Bob Smith, the former New Hampshire Senator who now lives in Sarasota and is making a longshot bid for the GOP Senate nomination against better-known rivals Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio, pitched his candidacy at the Palm Beach County Republican Party’s monthly meeting tonight in West Palm Beach.

Smith didn’t speak ill of Crist or Rubio, but said his 12 years in the Senate (1991-2003) give him experience and seniority his rivals lack to push the conservative agenda in Washington.

“I know that this has been a very active quote-unquote two-person race. That’s the way it’s all reported,” Smith told the GOP activists. “It’s seven months away, folks. Straw polls and polls don’t mean a heck of a lot now. Anything can happen. All I ask is if you’re not committed, keep an open mind.”

Things got heated after Smith left.

(more…)