Florida Republican chairman will resign after pressure from top fundraisers
by Michael C. Bender | January 5th, 2010
Jim Greer speaking at a press conference in October 2008
Thrasher
“Jim has long been a loyal servant to the Republican cause, and I appreciate the many sacrifices the Chairman, his wife Lisa, and their four children have made to ensure our Party’s continued success in the Sunshine State,” Gov. Charlie Crist said in a statement.
“I call on Florida Republicans to unite behind our common values of less government and more personal freedom and sincerely hope that we can move forward together to ensure statewide Republican victories in 2010.”
Greer has been negotiating his exit since a letter
from party fundraisers last week saying he had to go. In addition to Thrasher, other names discussed included former House Speaker Alan Bense of Panama City and former Senate President Ken Pruitt of Port St. Lucie.
Negotiators were far apart over the weekend, but found had a breakthrough late last night.
The transition is a hit to Gov. Charlie Crist, whose U.S. Senate campaign has benefited from his close relationship with Greer.
Thrasher, meanwhile, is more closely aligned with the Jeb Bush-wing of the party, which has always had a rivalry with the Crist team and given significant support to Crist’s primary opponent, former state House Speaker Marco Rubio.
News of Thrasher replacing Greer was first reported by the Times/Herald.
Tags: Jim Greer, John Thrasher, Republican infighting, Republican Party of Florida
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January 5th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
One by one the evil will be revealed.
January 5th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
From the old political book, “LETS YOU AND HIM FIGHT !!”
May the games begin.
January 5th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Why was he pressured to resign? What was behind the pressure. The story needs to be fleshed out since it doesn’t stand very well on its own. I’m not privy to the ins and outs of Florida politics.
January 5th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
This is one of those events that highlights ‘the party’ as opposed to the party sympathy. Whether Bolshevik, Menchevik, Socialist, etc there is this strange disconnect between the public face / perspective and the party faithful. This is the sausage making part of politics I suppose.
January 5th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
These people don’t get the importance of the grass roots. In the GOP, without the grassroots, you are a barren twig, nothing at all.
January 5th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Dave, you must not read the POST often, most of their articles are written just as poorly as this one- you have to sort of make up your own beginning middle and end.
The rule of: Who – What – When – Where and Why — POST says “Who needs ‘em”
January 5th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
As the non Cuban Hispanic population grows exponentially in this state, the relvency of theGOP in this state will too subside. There days are numbered. The writing is on the wall with the Obama victory.
January 5th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Gordon, let’s see what happens later this year when the Dems lose control of Congress. Ha!
January 12th, 2010 at 9:43 am
I bet I’m boosting your alexa ranking, haha. I like reading at your site. Thanks for the hard work!