Meek of Florida----I think he has a chance.

[vaberella]

I first must say that I am annoyed by the talk for Crist on this site and definitely pissed about the lack of support he got from the Democrat Party and and definitely here on DU---to the point where posters want him to be a "patriot" and drop out. The progressive candidate needs to drop out...and yet we have people complaining more progressives are not in office. It makes you wonder why.

In any event I will give a reason why I think Meek has a chance. The latest poll, based on this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x481368, states that the Meek is at 22% for likely voters while a few weeks ago he was at 16% and/or less. I don't think that the Repubs or former Repubs are fairing any better. Rubio is at 39% and Crist is at 21%.


Today Clinton is going out there to rally for Meek. If there is one thing about Clinton, he normally can rally up the Hispanic vote, even if Blacks might not be able too on their own. Is Clinton is out there pushing for Meek---Clinton might be able to get the Hispanics on Meek's side when they might have stood on the sidelines. While in the case of Black voters--I think Meek can get a few on his own and the rest because of Clinton.

So even if there early voting---I don't believe that most Hispanics or Blacks really participate in early voting. And me coming from Harlem---if you tell someone that they have to write in a vote...they'll be the first one to not vote or think you're screwing them and their vote won't count. Which is one of the major reasons about the lack of early voting on our side. We just don't trust those poll workers (keep in mind I was a poll worker for years) or write ins.

Why do I say all this....I think there's a good Chance Meek can push it out there because of these "underestimated" factors that could turn an under dog into a winner.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Me coming from Central NJ

Never a poll worker, but the daughter of black man that grew up in Jim Crow South that still carries that in him until today at the age of 69 . . . I couldn't agree with you more:

<b>they'll be the first one to not vote or think you're screwing them and their vote won't count. Which is one of the major reasons about the lack of early voting on our side. We just don't trust those poll workers (keep in mind I was a poll worker for years) or write ins.</b>


I was reached out to via email - in order to get me to vote early - and I'm not going to do it. Everything in NJ is a shake down or a scam so I'm not going to trust anything but my finger pulling the lever. It was drilled into me by my father.

[vaberella]

5. Yup...

I come from a hard core Black community in Harlem. I've seen the fights that break out when you say the machine is not working for your area and you have to do a write in. People walk out on you. They do not trust. And early voting there fore should never be expected. We'll come and vote. We'll walk miles and over sleet and snow in a hurricane, tornado---anything. We'll in come in droves and wait and wait and wait. But we will not do early voting because we've dealt with too many ways people try to screw our vote.

[oswaldactedalone]

65. Vaberella

Would you consider sending this email to friends in your address book. I got it from a long-time African-American friend and liked it so I've been sending it to co-workers and acquaintances to see if they want to forward it on as well. I'd like to see it go viral as they say. The email came to me simply titled: Vote November 2nd.

If you or anyone else likes it, copy, paste, and send it along.

----

WE MUST VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2nd AS IF OUR LIVES DEPEND UPON IT, BECAUSE
THEY DO! The Republican party has embraced dangerous radicals called
the "Tea Party." They are led by Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Rush
Limbaugh, and the owners and broadcasters of Republican supporting
television and radio stations, whose chief goal is to take down President Obama. They
also want to end federally run assistance programs that benefit
everyone, including minority groups. These Tea Party supporters, and
Republicans in general, have deep-seated prejudices against blacks,
latinos, and other minority groups. More than anything, they despise
President Obama and want desperately for him to fail as our
President. If our President fails, then we all fail.

Their rallying cry? "We want to take our country back!" Take it back
from who and to when? The 1940s or 50s? American soil remains stained
with the blood of our African-American brothers and sisters who
protested and fought for our right to vote. Some even died in their
pursuit of this basic civil right.

