The Republican exodus from Charlie Crist’s Senate campaign is continuing, with the newest departure coming from state Rep. Tom Grady, who had previously been a regional co-chair of Crist’s campaign and a member of his finance team.
The Pensacola News Journal reports that Grady wrote Crist a letter in which he formally resigned form the campaign. Among his complaints were that Crist’s campaign website no longer includes a Republican elephant logo — an apparent reference to the widespread expectation that Crist could soon leave the Republican Party and run for Senate as an independent, against his Republican rival Marco Rubio and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek.
Grady also said he now disagreed with Crist on “education excellence” and “ending entitlements,” apparently referring to Crist’s high-profile veto last week of a Republican-backed bill that would have ended tenure for new teachers.
Grady quoted the Republican pundit Peggy Noonan: “Politics is about policy. It’s not about who’s emotional and who cries or makes you cry.”
“I agree. Unfortunately, I don’t believe you do, or at least you no longer do,” Grady wrote. “Your recent actions have not been about policy, but about emotion and crying. Policy and people have suffered as a result.”
Late Update: The St. Petersburg Times has posted the full text of Grady’s letter. Another fun quote: “Regardless, I continue to value our friendship. Let’s be sure that does not change. Ann and I look forward to that dinner we’ve been planning with you and your lovely bride, Carole, and I hope we can do that soon.”
