Buzz: Meek calls press conference at 9:30 tonight at his campaign office in Miami

[flpoljunkie]

OCTOBER 28, 2010

Charlie Crist confirms Meek/Clinton talks: Meek schedules press conference tonight

Charlie Crist said on MSNBC that he doesn't expect Kendrick Meek to drop out of the three-way U.S. Senate race: "I think that all three of us will be on the ballot.''

But he said he knew about the Clinton conversations. "How would I know?," he said, answering a question host Keith Olbermann said had been asked by the Meek campaign. "Because I had numerous phone calls with people very close to President Clinton. It's true.''

And Meek's campaign just announced a 9:30 press conference at their offices in Miami Gardens.

Lesley Clark, Miami Herald

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/charlie-crist-confirms-meekclinton-talks-meek-schedules-press-conference-tonight

[ProSense]

1. TPM reporting the same thing

TPM

<...>

Late Update: The Kendrick Meek campaign just announced that Meek will hold a press conference at 9:30 p.m. ET outside his Miami Gardens office. Stay tuned ...

[flpoljunkie]

13. Orlando Sentinel Update: Clinton raised possibility but Meek never agreed to drop out.

Report: Meek rejects Bill Clinton's request to quit Senate race

8:24 PM EDT, October 28, 2010

UPDATE: A spokesman for Democratic Congressman Kendrick Meek has confirmed that President Bill Clinton raised the possibility of Meek getting out of Florida's race for U.S. Senate.

Dave Hoffman said "that was discussed, yeah," but Hoffman denied that Meek had ever agreed to drop out.

Hoffman said he could not characterize what Clinton said, but then said, "I think 'suggest' is probably the best … not 'suggest' … but that (getting out) was discussed yeah."

Hoffman said the issue was raised as, "Hey, if you want to do this … That was more of the nature of the conversation."

Hoffman said Meek "never agreed to drop out" and was committed to fighting through Election Day.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/os-clinton-asks-meek-to-quit-20101028,0,5318753.story

[BootinUp]

2. This is just a soap opera.

Meek clearly does not want to surrender.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. I Wish The Democratic Party Would Let Nature Take Its Course

Meek is our candidate. All this last minute maneuvering makes us look amateurish if not desperate.

[Imajika]

5. I think it's worth trying to get Meek out of the race...

The bottom line is if Crist and Meek both stay in, Rubio wins.

It is worth dispensing with Rubio now before he becomes more powerful and gains more stature as a US Senator.

This guy is a very likely future Presidential candidate, keeping him out of the Senate at all costs is kind of important.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. If You Do An AutoSearch You Can See I Have Been Saying That For The Past Several Weeks

But it seems the die is cast.

[Imajika]

22. Yes, I've read your posts on this...

and you are 100% right.

And yeah, I'm afraid there is nothing stopping Rubio now. My last hope was that Meek would drop out but it seems that isn't going to happen.

[Mojorabbit]

26. I think on Keith's show tonite

it was said he is within 7 pts so Crist still has a chance.

[jenmito]

7. We ARE desperate in FL to keep Rubio out...

and if BILL CLINTON asked Meek to drop out, after campaigning for him, I have a feeling he sees the writing on the wall.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. I Was Telling "Everybody" That Weeks Ago But It Seems Desperate Now

I am really, really, really sad race got injected into this. I was hoping that Meek lost the primary to his Republican millionaire turned Democratic challenger because it would have been easier to drop him.

[jenmito]

11. Race got injected into it?

I had no idea since I'm not from FL and hadn't heard anything about that from the media. That IS sad.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. There's A Feeling That Floridians Won't Vote For An African American Candidate For High Office

This would make sense if President Obama didn't carry Florida and white candidates hadn't been trounced in similar environments.

Prominent Florida Democrats avoided this race because they thought Crist was a shoo in, which he was, until he was Tea Bagged for embracing President Obama and the stimulus. Kendrick Meek was the sacrificial lamb. Democrats could live with Crist but Rubio, correctly, scares the Hell out of them.

I am just afraid we look desperate now.

[boppers]

18. One of the three is African American?

Rubio, Crist, Meek?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. Meek Is African American

~

[HockeyMom]

24. I will vote for Crist to keep Rubio OUT

In my book, Crist has two things which I consider a MAJOR plus in his favor. He vetoed tying teachers salaries to FCATS (as a Special Ed TA MINE TOO). He also vetoed that bill requiring sonograms for all abortions, including 1st trimester. Rubio has said he favored BOTH of these bills. No Tea baggers, no way.

Anybody, and anything, to keep Rubio OUT. I am voting for Alex Sink too

[vi5]

10. "make us look amateurish and desperate"

Sadly the Democratic party in 2010 is both of these things.

[gateley]

4. I wish Meek had a chance -- I really like him! If it's true that he's spoken with

Clinton and that Clinton has asked for his endorsement of Crist but he said no, I'm guessing this will be another 'no' tonight. I would imagine Clinton is not an easy guy to say no to.

Boy, I can see both sides of this, especially with a whack job like Rubio leading in the polls.

What would you do if you were Meek?

[jillan]

23. I completely agree with you - as usual!

[Cognitive_Resonance]

6. It's about more than politics. There's a destructive force loose in our country,

and it needs to be stopped. I hope Crist makes it.

[book_worm]

12. I worry about what Meek dropping out will do to black turnout in FL

if many of the African-American community will think that he was abandoned by the party and that they will not turn out and vote--which might sink Sink.

[flpoljunkie]

15. TPM: RNC's Michael Steele right on cue...

Subtle, Mike, Real Subtle

David Kurtz
October 28, 2010, 8:40PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele weighs in on the goings-on down in Florida:

"If we have learned anything this election cycle, it's that voters demand the right to choose candidates for themselves, not by a political establishment seeking to make those decisions from on high. President Clinton's actions to have Kendrick Meek withdraw from the campaign sends a chilling signal to all voters, but especially African Americans. One can only imagine the response if Republican leadership tried to force out of the race - in the 11th hour - a qualified black candidate like Kendrick Meek.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/10/subtle_mike_real_subtle.php?ref=fpblg

[JanetLovesObama]

14. What happens to the

ballots that have already been cast for Meek in early voting if he does drop out? Or does Florida even have early voitng?

[OhioBlue]

20. my guess is they still go to Meek

and Meek would still be on the ballot as they wouldn't have time to redo it.

[ProSense]

16. The problem is that

Meek was always the underdog. It's not because he's a bad candidate. Look at what he's up agaisnt: Crist was popular for most of his time as Governor and the Republican Party backed Rubio. This is similar to the situation in AK.

Obviously, Florida is a bigger mess than AK.

If the race had been between Meek and Crist or Meek and Rubio from the start, Meek's prospects would have been a lot different.

[babylonsister]

19. Very true; my liberal dad in FL voted for Crist because

he is/was perceived as a decent governor. That didn't help Meek's chances.

[Thrill]

25. Even if he drops out. Its so late that. It will still take an Obama or Clinton rally with Crist

To make sure the Meek voters know to vote for Crist and not him