GOP recruiting Crist; "seems to be leaning towards running"

[BM]

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http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/cornyn-says-gop-talking-to-crist-about-senate-bid-2009-01-14.html

Crist is hard to read to me. I didn't expect him to even get buzz since I thought it'd be a foregone conclusion that he'd go for the guaranteed second term as governor, but part of me thinks he loves and craves the national spotlight and would strongly consider going for this now that a door has been opened and he'd be a frontrunner.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Crap.  If he runs, then the seat becomes safe GOP.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 I want Connie Mack IV.

What the hell are you doing John. I know you want to lock down who is running early but you didn't even talk to Connie Mack IV. After Crist he is you safest bet. Rubio is to unknown and Bill McCollum always underperforms. Mack IV could lock down this seat against everyone but Sink and against her he would win but only very narrowly.

[Lunar]

Mack would also be a more reliable vote for the GOP

[justfollowingtheelections]

Crap.  If he runs, then the seat becomes safe GOP.

Yep.  But at least it will be a somewhat moderate Republican.

[Bacon King]

He would be a great senator IMO.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Crap.  If he runs, then the seat becomes safe GOP.

Yep.  But at least it will be a somewhat moderate Republican.

True, better him than any other Florida Republican; but still, I'd rather have another Democrat.

[Lunar]

For the Mack enthusiasts - Connie could always run for governor.

If he does have presidential ambitions, it would make sense for Crist to jettison out of Florida and into DC.  It'll be far easier to defend your legislative record in the coming recession than your record as governor.  What are you going to do, brag about how you cut less social services and yet still had deficits that ballooned slightly less than the other states?

[justfollowingtheelections]

Crap.  If he runs, then the seat becomes safe GOP.

Yep.  But at least it will be a somewhat moderate Republican.

True, better him than any other Florida Republican; but still, I'd rather have another Democrat.

Me too and unfortunately Florida was one of the states I was sure the Democrats were going to win.  I just don't see it happening with Crist.  Even my democratic family voted for him.

[© tweed]

For the Mack enthusiasts - Connie could always run for governor.

If he does have presidential ambitions, it would make sense for Crist to jettison out of Florida and into DC.  It'll be far easier to defend your legislative record in the coming recession than your record as governor.  What are you going to do, brag about how you cut less social services and yet still had deficits that ballooned slightly less than the other states?

it probably would take 2012 out of the picture for him

[Lunar]

^ why

[BM]

He'd have to start campaigning pretty quickly after taking office. It wouldn't be a very impressive stepping stone. It'd probably increase his chances of being chosen as a running mate though, and it would keep him in the national spotlight until 2016...

[justfollowingtheelections]

Being a first term senator and running for president only works for someone like Obama, whose campaign was based more on intangibles than anything else.  Crist would have to build a record in the Senate before he runs for President.  Plus, running for president two years after your state elected you to represent them, would make him look like an opportunist.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Does this mean that Crist is not running for president in 2012?

[Lunar]

Crist wold not only be a first-term Senator

Does this mean that Crist is not running for president in 2012?

Why would Cornyn applying pressure to Crist affect his presidency?

[Mr. Morden]

Crist wold not only be a first-term Senator

Does this mean that Crist is not running for president in 2012?

Why would Cornyn applying pressure to Crist affect his presidency?

BeccaM is right.  It makes no sense for Crist to make the jump over to the Senate, and then, about three months after being elected, immediately start running for president.  If Crist really wants to run for president in 2012, the most logical step is to just run for reelection as governor, and rack up as large a victory margin as possible.

Remaining as governor of Florida would also massively improve his fundraising potential, as Florida, just by virtue of being a big state, has lots of people with deep pockets with business in the state who want to curry favor with the governor.  Crist has leverage with more people as governor of Florida than he does as the junior senator from Florida.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Crist wold not only be a first-term Senator

Does this mean that Crist is not running for president in 2012?

Why would Cornyn applying pressure to Crist affect his presidency?

BeccaM is right.  It makes no sense for Crist to make the jump over to the Senate, and then, about three months after being elected, immediately start running for president.  If Crist really wants to run for president in 2012, the most logical step is to just run for reelection as governor, and rack up as large a victory margin as possible.

Remaining as governor of Florida would also massively improve his fundraising potential, as Florida, just by virtue of being a big state, has lots of people with deep pockets with business in the state who want to curry favor with the governor.  Crist has leverage with more people as governor of Florida than he does as the junior senator from Florida.

[Lunar]

OP - you quote a ridiculous amount of posts, including long ones.

Fair enough Morden, good points.  I think Crist would prefer '16 to '12 anyway.

[Brittain33]

Crap.  If he runs, then the seat becomes safe GOP.

I think Crist would be a great senator. This is good news for anyone who cares about a moderate center in the Senate.

[Nhoj]

i actually like Crist for a republican so this wouldn't be bad in my opinion.

[Psychic Octopus]

Crist should stay as Governor.

[ChrisFromNJ]

Crap.  If he runs, then the seat becomes safe GOP.

I think Crist would be a great senator. This is good news for anyone who cares about a moderate center in the Senate.

Is he really a "moderate", or is he only a moderate when you compare him to the rest of the far right wingnuts in the Senate?

[Purple State]

Being a first term senator and running for president only works for someone like Obama, whose campaign was based more on intangibles than anything else.  Crist would have to build a record in the Senate before he runs for President.  Plus, running for president two years after your state elected you to represent them, would make him look like an opportunist.

Obama had only served as Senator on the national stage. Crist has already been Governor of Florida and executive positions are usually seen as good for running for president. The Senate seat would just be a nice inclusion to the resume.

In fact, 2016 would work less well than 2012 because that would be a reelection year for his seat.

[Eraserhead]

Crap.  If he runs, then the seat becomes safe GOP.

I think Crist would be a great senator. This is good news for anyone who cares about a moderate center in the Senate.

Is he really a "moderate", or is he only a moderate when you compare him to the rest of the far right wingnuts in the Senate?

Heh. You already know the answer to that question, Chris.

[Mr. Morden]

Being a first term senator and running for president only works for someone like Obama, whose campaign was based more on intangibles than anything else.  Crist would have to build a record in the Senate before he runs for President.  Plus, running for president two years after your state elected you to represent them, would make him look like an opportunist.

Obama had only served as Senator on the national stage. Crist has already been Governor of Florida and executive positions are usually seen as good for running for president. The Senate seat would just be a nice inclusion to the resume.

In fact, 2016 would work less well than 2012 because that would be a reelection year for his seat.

But again, what's the point of running for the Senate seat, and then starting a campaign for president about three months later?  He would have absolutely nothing to show for his time in the senate.  I actually think it would be a net minus, as it would just make the senate run look like a transparent ploy to add another item onto his resume, before immediately moving on to the next job.

If he does run for senate, that's a clear sign to me that he's not going to run for president in 2012.