Rep. Kendrick Meek is brushing off Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s talks with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, saying this afternoon that he’s not worried in the slightest about losing support from Senate Democrats in his bid to become Florida’s next senator.
But Meek (D-FL) spoke to Senate Democrats during their weekly luncheon to shore up support as he faces an increasingly competitive Democratic primary and as Crist courts Democrats as an independent.
Crist is leading in polls of the three-way general election between Meek and Republican Marco Rubio. The TPM Poll Average shows Crist leading Rubio and Meek by a margin of 36.6%-32.6%-14.7%.
Asked by reporters about Crist and Reid speaking recently, Meek called the former Republican an opportunist.
Meek said Crist is “trying to put a perception out that he has an ongoing working relationship” with Reid but said that it’s Meek who has Reid on his side. “What I do know is that the leader has endorsed my campaign.” Meek pointed out that Reid has contributed the maximum amount to his campaign and has made “a number of charitable comments” about his candidacy.
Meek said if any governor were to call Senate leaders, their calls will be answered.
“The people of Florida know Governor Crist is about himself and he’s about self preservation,” Meek said.
As for billionaire Jeff Greene, who’s presenting a strong challenge to Meek in the Democratic primary, Meek said he told Senate Democrats that Greene’s an opportunist, too. Meek said he made the case that instead of doing the “hard work” to file petitions to be on the Democratic primary ballot, Greene waited until the last minute to open his “big wallet” and pay to be on it. He said he isn’t worried about losing big-name support as Crist moves to the left and Greene gains traction.
Meek said Senate Democrats have been showing him “strong support” and praised the DSCC for helping him. He said it bodes well for him since “we’re in a primary and they are still speaking boldly about my candidacy.”
Meek said he’s coordinating with the White House about getting President Obama or Vice President Biden to the state to headline campaign events. Meek joked that he read in the Wall Street Journal that Biden plans to campaign for him soon, but wouldn’t say if that is happening.
