Crist crushing potential challengers in Senate race, but it's not a walk yetSeptember 11, 12:51 PM Tampa Political Buzz Examiner Kyle Sennett
Senator Crist? It certainly looks that way. Currently Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) appears to be headed for a landslide win in the 2010 Florida elections which will send a new Senator to Washington D.C. from the Sunshine State.
Gov. Crist's only serious challenger in the Republican primaries is former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, who is campaigning as a more conservative alternative to Crist. The governor has supported President Obama on many initiatives, and is seen in some rural areas as a "RINO" (Republican In Name Only.) A very telling report from the Huffington Post shows an overwhelming preference for Rubio in rural Florida, where the former Speaker is pulverizing Crist in the polls, to the tune of 80% or more of the vote. If Rubio takes a page from the 'Obama playbook' and launches a GOTV effort in rural areas, he could bring about a come-from-behind victory. The odds are against Rubio, however. Gov. Crist has a huge fund raising advantage, announcing in July that his campaign had raised over $4 million already, with Rubio trailing telescopically behind with less than $400,000 in the war chest. Rubio has challenged Crist to 10 debates in the GOP primaries, which Crist has declined, a tactic employed repeatedly by high profile politicians such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who regularly refuses to debate or even meet with her electoral challengers. Gov. Crist also enjoys the favor of the D.C. political machine, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), chairman of the NRSC, stated that supporting Crist was as much a financial as political decision, indication that Crist's fund raising advantage would save the NRSC much-needed cash to back less prepared GOP candidates. Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee has withheld any endorsement thus far, indication that he and the RNC will wait until after the Florida GOP primaries to back a candidate, a safe approach for Steele, who is facing his own challenges and questions about his leadership abilities within the GOP. Regardless, Crist remains the Republican favorite, in Florida and nationwide, for the open Senate seat.
Once the general election is underway, either Crist or Rubio will face US Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL, 17th District.) Rep. Meek was elected to Congress in 2002, and has won 4 elections unchallenged in that time. 2010, and the campaign to replace Mel Martinez, will be Meek's first serious electoral challenge, and the odds do not look good. Polls show Crist soundly tromping Meek in a 20-30 point spread, depending on which poll you read. Dark-horse candidate Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL, 3rd District) also pales in comparison to Crist's formidable polling data, and although she announced an exploratory committee in June of 2009, the reality of her seriously competing with either Meek or Crist is negligible. Brown is a 16-year incumbent veteran in Congress, making her one of the few remaining Florida politicians on the national level with any meaningful seniority. Brown is best left where she is for the time being, and more than likely, has been told so by the Democratic caucus in Congress. Brown has indicated unofficially that she does not have the funding to challenge Meek, so again, it would be a come-from-behind victory, and unlikely. The most probable match-up in November 2010 will be Crist vs. Meek, and all available data indicates that Crist will win.
http://www.examiner.com/x-23164-Tampa-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m9d11-Crist-crushing-potential-challengers-in-Senate-race-but-its-not-a-walk-yet 
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