Senate Republican committee: No campaign money for Crist
by Michael C. Bender | November 4th, 2009UPDATE: A NRSC Republican called to let us know that this isn’t really news, particularly as it relates to the Crist-Rubio race. Cornyn liked Crist’s conservative credentials (anti-abortion, pro-gun) and also that that the committee wouldn’t have to put resources into the race because Crist was such a prolific fundraiser, the source said. Essentially, Cornyn never planned to spend money on the Florida race, particularly not in a primary.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who recruited Gov. Charlie Crist to run for Florida’s open Senate seat next year, said today that the National Senatorial Campaign Committee will not put money into the primary Republican battle with former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio.
“We will not spend money in a contested primary,” Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told ABC News .
The news comes after Crist’s lost his third major fundraiser to scandal in 10 months.
Crist still enjoys a monster fundraising advantage over Rubio, but Club for Growth President Chris Chocola telling reporters his group could throw its support behind Rubio.
Tags: Charlie Crist, Chris Chocola, Club For Growth, John Cornyn, Marco Rubio
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November 4th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
This is good news - as conservatives much prefer Mr. Rubio - for his anti-abortion and anti-same sex marriage stands as well as for his fiscal conservatism.
This means conservative Republicans will be more likely to support their state party - as opposed to the case if monies were going to be given to Christ as opposed to the more conservative Rubio. It might be mentioned that one fairly significant Republican endorses Mr. Rubio ….Jeb Bush. Try that on for size.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Nobody can trust Crist on either side of the aisle, he is the consumate politician, slippery, slimy, talks out of both sides of his mouth. Vote him…GONE!
November 4th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Who cares where Rubio stands on social issues. They are largely unimportant at a time when when the Florida economy, like the national economy, is failing miserably. At this time, as before, “it’s the economy, stupid!” Furthermore, social conservatives offend many independents who would otherwise support a GOP candidate on fiscal grounds. If Rubio acts like Pat Robertson, I won’t vote for him. If he sounds like Jack Kemp, I’ll give him a second look.
November 4th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Yeah, sure. Put in a strict conservative instead of a moderate. Worked great for you all in New York, didn’t it? A seat Republicans had held since the 1800’s? Lost because the Republicans didn’t want a moderate. Keep up the good work!
November 5th, 2009 at 2:15 am
>>>Yeah, sure. Put in a strict conservative instead of a moderate. Worked great for you all in New York, didn’t it? A seat Republicans had held since the 1800’s? Lost because the Republicans didn’t want a moderate. Keep up the good work!<<<
First up, it wasn’t solidly held by Republicans since the 1800’s. A Democrat held it as recently as the 1990’s.
Second of all, the Republican candidate was farther left than the Democrat! By comparison, Owen’s the better choice for conservatives, as at least he’s a Blue Dog Democrat, whereas Scozzafava is a hardcore liberal. What’s the point of voting for somebody IF THEY DON’T REPRESENT YOUR VALUES IN THE SLIGHTEST?!? Why, just because they have an (R) next to their name? That’d be like expecting Republicans to have been willing to vote for Obama if he labelled himself a Republican.
Labels don’t matter. What matters is what you say and what you stand for, and Scozzafava was diametrically opposed to the conservative base. It says something when the extreme left-wing Daily Kos endorsed the Republican candidate (Scozzafava) over the Democrat! And you really think Republicans shot themselves in the foot by not helping her win office? Give me a break.
Last but not least, Hoffman had only recently jumped into the race and was running dead last up til recently as a third-party candidate. And despite all of that, and the Republican endorsing the Democrat in the race after she dropped out (Yep, the Republican endorsed the Democrat. One can only imagine how often she would’ve sided with Democrats in Congress had she been elected), he still came within 5 points of winning.
Had the Republicans supported the conservative candidate from the start, then Hoffman would’ve won. Hell, two more weeks of campaigning and he would’ve won despite their self-defeating tactics and feckless behavior.
It was a massive uphill climb from the get-go, but it’ll be worth it if the GOP gets the message and stops supporting Democrats-in-Republican clothing for public office, and actually *GASP* supports candidates which represent the values and beliefs of their constituency.
As for Hoffman, no worries. This was a special election, so he’ll be running again next year. And next year he’ll win it.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:54 am
If there would of been a primary in New York, Dede would never have been on the ballot. Hoffman will return.
November 5th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Mational Republicans do not want to send money to the party if they think Crist may get any of it!!! LOL. The new York race proves that primaries are necessary. Perhaps it was the Ghost writing of the website pulled by the RPOF that tunred the national republcians off of Crist. Whatever it was it is good news for Florida Republicans. BTW. Paual Dockery is now getting the same shaft from the ROPF as Rubio was getting early on in his race.