March on PoliticsPosted November 05, 2006 by William March
Updated Nov 05, 2006 at 03:14 PM
George LeMieux, campaign manager for Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, told reporters a few mintues ago that Crist won’t join President Bush in Pensacola tomorrow, where Bush plans to campaign for Crist and other Republican candidates.
LeMieux said the decision was about how to make best use of the candidate’s time in the closing days before the Tuesday election, not about whether it will help or hurt to appear with the increasingly unpopular president.
“It’s my decision that we need to be in other parts of the state,” LeMieux said, emphasizing that the decision was his.
“We have a unique opportunity to do well in other parts of the state where Republicans don’t normally do well,” including Palm Beach, he said. “The governor will cover for us in Pensacola.”
LeMieux declined to describe conversations with the White House over the subject.
As of Sunday, no statewide Republican candidates except Katherine Harris planned to attend with Bush.
Democratic candidate for governor Jim Davis issued a predictably barbed reaction to the news that Charlie Crist won’t appear with President George Bush in Pensacola Monday.
“He’s been standing side by side with the president for this entire campaign,” Davis said. “Next to the insurance companies, the president has been one of his biggest financial supporters.
“Now that the president is so unpopular, Charlie refuses to stand up with him.”
Davis was referring to Bush’s fundraising for the state Republican Party, which has funded Crist television advertising campaign.http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/news/comments/davis-reacts-to-crist-decision-on-bush/