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FL-GOV

Rubio: "Let's Get A New Establishment"

Eric Kleefeld | September 28, 2009, 11:14AM

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R)

Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, the insurgent conservative candidate in the Republican primary for Senate in 2010, is finding his voice as an anti-establishment candidate.

Rubio spoke to a local Republican audience in Panama City, and talked about his uphill fight against moderate Gov. Charlie Crist, who has the support of the GOP establishment. "If you are unhappy with the Republican establishment, then let's get a new establishment," he said.

Rubio also discussed why he's running, saying that the only good reason to run for office is "something wrong in the world that you want to fix or something right in the world that you want to protect."

Of course, Rubio's chance to "get a new establishment" is still pretty low -- a Quinnipiac poll from last month gave Crist a lead of 55%-26%. But for now, Rubio's language reflects an awareness of the situation -- and the sort of things that die-hard party activists like to hear.

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Topics: FL-GOV, Marco Rubio, Senate '10

FL-SEN

Poll: Charlie Crist Ahead In 2010 Florida Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | May 19, 2009, 4:37PM

A new Mason-Dixon poll in Florida, commissioned by the Tallahassee-based public relations first Ron Sachs Communications, confirms the general consensus that Republican Gov. Charlie Crist is the immediate favorite to win the open Senate seat of retiring GOP Sen. Mel Martinez in 2010.

In the Republican primary against his more conservative challenger, former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, Crist currently enjoys a 53%-18% lead. Granted, a lot can happen between now and the primary in August 2010, but at the moment Crist is on top.

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Topics: FL-GOV, FL-SEN, Senate '10

FL-GOV

GOP Lining Up For McCollum In Florida Gubernatorial Race

Eric Kleefeld | May 18, 2009, 5:50PM

The Florida governor's race, where incumbent Republican Charlie Crist is leaving to run for Senate, took a major step forward today with state Attorney General Bill McCollum declaring his candidacy for the Republican nomination -- and the state party chairman quickly lining up to support him, too.

McCollum was one of the House prosecutors of Bill Clinton's impeachment, then went on to narrowly lose the 2000 Florida Senate race to Democrat Bill Nelson. In 2004 he sought the GOP nomination for Senate again, but lost to Mel Martinez. Then in 2006 he was elected state Attorney General, the same office from which Crist went on to win the governorship.

The Democrats appear to be quickly coalescing around the state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink as their candidate for governor, meaning that both sides could see clear primary fields in the gubernatorial race -- but some possible friction in the Senate primaries.

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Topics: FL-GOV

FL-GOV

Florida Democrat Alex Sink Running For Governor In 2010

Eric Kleefeld | May 13, 2009, 1:36PM

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink (D) has just announced via press release that she is running for governor of this big swing state in 2010.

Sink had previously a top choice of national Democrats to run for the Senate seat now held by retiring GOPer Mel Martinez, but she passed up the race in January. Now with Gov. Charlie Crist (R) running for Senate, Sink has thrown her name into the governor's race.

There is going to be a whole lot of movement in Florida's statewide offices now, with a Senator retiring, a governor running for Senate, and the other statewide officers running for governor or other state positions.

Full press release after the jump.

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Topics: FL-GOV