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Crist's Gateway To D.C. Locked For Now

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By WILLIAM MARCH and BILLY HOUSE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 30, 2008

Updated: 08/30/2008 12:13 am

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Gov. Charlie Crist's vice presidential prospects came to an end Friday, probably along with any chance he would enter a John McCain administration.

Meanwhile, Florida political leaders - depending on their parties - either praised McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a shrewd outreach to female voters or condemned it because of what they call her inexperience.

For months, Crist has said publicly he wasn't thinking about the running-mate slot, insisting he was focused on doing well in his job as governor of Florida.

Meanwhile, close associates were arguing publicly and behind the scenes for him to be McCain's running mate. And Crist never said he wasn't interested or tried to stop the speculation.

Crist didn't comment Friday on speculation that he might be offered another administration post, such as attorney general, but close associates said he wouldn't be interested.

"I can't speak for him, but he enjoys being a chief executive who can get things done for the citizens," said Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer. "Serving as a cabinet official might not offer that opportunity."

Two close associates, asking not to be named discussing a sensitive political subject, said in background interviews that Crist has told them he's not interested.

Greer, who was Crist's choice for state party chairman and has been the chief public cheerleader for Crist as running mate, said he is not disappointed at McCain's choice.

"I believe Charlie Crist should have been, and most likely was, on a very short list," he said. But Palin offers "an opportunity to engage women across this nation, a unique advantage."

He also said it would not cut McCain's chance of winning Florida. McCain "has the right message and he continues to have the support of Charlie Crist," Greer said.

The 'Stay In Tallahassee' Factor

Crist fueled talk that he was "campaigning" for the job by his change of position on offshore drilling to match McCain's; his defense of McCain's opposition to a federal insurance catastrophe fund, a top Florida political priority; and by fundraising and traveling on behalf of the McCain campaign.

In a written statement, Crist praised McCain's choice as "a great pick" and said Palin "has demonstrated tremendous leadership as the chief executive of her state, working to bring Republicans and Democrats together to do what's right."

Greer added, "Republicans across the state join me in congratulating Gov. Palin."

The chief argument for Crist, besides his executive experience, was that he might help ensure a win in Florida, which McCain probably must have to win the presidency.

McCain also owed Crist a political debt: Crist's endorsement in the Jan. 29 Florida primary cemented McCain's Florida win, making him the national front-runner.

But a Mason-Dixon poll for The Tampa Tribune this week raised questions about how much Crist would have helped McCain in Florida, and showed Palin is virtually unknown there.

Respondents said the choice of Mitt Romney would draw more Florida votes than Crist. Meanwhile, 75 percent admitted not recognizing Palin's name, and 90 percent said she would have no effect on their vote.

Pollster Brad Coker said he thinks the numbers meant Florida voters want Crist "to stay in Tallahassee and do the job he was elected to do less than two years ago."

Palin Is Praised And Panned

McCain's pick surprised some Florida Republicans.

"She wasn't on my radar screen," admitted Sen. Mel Martinez in an MSNBC interview. But in a statement, he called it "an electrifying choice."

Social and religious conservatives were likely to be pleased by the choice. Former state Right to Life President Ken Connor called it a surprising but "a brilliant choice. She's clearly both a social conservative and an economic conservative," citing Palin and her husband's decision to give birth to a child with Down syndrome. "She has lived her convictions."

The move was widely viewed as an outreach to female voters and particularly to Hillary Clinton supporters who may be disaffected by her primary loss. But top Florida Clinton backers said it won't work.

"What a ridiculous pick," said former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman, a prominent Clinton backer disaffected over her loss and anti-female media coverage.

Freedman said Palin "will bring in no disaffected Hillary Clinton person. She's anti-gay, pro-gun, anti-choice."

In a caustic MSNBC interview, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, a national Clinton co-chairwoman, replayed Lloyd Bentsen's 1988 debate quip comparing Dan Qayle and John Kennedy: "I know Hillary Clinton. And Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton," she said.

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman said Palin is "clearly not ready to be a heartbeat away from being commander in chief," and said the choice "again calls into question if John McCain has the judgment and temperament to lead our nation."

Others were less judgmental.

Deborah Linton, executive director of the Association for Retarded Citizens of Florida, noted that Palin has a child with Down syndrome, and said that could "open the dialogue about the lives of people with developmental disabilities, and the potential they can fulfill."

Linton did not endorse either ticket, but said she'll listen closely to Palin's comments about the developmentally disabled, and hopes that as vice president, Palin would advocate for them.

Judithanne Scourfield-McLauchlan, a former Hillary Clinton White House staffer who's now a University of South Florida political scientist, called the pick "a smart move for McCain to try to reach out to women voters ... but the Obama campaign did a good job this week of reaching out to women.

"At the end of the day, women will stay with the Democratic ticket," because of the differences on economic issues, education and health care, and because of the likely effect of Republican versus Democratic Supreme Court appointments, she said.

Palin also is sure to put energy issues at the campaign forefront. She vocally supports opening the Alaska National Wildlife refuge for oil drilling and has endorsed McCain's call to allow states like Florida to approve more offshore drilling.

Reporter Catherine Dolinski contributed to this story. Reporter Billy House can be reached at bhouse@tampatrib.com or (202) 641-5080. Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761 or wmarch@tampatrib.com.

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