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Crist Fields Questions About Wedding, Obama, Politics

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist fielded questions from reporters today about his upcoming wedding, his recent meeting with President-elect Barack Obama, and more.

Q: Gay rights activists are planning to demonstrate outside your wedding and reception to protest the gay marriage ban that passed in Florida on Nov. 4 after you endorsed it. Your response to them?

A: I really don't have one. They have a First Amendment right to do so.

Q: The big event is only nine days away. Any pre-wedding jitters?

A: No, no jitters. No jitters! No -- I'm ready.

Q: Are you interested in running in 2010 for the U.S. Senate now that Mel Martinez has announced he will not run for re-election?

A: I love being the governor of Florida. It's a great privilege, and to be honest with you, the only things I'm thinking about in the next few weeks are Carole [Rome, his fiancée] and the impending wedding – and Florida.

Q: What do you think about former Gov. Jeb Bush running for Senate?

A. Well, we'll see what develops. I imagine a lot of people will have interest, and time will tell. These things usually take a little while to sort out. He's a great Floridian. ... I would like to see him do what he wants to do.

Q: What indications did President-elect Barack Obama give to you and other governors at your meeting in Philadelphia on Tuesday about infusing states with federal dollars during this tough economic time?

A: It was a great meeting with the president-elect, and he talked about the idea of being able to sign the stimulus package by Inauguration Day, Jan. 20. And he was optimistic about the areas of infrastructure … as well as Medicaid funding which could help our budget significantly -- maybe to the tune of about an additional $1 billion, or pretty close to it.

Q: What did you think of Obama?

A: I was very impressed. Very gracious guy; was in tune with Florida issues, which pleased me. ... It was a [group] meeting. It was all 50 governors, but I had a chance to chat with him before and then again afterward. I invited him to come to Florida, and he said he would like to. And I invited him to come to the next shuttle launch, which is Feb. the 12th. ... I hope that he can take us up on that.

Q: Tuesday, state regulators approved your plan to adopt California's tougher emissions standards for cars. What are the odds that state lawmakers will agree, as needed for the rule to become law?

A: I think the odds are pretty good. ... I think it's what Floridians want; I think it's want they deserve. Certainly we have to keep focused, and stay focused, on making Florida stay clean, and I think this is a great move in the right direction.

Q: The House and Senate's schedules for December don't appear to leave room for a special session. Are you expecting that lawmakers will wait until January to address the state's budget problems?

A: That's my hunch. I've been in contact with the speaker and Senate president. ... My gut is that it would probably be around January.

Editor's note: Questions are paraphrased; answers are direct quotations.

Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382 or cdolinski@tampatrib.com.

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