The polls say Republicans have an excellent chance of winning enough
seats to take over the U. S. House of Representatives, the U. S.
Senate, and many Governorships and State Legislatures because
Democrats lack the enthusiasm to vote. WE MUST GET AS MANY, AND MORE,
PEOPLE TO THE POLLS AS WE DID DURING THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

While we like voter enthusiasm, more importantly, we need you to
vote. President Obama and Democrats have tried to undo the chaos
created by our previous President, but Republicans have fought him
every step of the way. We also have to be concerned that the radical
right-wing Tea Party might try to take our country back to a time
that was very difficult for minorities. There is concern that the
number of hate groups is increasing, and these hate groups are
largely composed of people who openly support Republican Tea Party
candidates. Are you willing to gamble on losing the Democratic
leadership that is trying to make the country better for everyone,
and not just the super-rich? We cannot let our leadership change or
we could lose that gamble.

Don't leave voting to the other guy. Be sure to vote, and vote a
straight Democratic ticket for your U. S. Senator, Congressman,
Governor, and Democrats down the ballot. Like African drums calling
out across America, reach as many people as you can!

Don't break this chain message or we may find ourselves chained as
second class citizens again.

VOTE NOVEMBER 2nd, or before, if early voting is available in your
area.

Please forward this E-mail to 15 or more people and keep it going!

----

I realize you might not like the "early voting" sentence, so edit it however you'd like.

[NJLEFTY]

68. Meek is not meek

I loved the reply he made last week when he was asked to suspend his campaign for the benefit of Gov. Crist. To paraphrase he said: I'm going to win. Go Meeks!!!

[The Northerner]

2. He does have a chance but we NEED progressives to support him

and not that reagan-loving and anti-choice repuke disguised as an independent.

[vaberella]

3. And that's the problem. Even on this site the "progressives" aren't behind him. n/t

[alsame]

7. The Crist love here is appalling. K&R

[polichick]

9. It's not "love" - it's pragmatism. (Where have we heard that word before?) nt

[golfguru]

57. I don't think it is even pragmatic to vote for Crist

First of all, he is behind by 9-11 points from Rubio.
So why throw good money after bad?

Even if Meek loses in 2010, by getting a respectable
number of votes in this election, his status is enhanced
for any future runs. Who knows how good or bad his chances
will be in next election 2-4-6 years from now.

But if he comes in a distant 3rd, that not only degrades
Meek, it also degrades chances for other democrats in future.

[angee_is_mad]

72. WTF?

"But if he comes in a distant 3rd, that not only degrades
Meek, it also degrades chances for other democrats in future."

So now Kendrick Meek the progressive democrat who WON his primary is going to be blame for ALL future democratic defeats? Once again, WTF(?)!

[quakerboy]

73. I do have a question

there was recently an article about Republicans in Colorado might loose major party status due to the election there and a third party taking the republican vote. Is there any chance that the supposed "pragmatic" approach of dropping Meeks could cause similar issues in Florida?

[flyarm]

15. maybe instead of attacking fellow Dems here at DU , You should tell it to our party leaders??

and Our Chartered Dem Clubs in Fla..

Start with Wexler, and Robert Kennedy Jr????

Perhaps???????

And then you can go to the state newspapers who have mostly endorsed Crist now??

[Bluenorthwest]

18. Wexler and Bobby Jr are not Party leadership

The actual leadership has been out stumpping for Kendrick Meek, I just saw Clinton there, President Bill Clinton. What's Wexler's first name again? Hal? Jack?
President Barack Obama stumpped for Meek, cut a radio ad and everthing. The leadership in this case has been doing well. The national leadership. The Florida State Party is a farce about a joke about a satire.

[flyarm]

27. would that be the National Leadership that took our primary vote way and our delegates votes

you are speaking of?

Yes and I fully understand Clinton was in St Pete today..my county..which is also Crist's home town.

And the anchor of the I-4 corridor.

And please..hold back your anger..I was simply explaining to you... what has been filling our email boxes..from Democrats all over the state.

We active Dem's in Fla..have been getting advice from every faction in and around the party ..in fact I would say..it is over kill from democrats ..within the party and out side the party. To the point of nausea.

No one has to tell me or lecture me on voting..I have voted quite well for 40 years on my own.

It is those who count my vote..or don't..or just take my vote away.. that need the lecturing to.

[alsame]

23. I didn't attack anyone, I expressed my opinion about obvious

lack of support for a Dem and obvious support for a GOPer pretending to be I.

