Charlie Crist Giving ‘Serious Thought’ To Challenging Rick Scott In 2014

Former Gov. Charlie Crist (R-Fla.)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist on Saturday said he’s giving “serious thought” to launching a bid to re-claim his old job next year. 

Crist, who officially became a Democrat last year after campaigning on behalf of President Barack Obama in the 2012 election, said “there’s no question” that he’s thinking of a 2014 challenge against Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R). As a Republican, he served as governor of the Sunshine State from 2007 until 2011, when he was succeeded by Scott.

“Well I’m thinking about it, there’s no question about that,” Crist told a CBS affiliate in Miami. 

Crist added that there’s no timetable for a decision.

“I haven’t reached any conclusion, I’m just taking the opportunity to listen to my fellow Floridians and give it serious thought,” he said.

A January survey from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling showed Crist easily topping Scott in a hyopthetical matchup of next year’s gubernatorial race. Scott has been beset by anemic approval ratings throughout his first term in office, as evidenced by the PollTracker Average shown below. PPP’s findings in January showed only 33 percent of Florida voters approving of Scott, who also trailed Crist by 14 points in the poll.

 

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: