NPR: Crist May Not Be the VP For McCain Afterall

Crist May Not Be the VP For McCain Afterall

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has been labeled as a potential running mate for Republican presidential nominee John McCain. And why not? He's the popular governor of a key state in the general election, a state seen as one of the handful that will make or break presidential campaigns.

But a new St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9 poll shows that despite Crist's bipartisan popularity in the Sunshine State, it doesn't translate into support for a McCain/Crist ticket in the fall. Crist would only provide modest help in keeping the state in Republican hands in November.

Three percent said Crist as a running mate would make them "much more likely" to vote for McCain, 6 percent said "somewhat more likely" and 87 percent said it would have no effect.

"There is no reason to expect from this information that Charlie Crist adds anything to (McCain's) ticket in terms of winning Democrats in Florida," said pollster Tom Eldon of Schroth, Eldon & Associates, which conducted the poll.

Not only that, but the poll shows that McCain is not that popular a draw among Democrats, which has long been touted as one of his strengths. "The poll shows 16 percent say they are at least somewhat likely to vote for McCain, which is in line with the 13 percent of Democrats who voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and the 14 percent in 2004."

But the Crist people still think the matchup is a good idea.

"Gov. Crist has one of the highest approval ratings in the country, and his appeal extends to independent voters ..." state GOP spokeswoman Erin VanSickle said. "If you are looking for proof that Gov. Crist can deliver Florida for Sen. McCain, look no further than Jan. 29 ... that's exactly what he did."

4:46 PM ET | 03-21-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I still say McCain/Lieberman would be a landslide.

Sent by deek | 2:56 PM ET | 03-21-2008

Governor Charlie Crist hired the wife of his general counsel at 100k per year for the Chair of Public Employees Commission. The qualifications section of her application was blank. She's a graduate degreed physicians assistant competing againgst qualified labor attorneys. Charlie qualifed his appointment claiming she was "new blood".

When you think of Florida's political, educational and economic problems, think of the GOP, who have led the the legislature and governor's office for the last decade.

Sent by Chester | 3:06 PM ET | 03-21-2008

Mike Huckabee would bring in those from the south plus independents and democrats and also the blacks!! He draws from all segments and all parties. To discount the gravity of his voter contribution would be a grave mistake on McCain's part and the Republican party!! MIKE HUCKABEE FOR V.P.!!!

Sent by EuropeanTraveler | 3:23 PM ET | 03-21-2008

As long as McCain is running as Bush the Third, why not Dick Cheney?

Sent by emily | 4:14 PM ET | 03-21-2008

McCain needs to suck up the bad blood and bring Romney in for V.P.. Romney appeals to true conservatives more than McCain, and Romney's expierence on the economy is a big positive going into the general election. This combo can win in November.

Sent by JON | 4:23 PM ET | 03-21-2008

I tend to agree with Jon that a McCain/Romney ticket is a sure win.

The reason McCain won was the military vote took him over the top. Those Liberal Utopians who think they can stink up America's gains in Iraq are going to be sadly disappointed come November. The GOP military vote that put McCain over the top on Romney showed the strong support for our troops is still there.

Even though the economy gets the bulk of the media attention.

So, we got McCain pulling in the military vote, with Romney pulling in the Reagan Economic Conservative Vote, and Voila! You got yourself a winner.

The tabloid run between Hillary and Obama is kind of like a sideshow, Monty Python deal. Though I have to admit, I've gained a whole bunch of respect for Hillary, the way she put a stop to Obama in Florida and Michigan, then again in Texas and Ohio.

I look forward to a Hillary and McCain matchup after the side-splitting laughter over Obama finally settles down.

The questions should also focus on who Hillary's running mate will be. Cause I can't see slapstick taking the American public so far as they can accept Clinton/Obama.

But, of course, we're talking about the Liberal Utopians. I think of Liberal Utopians as something of an acid flashback filmed by Fellini.

Hey, you know that Monty Python skit where the two knights are fighting, and the one knight slices off the other knight's arm. And the armless knight won't quit. So he gets another arm sliced off. And he still won't quit. Then he gets first one leg sliced off, then the other, and he's lying there like a stump still wanting to fight.

Well, that's the Liberal Utopians.

So, who will be Hillary's running mate?

Cause this Hillary and Obama sideshow will end one day. I know you Liberal Utopians need the fix.

But you Liberal Utopians got to realize that the more serious you get, the more hilarious you sound.

fred camorra call

Sent by fred camorra call | 4:51 PM ET | 03-21-2008

America's gains in Iraq:

3900 KIA, 29,000WIA, 3 Trillion Dollars in overall expenditures, increased Iranian influence, a Civil War between Shia and Sunni, a resurgence of the Taliban/Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, an unprecedented run-up in the price of a barrel of oil, an 800 billion dollar increase in the National Debt, Republican proxies who can't distinguish between Shia and Sunni and a country in fear of the boogeyman.

It doesn't stink much worse than that.

If we can't find a government who can protect us without scaring us, let's get a new government.

Sent by Chester | 6:36 PM ET | 03-21-2008

There is the Fred that I am used to.
I still disagree with you deeply though.

What is it about John Mccain that makes you think he would make a good president?

Sent by J.A.WILSON | 3:25 AM ET | 03-22-2008

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