Big Dog campaigns for a very happy Kendrick Meek

[golfguru]

ST. PETERSBURG — The crowd is growing quickly inside University of South Florida’s Campus Activities Center, where former President Clinton is expected to arrive shortly and campaign for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek.

After waiting in line for a couple hours outside, hundreds of Meek supporters are preparing for a rally that they hope will boost Meek’s position in the race. Recent polls show Meek is in third place, with former House speaker Rep. Marco Rubio in the lead and no-party Gov. Charlie Crist in second place.

http://www.postonpolitics.com/2010/10/meek-supporters-gear-up-for-pres-clinton-visit-at-rally-in-st-petersburg/

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/article1128969.ece

http://www.kendrickmeek.com/pages/billclinton

[monmouth]

1. Too bad Pres. Clinton didn't campaign for Alan Grayson. Time far

better used. Meek is at 20%, Alan is fighting for his political life..

[golfguru]

2. Bill Clinton is a centrist, Grayson is not in the same ball park

with Clinton. Could be the reason Clinton did not appear
with Grayson.

[monmouth]

3. Probably right...n/t

[JI7]

8. Kendrick Meek is left like Grayson is , far left of Clinton

[ProSense]

10. "Bill Clinton is a centrist, Grayson is not in the same ball park with Clinton."

What does that mean?

Clinton only campaigns for centrists?

[BluegrassDem]

13. Bill Clinton only campaigns for Hillary supporters

It's a dirty little secret, but it's mostly true from what I can tell. I don't think he has campaigned for anyone who backed Obama in the primaries against Hillary.

[AtomicKitten]

Oh yeah.

link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8068167/Bill-Clinton-back-out-campaigning-for-everybody-that-helped-Hillary-run-for-president-against-Obama.html

Bill, hoarse-voiced but with a glint in his eye, explained that this was his 80th event. He made crystal clear just who he was representing on the campaign trail – and it wasn't Obama. "I planned to do about one stop for everybody that helped Hillary run for president because she's one of only two members of the president's cabinet who cannot participate in politics," he said.

[golfguru]

29. Why is such politically significant news only in Foreign media?

May be it was on the 49th page of NY Times & WaPo,
but I mever came across it. So, thanks for the post.

[Beacool]

22. It's no "dirty little secret", as you snidely put it.

Bill said it himself. He's repaying those who supported Hillary since she as SOS can't campaign for them.

He has also campaigned for others who didn't support Hillary, Brown for example.

x(

[AtomicKitten]

23. Well, not exactly.

link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/09/clinton-overlooks-browns-slight-endorses-him-for-governor.html

BClinton endorsed Newsom for CA gov (before he dropped out) because of Newsom's support for HClinton in 2008:

He did say that his endorsement of Gavin Newsom in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, which was widely viewed as further evidence of his hostility to Brown, was prompted by Newsom’s strong support of wife Hillary Clinton’s 2008 president bid.

"I endorsed Mayor Gavin Newsom for governor before he withdrew and became a candidate for lieutenant governor because of his strong support for Hillary in the 2008 primary season and because of his impressive record of innovation and accomplishment,” Clinton said. “He can really help revitalize California as lieutenant governor."

Also Whitman aired an ad against Brown based on BClinton's admittedly misleading ad back in the day, BClinton's endorsement of Brown a mea culpa:

The former president became an issue in the gubernatorial contest last week, when Whitman began airing a 30-second ad featuring footage of him trying to refute Brown's claim that he had lowered taxes as governor of California from 1975 to 1983.

"CNN — not me, CNN — says his assertion about his tax record was, quote, 'just plain wrong,' " Clinton says in the footage used in the ad. "He raised taxes as governor of California. ... He doesn't tell the people the truth."

As The Times reported Friday, the CNN report was inaccurate. The Brown campaign has called on Whitman to take down the ad; the Whitman campaign has refused.

Clinton agreed that the ad was misleading, and said his claim was based on an erroneous report.

[Beacool]

25. No, it isn't!!!

He's not campaigning for Brown as a "mea culpa". Please.......

Like it was Bill's fault that Whitman's campaign used Bill's comments from more than a decade ago. CNN's report may have been inaccurate, but they admitted to their error years later.

I know it eats you Clinton haters that both Clintons are so popular, but that's just too bad.

:shrug:

[AtomicKitten]

26. You have an, um, interesting way of sculpting facts.

Your comments reveal that perhaps it is your inability to digest the outcome of the 2008 election that is the problem here and, well, pretty much always with you.