The trashing of Meek started months and months ago - check around the archives and see what I mean. There was a real effort early on to convince people on this site that Meek had no chance and they should throw their support behind Crist. "He'll caucus with the Dems!!!" "He's pro-choice!!!"

And yes, I find it appalling that a supposed Democratic site allowed this to go on for months. I think it was a deliberate attempt by some posters to depress support for Meek a long time ago.

I am not in FL, but I have contributed to Meek and have done phone banking for him. I couldn't care less who endorsed Crist - there is a Democrat in the race and he gets my support. Because every vote in the Senate affects me too, no matter what state they're from.

And Crist will screw us.

[krawhitham]

66. Crist will caucus with Dems and Meek stands NO chance

It sucks but it is reality

[quakerboy]

74. Meeks will caucus with Dems, and Crist stands NO chance

look at the polls. Meeks is in it, and he ain't getting out. And Crist has already cut him down to the gritty core of his voters. In the mean time Crist isnt pulling voters over from the right. In fact poll after poll seems to show him bleeding voters to the right, instead. The choice is pretty apparent. Lose by voting for a Dem, or lose by voting for a pub. Up to the voters of Florida.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. I take issue with that. I've been hounded for supporting Meek

and those who support Crist I do not see as being 'progressive' in other areas as well. I see the same rationalizing, compromising middle of the roaders who claim to be 'sensible pragmatist moderate centrists' supporting Crist, opposing Meek, and I have not seen one poster who strongly stands with any of my liberal issues doing so. Not one progressive or liberal voter I know would ever, ever vote for some over tanned schmendrick who praises Palin because he was and is a Republican. Not one.
They started in on Meek months and months ago here, announcing that he could not win with a gusto I could not quite place until I looked up a picture of Kendrick. I have never, ever seen a Democratic candidate win a nomination only to have 'Democrats' announcd that he can not win the very next day. Never seen it before, and it seems clear to me what it is all about.
The Crist Twisters are way over there to the right, voting where their hearts live. They are voting against the Democratic candidate. They are voting for a Conservative recent Republican who sat on TV in 08 spewing about how much more experienced Palin was than Obama. They are voting for a Palin promoting righty.
I find what they are doing to be foul, inexcusable, and just the sort of thing that ruins a Party. Look at the recent history of the Florida Democratic Party and you can easily see it is in ruins. They do not even support their own nominees.

[angee_is_mad]

34. For real

The complain about the POTUS not doing enuff, but support a man who WILL NOT be a dependable Dem vote. He will be a scott brown, but worse.
Once in DC crist will move more to the right with his eye on the next election. He will think he will have a better chance siding with the rethugs over the big stuff, because he know at the next election he will have a democratic challenger. He is banking on the teabagger wave crashing by the next election and getting the rethugs party back behind him.
Base on my theory, if he made it to Dc, progressives will probably discourage dems from running against him:sarcasm:

crist ain't no allan spector.

[Doctor_J]

30. What are you talking about?

He's behind the teabagger 47% - 22%.

[NightWatcher]

4. combine Crist's 21 and Meek's 22 (if Meek had dropped) 43 vs Rubio's 39

early voting has started and I'm still torn

[vaberella]

8. Don't vote early. Vote the day of or a few days before.

Crist is at 31 by the way which makes the total really 53%. However, I think that Meek could win this even by going up to 36% or so. Why? Because Blacks/Hispanics just do not vote early.

[flyarm]

13. that may be true other places other than Florida.. please don't equate other states to Florida

we in Fla have seen our votes stolen with voting machines and many many minorites and democrats vote by mail, as that has been our only way to have a paper Ballot.

Democrats in the State of Fla began demanding vote by mail since 2004..and using absentee ballots since to be their paper ballot.

So please..no generalizations about Fla voting, unless you are from the State and you fully understand how many times and ways we have had our votes stolen.

Democrats began very early on in 2004 pushing Democratic voters to vote by mail with absentee ballots. Now most Democratic voters I know vote by mail..to assure there is a paper ballot that is auditable.

I got my ballot well over a month & 1/2 ago.

I already voted.
As did my Hispanic husband..so please..hold off on your generalizations.

We IN Fla also have a very large block of Snow Bird residents who vote from out of state before they return to Fla for the winter months.

To ensure our ballot gets in on time , one must vote and send it in ahead of time.

What goes on in other states does not always hold a similar pattern in Fla!

[polichick]

14. So true! Florida is my home state and, though I vote elsewhere now, I'm in close touch...

...with Florida Dems - everyone I know votes absentee and early.

[ChiciB1]

47. I HAVE To Agree With You About Absentee. A Friend Of Mine Has A Father

who lives in PA, but votes here. Also know a couple in IN who vote here by absentee. Neither one were voting for Meek and they are more "liberal" types and just didn't like Meek because he was so DLC to them.

They actually voted long before I did, and never even considered Meek as a choice. I'm just repeating what they said.

All of my close family votes absentee and we've already voted.

[Dr.Phool]

39. I already voted.

Had absentee's. My wife works right across the street from the Supervisor of Elections office, so she just drops them off. Don't even have to pay for postage.

[NightWatcher]

17. its either early or not at all for me, heading out Monday for a month at sea

[ChiciB1]

48. CRIST IS AT 31%... Just Sayin' n/t

[polichick]

6. Might be too late - a large number of Floridians are in the north right now...

...and have already voted. Dems I know went with Crist because they couldn't stand the idea of Rubio winning.

[vaberella]

10. Yup. It's sad because I know those Dems were majority NOT the Black or Hispanic vote.

If they were willing to take a chance....I believe the Black and Hispanic vote turn out would have pushed Meek over the winning line. Black and Hispanics are normally ignored when it comes to votes---even in the Dem party until crunch time. They can do a lot of damage in Florida especially which has a strong Black Cuban/Black and Dominican, and other Hispanic population. Haitian's although I think are a normally Republican, will look into Meek and go his way if they like what he has to say.

[polichick]

19. A paper trail is important in Florida (and everywhere!) - between that fact...

...and all the snowbirds, early absentee voting is a given.

[flpoljunkie]

26. Charlie Crist is responsible for our having a paper trail with our opti-scan machines.

He took a lot of heat from his old party for that.

[flpoljunkie]

11. Latest poll of likely voters has Rubio with 39%, Crist 31% and Meek with 22%.

Another day, another poll. This one is live caller Suffolk University poll of 500 likely Florida voters ( MoE +/- 4.4%): With a little over two weeks left in the 2010 election cycle, Republican Marco Rubio (39 percent) leads Independent candidate Charlie Crist (31 percent) by 8 points and Democrat Kendrick Meek (22 percent) by 17 points in the race for U.S. Senate, according to the latest Suffolk University/WSVN poll. Libertarian Alexander Snitker trails with only 2 percent and 6 percent of likely voters remain undecided.

(It will be interesting to see if Bill Clinton's campaigning with Meek today and tomorrow can move the numbers.)

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/poll-marco-rubio-leads-8-alex-sink-7-pam-bondi-8

[ChiciB1]

44. Yes, I Was Confused By The 21% For Crist Because As A Person Who

lives here in Florida I heard it was Rubio 39% which is DOWN, Crist 31% which is UP and Meek in THIRD AT 22% which is about what it's always been, give or take a few points.

Thanks for the link. I still wonder if they contact ANY cell phone users, and I also must add that I have refused to be polled. I don't post here as much as I once did, but I have posted who I voted for by absentee. Many of my Democratic friends have also done so, and this would beg the question about who voted for WHO already. I personally have 11 (close) family members who voted just as I did. I have more family members that I haven't contacted, but it's only because some are Repukes. They are aunts & uncles, etc. I also have Independent friends who voted as I did. Some people I've talked to are re-thinking Rubio and have yet to vote. Could it be possible that RUBIO might have a fight after all? I wouldn't bet on him losing, but it SURE WOULD BE WONDERFUL if he did.

All I can say is this... ANYBODY BUT RUBIO!

[flpoljunkie]

12. Bill Clinton Fires Up Crowd in St. Pete Stump Speech for Meek

Clinton fires up crowd in St. Pete stump speech for Meek



ST. PETERSBURG - Former President Bill Clinton told a crowd of several hundred in St. Petersburg today that U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek will help Democrats retain a majority in Congress.

"The Republicans want to retake Congress. Well, let me tell you, I've seen this movie before and if it keeps going, it's going to have a really bad ending," Clinton told supporters who packed into an auditorium in the Campus Activities Center at the University of South Florida.

Clinton is visiting Florida this week to boost the Democrat's campaign as it struggles against GOP frontrunner Marco Rubio.

"He's the only person in this race who has done things to make this country safe," Clinton said of Meek.

Several high-ranking Democrats, including Karen Thurman, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, warmed up the crowd, saying Meek has a record of fighting for Floridians.

"He took on the banks, he took on the oil companies and he has taken on education reform," Thurman said. "He opposed offshore oil drilling before it was popular."

more...

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/oct/19/190845/clinton-stumping-for-meek-today-in-st-pete/news-politics/

[flpoljunkie]

20. There is also a Senate debate tonight at 7PM in Florida on CBS in the Orlando area.

[peekaloo]

38. Governor Carrot Cake used the term "Obamacare".

:eyes:

[flpoljunkie]

42. I found that deeply offensive. Guess Crist thinks he's gotten all the Dems he's going to get and

is going for the independents and trying to rip some Republicans from Rubio. The man is like a weather wane--whichever way the wind is blowing.

[ChiciB1]

46. And Bill Nelson Isn't Much Better! I've Had My Own Problems With Nelson

over the years. Even visited his office in D.C., and his staff assured me of "certain" things, but then Nelson did EXACTLY the opposite. Too long to go into now, but I've always seen Nelson as a person who puts his finger in the air.

He really ticked me off when Martinez won over Castor by saying "Martinez is a good man and I look forward to working with him." I think he'll say the VERY SAME THING if Rubio wins! While Nelson HAS voted on some issues that I've supported, he's very DLC to me and I'm sure he'll just "go along to get along!"

I've also heard, quite some time back that he was an attendee at that K-Street Ministry. Don't know if he quit or not. I was given a link several years back about his association with them, just can't find it now. Perhaps there is someone who remembers it and has the link.

[suzie]

50. Did Bill Nelson filibuster either Kagan or Sotomayor?

[tsuki]

70. He's right of DLC. He, as insurance commissioner, and Jebbles dismantled Chile's health insurance

reforms (the exchanges) because it was unfair to the insurance companies that small businesses were ganging up on them. After our premiums for our employees quadrupled, Nelson took his 1.5 million bounty from the insurance companies and ran for senate.

When he started talking about insurance exchanges, like the one he dismantled in Florida, as being the answer to health care in the US, I turned him off. Other than I am retiring, nothing that lying sack says is worth my time and effort.

[RockaFowler]

45. I mentioned that below

WOW!! Obamacare?? Really??

[yellowcanine]

21. 'are "fairing" any better.' Ouch. The word is "faring". A "fairing" is the thingy on a motorcycle

or airplane that reduces wind resistance.

[vaberella]

24. Apologies...human error. n/t

[JCMach1]

22. HARDCORE Dem. votes tops out at about 35% in Midterm Florida Elections

Crist will siphon off some of the conservative Dems and those who are just (let's just say) unreconstructed.

That would out Meek between 25-30 which is about where he is polling. I don't think that will be enough even if he pulls some Indys in.

However, I do see a tight finish... I don't see the winner breaking 40%.

[vaberella]

25. Exactly my point.

And I don't think the votes for Rubio will be there...I think he might get something done---Meek that is.

[JCMach1]

32. I think all 3 candidates will be in the 30 'sunless there is some kind of last minute

mass exodus one way or another.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

28. If Racists Are Voting For Crist They Are Voting For The Wrong Man

He's a lifetime member of the NAACP and he lifted the prohibition on felons from voting ; a prohibition that fell most heavily on African Americans, and without which George Bush would have not have "won" Florida and the nation.

Don't take my word for his committment to civil rights, take the word of African American Democratic State Representative Terry Fields who called Charlie Crist the "states first black governor":


http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Charlie_Crist


And respectfully the suggestion that if Crist dropped out most or all of his voters wouls go to Meek is absurd.

[JCMach1]

33. Trust me when I say those types in mainly North Florida will

not vote for either Rubio, or Meek.

