DNC Member Jon Ausman Wants Former Gov. Bob Graham to Broker Crist-Meek Dropout Deal

[seafan]

Hope everyone is stocked up on their blood pressure medications.



From Gray Rohrer at Sunshine State News:


October 15, 2010

Jon Ausman, a member of the Democratic National Committee, sees no path to victory for either Democrat Kendrick Meek or independent Gov. Charlie Crist in their race for U.S. Senate. Both are currently way behind Republican Marco Rubio in the polls. In order to prevent the most conservative candidate from taking the seat, Ausman wants one of the others to drop out of the race. His ideal solution would be for former Gov. Bob Graham to negotiate either Crist's or Meek's exit from the race.

"Clearly 55 percent of voters are opposed to Marco Rubio as governor. I think the best thing would be to have (former Governor) Bob Graham broker something between (Crist) and Meek," Ausman said.

Speaking Friday at a press conference to boost Democratic candidates across the state, Ausman called on one of the two lagging candidates to fall on his sword for the other.

"One of them's got to be the adult and say, 'I'm going to support the other guy,'" Ausman said.

.....

[BootinUp]

1. Its the candidates call.

Sure would be nice to hear Rubios concession speech on the 2nd or 3rd or 4th even. Hell I would wait several months and court hearings to hear one.

[tnlefty]

2. Isn't this lousy timing? I thought that early voting was already

underway in FL and that absentee ballots had already been mailed out. If a deal is brokered now, what about votes already cast?

[seafan]

6. Early voting in Florida begins Monday, Oct. 18. Absentees have been mailed out.

The way I see it, if a decision to narrow the field is in the works, it needs to happen before Monday, the 18th.


People all over the state seem to be coalescing around the goal of stopping Rubio.


For me, where the rubber meets the road is:

Either of these candidates, Crist or Meek would make a fine US Senator for Florida. That is not the issue.

Polls are consistently indicating that ~55% of Florida voters want someone OTHER THAN Rubio. That is the jarring wake up call for every living, breathing voter in this state.

We must consolidate our efforts behind one of these men.



Looking at the strengths of both of them, in my opinion, Governor Crist does have the edge, specifically of:

1. Voter familiarity.

2. His record is more widely known, especially for the vetoes he launched against the right-wing Legislature. (Examples: teacher merit pay bill; antiabortion bill; legislative slush funds) Those vetoes in particular endeared him to large numbers of people statewide, who are sick of being trampled on by the harsh, Republican-controlled legislature.

3. He has consistently drawn a larger share of independent voters across the state in his prior elections and does so now. He is the strongest bridge to independent voters in this election.

4. He maintains an overall job approval rating around 53%, which will likely translate into other jobs he campaigns for.



Both of these men would make a fine US Senator.


What we face now is consolidating support behind the candidate with the best chance to stop Rubio.



Governor Crist can stop Rubio.

[tnlefty]

11. Thank you for the correction, as I really thought that early

voting had begun in FL, it started here Wed., and I'm not sure where I got the idea that is was underway in FL, but thanks for the correction.

I'm not trying to inject myself into this sticky wicket, I was just wondering about what would happen to the voters, and you've pointed out that early voting hasn't begun, but what about those who vote absentee and have already returned their ballots if this brokering goes through and the candidate voted for is the one brokered out? And will it further divide the dems in FL?

I'm making no judgments here, and I realize that this is a nasty situation, I was asking about voters who have a history of being screwed over in FL and how this might shake out in the future.

Best of luck to you all, I'm just glad that I don't have to make the decision.

[seafan]

14. Hopefully, people will hang on to their absentee ballots for a few more days.

As for those who've already voted absentee under your scenario, they will have voted for the person they thought best represented them.

One thing I've learned about politics is that there are no guarantees. On anything.

What we are trying to do is reverse 30+ years of right-wing-engineered public theft and to resurrect some justice.


And it is going to happen.

[bluestateguy]

3. Wasn't this the guy who never got over Hillary losing the nomination?

and continued to be a pill long after Hillary and most of her supporters had put the primary behind them?

Or was it someone else? Help me out here, I tend to get names mixed up.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. seafan or Bob Graham

~

[Angry Dragon]

4. Too many deals in politics today

[SwampG8r]

5. that is the reality for floridians

our party wants the elected candidate to step aside for a gop shadow candidate

[pansypoo53219]

7. DIVIDED WE FAIL.

and bad wins. i am ok with this.

[seafan]

8. Buckle up. It may be a wild weekend.

Whitney Ray at Capitol News Service:

October 15, 2010

The strife among Florida Democrats is reaching a fever pitch, as they decide who to support in the US Senate Race. The clock is ticking because early voting begins Monday. Polls show Independent Charlie Crist losing and Democrat Kendrick Meek losing worse. Democratic National Committeeman Jon Ausman says if one drops out the other can beat heavy favorite Marco Rubio.

“One of them is going to have to be the adult and say I’m going to support the other guy and move on. Otherwise they are both going to lose come November 2nd and we are only like 16, 17 days away,” said Ausman.

Ausman is calling Former Democratic governor and US Senator Bob Graham to broker a deal between the two this weekend. No word if a meeting of the three will happen.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. It's Too Late

We just need to let this play out.

[BeFree]

12. yep

2 things:

Let this be a lesson to those who clamor for 3 party elections

and when Crist goes down we are finally rid of him - his career will be over and the fresh scrubbed little tea partier (Rubio) will eventually flame out, taking the tea party down with him.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. Yes And No

It's too late to stop Marco Bushio.

However, I see Marco Bushio's career projectory following the path of the former California governor and "Bedtime For Bonzo"star. I can just see him now speaking to adoring Hispanic crowds in impeccable but perfectly idiomatic Spanish that "Gobierno no es la solución. Es el problema." and that "Estados Unidos es la última gran esperanza en la Tierra."

Rubio doesn't even need to win the Hispanic vote. He just needs forty percent of it to prevent a Democrat from winning a national election.

[rucky]

13. The Big Dog just stumped for Meek last week.

it ain't gonna happen.