[burning rain]

27. Clinton didn't have to endorse or rally for Jerry Brown.

He could have let him stew.

[BluegrassDem]

28. Shouldn't he be about helping the party as whole?

Why just pick the Hillary backers? The primaries are over. Hillary lost. You don't see President Obama only campaigning for candidates who backed him in 2008.

[Beacool]

30. He has campaigned for many candidates.

But he particularly wanted to help those Democrats that he and Hillary owed a debt to because they supported her in 2008. There's nothing wrong in helping out those who helped one in the past. Obama is helping himself as much as he's helping the candidates he's campaigning for in mostly friendly states. If the Democrats lose the House it will make his job much more difficult.

[SwampG8r]

31. haters gotta hate bea

on to better stuff
what in the hell happened to my gators?
i dont care anyway im still in my blue
i never see you anymore hope you are well

[Beacool]

33. Hi fellow Gator!!!!

How are things in swampland? I mainly lurk nowadays, this place is too anti-Clinton for my taste.

I'm doing fine, I hope that all is well with you too.

:hi:

[SwampG8r]

34. well im all in favor

of his work for meek
i posted about it myself and you know i am not a fan

[Beacool]

37. Yep, I know.

Take care!!!

:pals:

[PopSixSquish]

35. So Who Did Jack Conway Support in 2008?

BTW - Clinton will be back in KY on election eve to campaign.

[demmiblue]

7. At least Biden is (believe it or not) n/t

[catgirl]

16. Biden's campaigning for Grayson (n/t)

[EC]

17. Biden is with Grayson

so he's covered...

[AtomicKitten]

4. It seems all the efforts to rally for Meek are just solidifying his third place.

Rubio has held a solid lead for months. The only real movement is with Crist and Meek who have consistently held second and third positions respectively.

This is a very frustrating race. Gak.

[Demoiselle]

5. I like Meek. If I were in Florida, I'd vote for him.

I've heard almost nothing about him in all these months...except that he's trailing.
But just seeing him in that three way "debate" impressed me very positively. Quick on the draw, easy, nice humor. He made the other two look like squabbling peacocks. BESIDES, he's the DEMOCRAT!
It IS very frustrating.

[AtomicKitten]

11. At first I supported the scheme of voting for Crist to prevent a Senator Teabagger.

Then Crist opened his mouth, again. I understand he's going after some of Rubio's voters but unfortunately in the process completely alienated Democrats with his wingnutty rhetoric. I wish we had heard more from Meek earlier on.

Three-person races are almost always a crapshoot. Crist running as an indie is completely self-serving and pretty much guarantees a Senator Teabagger. Ugh.

I'm just a Lookie Loo from California but I feel Floridians pain on this.

[golfguru]

18. I have the exact same impression of Meek as you

Out of those 3, he has the most likable personality.
Rubio looks OK but his views are extreme right. Crist
scares me because he never looks happy or has a happy smile.

[JI7]

9. others have said it's to increase turnout to help Sink win Governor's race

[AtomicKitten]

12. Polling shows Sink a viable contender and he has a good shot.

I want a Democratic governor in Florida in 2012.

I don't want a 2000 redux at the scene of the crime. :scared:

[Lorien]

14. Imagine how those of us who live here and witnessed the theft first hand

feel.

I'll vote for whoever has the best shot against Rubio. Those who were anti-Nader can't demand that any of us vote "on principle" when we're faced with nutbagger like that Marco Rubio.

[AtomicKitten]

15. Senator Teabagger seems a foregone conclusion unfortunately.

And that's a damn shame.

[golfguru]

19. I think Sink is a woman?

and not a cross dresser either lol.

[AtomicKitten]

20. LOL. Wrong pronoun, too late to edit.

[lunamagica]

6. This is heartbreaking :'( eom

[golfguru]

21. Do not lose heart...because

by coming in 2nd or even 3rd Kendrick Meek will gain stature
and name recognition which can only help his future
prospects. He is still young and this will not be his
last election.

2010 is a difficult year and even if Meek was not running,
Crist would have lost to Rubio. By Meek staying in the race
helps Alex Sink gain more votes, so all is not lost in Florida.

[lunamagica]

32. Thanks......I hope you're right, eom

[The Backlash Cometh]

24. I voted for you Meek. Now WIN!

[Honeycombe8]

36. Locking in that Rubio win, I guess.

If Rubio wins (and it will take a miracle for him not to), it's better for the Dems in 2012.

Meek has no chance. There is no path to victory for him. He knows it. Everyone knows it. Except maybe really young people who don't realize that being 30 points behind sort of clinches the loss.