That's just the way it is... In fact, that's one of the wildcards of the race...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

37. President Obama Won Florida In a "Democratic Year"

This is decidedly not a Democratic year.

The way a Democrat wins Florida is to rack up huge numbers in South Florida, be competitive in Central Florida, and limit his or her losses in North Florida (Southern Georgia or Alabama)

Not you but I am having a good laugh at people opining on this race who don't know diddley about Florida politics.

[JCMach1]

43. Exactly... The Key is going to be the mushy middle of the state... the I4

Whoever wins that by the 1-5% they would take it by is likely to win. The North will vote for Rubio, but how many will opt-out because he is either too conservative (think Indy Obama voters) or too ethnic (think blue dog and other racists).

Also, the race factor plays into the polling. People will often do something very different on election day. That could likely mean a much closer 3-way race than anyone thinks with all three within 5pts. I don't buy the Rubio runaway vote that some are touting.

2002 is a good baseline for turnout (i.e. midterm disaster election for dems). Nelson got 60% against Katherine Harris. That makes Meek stuck at the 30-35 hardcore dem vote. Rubio will get most of Harris' 40% (hardcore repugs). Crist can probably only expect to peal away 5% or maybe less of Harris' total. You see how close the split is...

It's going to be close! I keep telling people... Crist has never lost a statewide race in Florida and that does count for something in my home state. But, you can't count Meek out completely either.

[suzie]

52. I think the same about people telling us what the polls say.

Do they really believe that at this point, Florida voters are going to tell anyone but their immediate family who they're voting for?

[Colobo]

29. The man has no chance. Rubio will win this.

And it is very sad.

[Tatiana]

31. Meek would have had a hard time winning a race against Rubio alone.

Throw in Crist and I don't think there is enough support for him to win. Crist takes away too many of the independent/moderate votes.

I am glad that he's still on the ballot and that he didn't withdraw because Meek's voters could likely win the governorship for Sink (which would be fantastic in terms of the upcoming redistricting).

[DemocraticPilgrim]

35. Never really had issue with Clinton and the GE is all past now, he's a true Democrat who faced a..

tough congress let's not repeat history if we can.

[suzie]

51. Yeah, tell us that Bill Clinton would be going all out for a Democrat in Florida that

had supported Barack Obama instead of Hillary Clinton until the end of the very divisive primary season in Florida.

Given the years and years of watching disastrous candidates chosen by the Clintons because, even if they had absolutely no chance of being elected to a statewide office in Florida--they would be useful to the Clintons in 2008, I don't think so.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

64. There Relationship Goes Back Longer Than That

Meek, whose mother served in Congress in the 1990s, first met Clinton when he was governor of Arkansas, and when Meek was a state trooper assigned to Florida's lieutenant governor. Then-Trooper Meek picked up Clinton at the airport during a visit to Florida in the early stages of the 1992 campaign, and their relationship has developed since, according to Meek aide Adam Sharon.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23699.html

[LeftyAndProud60]

36. I have as much chance as he has in FL. And I'm in California. He needs to drop out. NT

[RockaFowler]

40. Thanks Vabarella

This morning I was reading your post and I was hoping to see other people who say they are Progressive finally wake up and say they are voting for the only Progressive in this race. How could you vote for CharLIE Crist?? He calls Health Care Reform Obamacare. He is Anti-Choice. He wants to cut taxes on those making more than $250,000. People are delusional if they think CharLIE Crist is going to caucus with the Dems if he were to win. He's a Republican. End of discussion. And people who keep advocating for him are just despicable. Don't complain that there are not enough Progressives in the party if you don't vote for a genuine one in Florida. If Democrats vote for the Democrat in this race - we will win!!!!!!

[flpoljunkie]

41. Why not go with the Democrat when Nate Silver says Charlie Crist has only 6.7% chance to beat Rubio.

http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/forecasts/senate/florida

[quakerboy]

75. Amen

Why switch over to vote for a Republican when he cant even beat the TP candidate. Might as well go with a symbolic vote for an actual Dem.

