Charlie's performance:

http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=A9&Dato=20061030&Kategori=NEWS05&Lopenr=1030005&Ref=PH&Item=1&MaxW=550&MaxH=425

Gov. Jeb Bush makes a funny face to someone sitting in the seats before a televised gubernatorial debate for candidates Republican Charlie Crist, Democrat Jim Davis, and Reform Party candidate Max Linn Monday night in Tampa. Looking on is U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla. AP


At a loss for words here....

[madfloridian]

21. Looks like Mel Martinez, senator.

LOL

[frankenforpres]

19. crist was terrible

ive never liked crist. say what you want about jeb, at least he can put together coherent argument. crist was ridiculous


the fact that davis (as well as the others) didnt know what a paper trail was bothered me


ill be casting an anti crist ballot for sure

[lpbk2713]

20. Crist was really rattled when Matthews tried to pin him down

on taking money from the insurance lobby. It was priceless when he said "I've taken lots of money from many people". If Davis doesn't use that line in his ads with the time remaining he will miss a golden opportunity.

[Scurrilous]

22. Cross fire shakes Crist from sound bites

<snip>

"The second and final televised debate Monday night was a rough one for the Republican front-runner.

Moderator Chris Matthews pressed hard for specifics, rattling the normally unflappable attorney general who also faced a tag-team of jabs from Democrat Jim Davis and Reform Party nominee Max Linn, a surprise last-minute addition to the show.

Leading in the polls and outspending Davis more than 4-1 on TV ads, Crist must have left the Tampa studio grateful that he has to hang onto his lead just one week longer."

<snip>

"Crist in coming days will surely have to explain how he could claim he spoke out against intervention in the Terri Schiavo case when he didn’t. The claim contradicted what he told the Florida Baptist Witness newspaper — that he helped Gov. Bush fight to keep her alive.

And there was a downright weird exchange when Crist (like Davis and Linn) explained his opposition to gay marriage. Marriage, he said, is a “sacred” relationship — “like I had, before I got divorced.”

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/30/State/Cross_fire_shakes_Cri.shtml

[libertad]

24. They showed "Wheel of Fortune" on my NBC affiliate!

I tuned in and they didn't air the debate!

[demo dutch]

25. You can watch it at this link...

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-felxdebate31oct31,0,1682489.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines