Anybody but Marco.
That should have always been the motto.
We’re now learning via Ben Smith that FPOTUS Bill Clinton tried to cut a deal, but it just didn’t quite work out. But in another development it’s also being rumored that Crist asked Clinton to get involved through Doug Band, Clinton’s man, also stating the White House was also involved.
Unlike with Joe Sestak and other under the radar deals, this time Obama and Clinton were on the same page trying to bring in a critical state for Dems, especially as you look toward 2012.
Clinton to CNN: “I knew it was being discussed, people had discussed it on and off… it was no secret. … He was trying to think about what was the best thing for Florida.” According to Clinton, he spoke to Meek twice.
I’d argue with the “pushed” in Politico’s title, because it’s the smart play for Dems, which Meek has to know, even as his heart wants to keep fighting. But now that this news has finally broken, will his supporters stick with him?
The Republicans are spinning negative, how this sacrifices African American voters who supported Meek, trying to make it sound like they’re being sold out. What policies of the GOTP serve that community? .
From Ben Smith, who got the scoop:
Bill Clinton sought to persuade Rep. Kendrick Meek to drop out of the race for Senate during a trip to Florida last week — and nearly succeeded.
Meek agreed — twice — to drop out and endorse Gov. Charlie Crist’s independent bid in a last-ditch effort to stop Marco Rubio, the Republican nominee who stands on the cusp of national stardom.
… White House officials did not respond immediately to questions about the plans. But in an appearance on Fox News, Crist said he had discussions with “several people” at the White House subsequent to the implosion of the Clinton-Meek scheme. “There were several people that I spoke with,” Crist said, declining to give specifics.
The White House, Democrats said, had knowledge of the plans and viewed them as a path to capturing the Senate seat, but did not initiate the talks.
Make no mistake about it, Kendrick Meek had no chance to win in Florida.
Make no mistake about it, Marco Rubio is a disaster for women, but also anything progressive in the Senate. He would be made a national grandstander and poster man for the GOTP, with a plausible chance that he could be picked as a potential vice presidential candidate in 2012. Certainly he’d headline the Republican convention.
Charlie Crist is a self-serving politician, but he would caucus with Democrats, also siding with women on critical issues among others, but also be willing to make deals with Obama, which he’s done before.
There’s still four days left in the campaign. The race could tighten further, but it may be too late to get this done. That’s the heartbreaker ending of this political tale.
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