Davis-Crist first debate Tuesday, October 24, 2006

[seafan]

Who Will Win Gov Debate?

By Brian E. Crowley | Monday, October 23, 2006



Jim Davis, Democrat


Charlie Crist, Republican


Ditto, Republican

Jim Davis finally will have a chance Tuesday night to dispel the notion that he cannot defeat Charlie Crist in the race for governor.

For the first time since becoming the Democratic nominee, Davis will be standing on the same stage with Crist, the Republican nominee. They both will be looking at the cameras. They both will have a lot to lose as they begin their first statewide television debate.

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Jim Krog, who managed Chiles’ 1994 campaign, said Tuesday’s event “may be the most important debate in a campaign since 1994.”

In Krog’s view, it could all come down to which candidate makes the biggest blunder.

“Every candidate makes mistakes in debates, but you try not to make a critical mistake,” Krog said. “If one of them makes a critical mistake, it gets played in the news until the second debate and changes the expectations of that debate.”
That means if Davis comes on strong and Crist were to make a “critical mistake,” the momentum of the governor’s race could begin shifting to Davis. If Davis stumbles, it would be even harder for him to make a comeback.

Since winning the Republican nomination Sept. 5, Crist has avoided making joint appearances with Davis to prevent Davis from getting the publicity that would result from the two of them appearing together.
Instead, Crist has relied on saturating television with his campaign ads. Crist began his ads shortly after the primary. Davis didn’t get on the air until October.

Crist’s front-runner status also allowed him to call the shots for the debates. When Davis called for four single-issue debates, Crist ignored him. When Davis insisted that their second televised debate be an informal chat between them and host Chris Matthews of MSNBC’s Hardball, Crist again said, “no,” forcing Davis to accept a rigid format in which they would stand at podiums and answer questions.

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“Most people in South Florida probably think Crist is a Democrat,” because of his populist campaign, said Rorapaugh (a Democratic activist). “Davis needs to tag Crist for what he is, a Republican, and not let him blur that fact.”

Oh, we won't let people forget, Mr. Rorapaugh. No worries.







We've seen some great Democrats in these parts, Charlie.


Reubin Askew


Bob Graham




Lawton Chiles.


Sorry, Charlie, but you are no Democrat.

[seafan]

1. Debate is completing, and Jim is knocking my socks off!

He is articulate, detailed, and well prepared for Crist's expected character smears aimed against him. Jim is giving details of his plans, as Charlie rolls all around his answers, never really answering with clear details of his own.

Charlie harped on the *chair* commercial and Jim's missed votes (when Jim started his run for Gov.), Jim's vote against restitution for Lee and Pitts, (which Jim very eloquently admitted his mistake and stated that both Lee and Pitts had accepted his private apology and that one of the men was sitting in the audience tonight supporting him).

Charlie used muddying and obscure language to attack Jim, with flimsy attempts at *evidence*, and with the intent to get the spotlight of closer scrutiny away from his own shallow record of not standing up to insurance companies and by staying out of the Schiavo fray on the sidelines (when Jim was fighting on The Hill to keep George and Jeb Bush out of the private affairs of Floridians); Crist also deflected from his own record of staying the rigid FCAT course ordered by Jeb Bush, and by having a nonexistent record of fighting actively to keep oil rigs away from our coast.

I got the feeling watching and listening to Charlie that there isn't much of any substance in his record of accomplishments to talk about. His delivery was tense, whiny and accusatory. Facts were thin with Crist's answers. He maintained a pinched, artificial expression that was disquieting.

With all the deep pockets slathering money into his campaign, you'd think he might seem a bit more at ease. Charlie was mighty thin on facts and confidence tonight, and his trying to hide it by sliming an opponent of Davis' record isn't going to cut it with the voters. Sorry, Charlie.


Jim was excellent in his delivery, well reasoned, confident of his record and abilities, and it was apparent. He demonstrated sincere concern for the mess Jeb & Co have made in Tallahassee, and gave specifics in going about righting it, starting immediately when he takes office.

We would be in excellent hands with Jim Davis as our Governor. He should be very happy with his presentation tonight! It was magnificent. Maybe now, the media will crawl out from under the blanket of Crist coverage.




Again, there is no doubt that Jim Davis and Bob Graham are cut from the same cloth.


Looking forward to debate number two in another week!


Congratulations, Jim Davis, for a job well done.

[flpoljunkie]

2. Davis: "It's not just about showing up, it's about standing up."

[iamjoy]

4. Stupid To Attack On Attendance

Didn't Charlie watch the Smith/Davis debates?

Rod Smith attacked Davis for his attendance and over the denied compensation. It didn't help Smith and I doubt it will help Crist.

But that's OK Charlie, you just keep on throwing that boring crap at Davis.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. Those attacks did help Smith

Smith never would have gotten as close to winning if it hadn't been for those attacks. Davis did very poorly in predominantly African-American precincts in the primary.

[seafan]

3. Orlando Sentinel's Maxwell: Davis edges Crist in first debate

Jim Davis woke up tonight.

After struggling with his debating skills a bit earlier in the campaign, Davis looked as calm and confident as ever tonight. And I think he left the stage having edged out Charlie Crist.

Don't get me wrong. Crist looked good and sounded reassuring -- as I've said many times before. And you'd probably still rather grab a beer with him. But Crist has looked and sounded better than he did tonight. He was a one-note band, bashing Davis for missing votes in Congress while campaigning for governor. Fair criticisim? Sure. But it's not enough to center a campaign -- or, in this case, an entire debate -- around. And let's be honest here: It ain't exactly like Crist has been Mr. Full-time-Attorney-General lately, either.

Both men did a pretty decent job framing their opponent the way they wanted -- Crist painting Davis as an absentee pol, and Davis painting Crist as a special-interest lacky. Unfortunately for Crist, I think Davis's message resonates a lot louder. Davis's best line: "It's not just about showing up. It's about standing up," suggesting Crist has not done that vs. the insurance companies, drug manufacturers and more.

Crist was able to make himself sound more optimistic. And he zinged Davis, saying: "Jim doesn't sound very happy tonight. And I can understand why."

But Davis scored the best one of the night when Crist tried to nail Davis for treating Feddie Pitts unjustly -- and then Davis responded that Pitts was in the audience at that very moment ... supporting him. Wow.

There are still two weeks to go. Crist has always been the favorite. Months ago, I all but coronated him the next governor. And he's a natural on the campaign trail. But with Davis closing the gap in the polls, Crist may need to do better at the final debate than he did tonight.

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Great job, Jim!