[vaberella]

62. I couldn't agree with you more.

Way too many settler's in the Democratic party. I can respect making compromises on policy since well...we have to work together on national policies that affect people of different degrees and backgrounds, especially considering when the more progressive outlook is not represented in Congress. However, when it comes to progressive leaders...let's be real. A lot of the reason we had to compromise on so many bills that we wanted to be extremely progressive and pushing forward was because we didn't elect enough progressives in office to get our initiative through. So when I see Dems advocate for this guy I want to puke. It makes no sense how

[Patsy Stone]

71. What you said.

During the debate the other night it was crystal clear to me Charlie is no Independent, he's just not a psycho enough Republican to run this year. I think Crist and Rubio will cancel each other out and if Dems turn out, Meek could squeak in. At least that's what I hope happens.

[tritsofme]

49. Only in the sense that Christine O'Donnell has a chance to win in DE.

The odds of either of those two being senators next year is about equal.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

53. And Some Of Us Are Delusional As The Tea Baggers Who Think O'Donnell Will Win

~

[wmbrew0206]

54. Meek has no chance. Sorry but it is true.

See post #8 here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x470142#470331

[flpoljunkie]

55. Neither does Charlie Crist. Nate Silver puts his chances at only 6.7%.

http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/forecasts/senate/florida

Barring some miracle, Crist is toast. Perhaps we Democrats ought to think about voting for the Democrat.

[wmbrew0206]

59. At this point, I will probably vote for Meek. I was hoping that either Crist or Meek

might be able to get close enough that most voters would break for one of them. Now I think this race is lost and it is better to set the precedent that Democratic voters will not vote for an independent over a democrat.

[Dj13Francis]

56. I voted for him...

But really... In Florida those of us who aren't complete morons are outnumbered heavily by those that are. Seems as though that state of affairs exists in more and more geographical areas of the country every day... Where have the thinkers gone? Why is it rare to find people with more than one brain cell to rub together? I fear for us... I really do... I fear we'll be undone by those who are in contempt of those smarter than them so much that they'll destroy themselves in order to destroy those who once made them feel stupid. When people proclaim boldly to be proud to be ignorant, we have a major problem.

[vaberella]

60. I've noticed that.

I've got family in Florida who've said the same as you. I do have hope that some of the thinkers will come out winners since it would seem the morons are eating each other. I seems to be working in Alaska.

[flpoljunkie]

58. St. Pete Times: Crist has blown through his millions, running on fumes

OCTOBER 21, 2010

Crist has blown through his millions, running on fumes

Charlie Crist's once sizable financial advantage has collapsed, the potential for him to finish up the campaign with a massive TV buy gone. The independent U.S. Senate candidate spent $7.4-million since Aug. 5, and as of Oct 1, had just $1.39-million on hand, according to his latest campaign report.

Rivals studying his TV buys had worried Crist might be prepared to spend millions in a last-minute TV blitz, but now it appears Crist has little ammunition left. The best and last chance to shake up the race may be Sunday morning's U.S. Senate debate and another NBC debate Tuesday, but Rubio to date has never been knocked much off balance in debates.

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/crist-has-blown-through-his-millions-running-fumes

[vaberella]

61. Which is good for Meek. If only we could get Rubio to do that. n/t

[Alexander]

63. You must be doing some hard drugs, my friend.

Meek has not broken 25% in any poll so far. Not even once.

Even in the poll you cited, Rubio is 17% ahead of Meek.

There is not one instance where a candidate 17% behind the leader in the polls with less than two weeks to go has won the general election.

Crist was the only one with a ghost of a chance against Rubio, as he actually led in the polls for some time and has finished second in the polls since. As much as I see Crist's party switch as craven opportunism, he placed either first or second in every poll; so far Meek hasn't even gotten close to first place once.

A lot of the "talk for Crist" is not really DUers supporting Crist, but being against Marco Rubio getting into office, and concluding from the data presented that Crist is the only one who could have beaten Rubio. Polls showed in a two-way race, Crist had a chance; Meek did not.

At this point, it's really too late to do anything about this race, and as much as Meek is the best candidate, he's not going to win.

[krawhitham]

67. Do you need 50% +1 in FL?

[Dr.Phool]

69. Nope

No runoffs.