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Congressman Questions Crist's McCain Endorsement

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By BILLY HOUSE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2008

Updated: 02/13/2008 12:22 am

WASHINGTON - Upset that John McCain is boasting that he campaigned in Florida's primary against a national catastrophe fund bill, a Democratic congressman Tuesday urged Gov. Charlie Crist to work harder to persuade the Arizona senator to support the idea.

Particularly irritating, says Democratic Rep. Ron Klein of Boca Raton, is that Republican Crist is now stumping outside of Florida alongside McCain, amid speculation the governor could be a potential running mate.

"I said to him, 'Listen, if you're going to play a role in his campaign, and this is one of our two big issues in Florida, you need to be all over this,'" said Klein, of comments he made to Crist during a meeting between members of Congress and the governor Tuesday.

Responded Crist: "As Ronald Reagan used to say, if you agree with me 80 percent of the time, you are probably my friend. Above and beyond any single issue, I've tried to never identify a candidate who is worthy by one issue alone."

Klein, is a co-sponsor of a bill that has already passed the House to create a national fund to help assure property insurance availability in disaster-prone areas.

But McCain, in a speech Thursday to the Conservative Political Action Conference, pointed to his opposition to Klein's bill as evidence that he sticks to his conservative convictions, on such principles as such as smaller government, fiscal discipline and low taxes.

McCain noted he had campaigned in Iowa against agriculture subsidies and in New Hampshire "against big government mandated health care."

Then McCain said: "I campaigned in Florida against the national catastrophic insurance fund bill that passed the House of Representatives."

Despite his opposition, he won the primary.

Klein also took issue with other McCain comments, including to The Tampa Tribune, in which the senator has said he prefers a "regional approach" in which Florida would combine with other Gulf Coast states, including Louisiana, that are vulnerable to hurricanes.

Klein also mentioned that McCain has been suggesting the Federal Emergency Management Agency would instead play the role of a fund in his administration. "FEMA can't really resolve this issue," Klein said.

At the meeting, Klein urged Crist to work to make sure McCain's campaign staff is better informed about a national catastrophe fund.

Crist said he would, but afterward defended his endorsement of McCain, as well as campaigning on his behalf.

"It's a very important one issue, don't misunderstand me," Crist said of the catastrophe fund.

"But you know the character that John McCain has and possesses and the integrity and honor that he has bestowed upon our country by his tremendous service and sacrifice is just extraordinary," Crist said.

Earlier in the day, Crist told reporters at the Capitol he had "no idea" if he is being considered as a possible vice presidential running mate for McCain.

Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673 or bhouse@tampatrib.com.

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