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Crist, Jindal Represent Divergence For GOP

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By WILLIAM MARCH

wmarch@tampatrib.com

Published: February 23, 2009

TAMPA - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist stuck to his alliance with President Barack Obama over the federal stimulus package - an alliance that has angered many Florida Republicans - in a televised debate with Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana on Sunday.

Jindal and Crist represented opposing future directions for the Republican Party in their appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press": Jindal, a rising hero to the party's conservative base, and Crist, champion of moderate pragmatism.

Neither ruled out seeking higher office in the near future - Jindal as a possible 2012 presidential candidate, and Crist as a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010.

Crist failed to agree with Obama's stimulus package on only one point - he's not ready to say whether he backs Obama's housing proposal, which would help homeowners who can't pay their mortgages. But Crist said he thinks Obama is "on the right track" on the stimulus package overall.

"It's not a matter of bucking the party, it's a matter of helping the people," he said when asked about his support for a cause that's unpopular in his party.

In an exchange not likely to please Republican activists, Crist even mentioned Obama after interviewer David Gregory asked him to name the current national leader of the Republican Party.

Crist initially replied, "The people."

When Gregory persisted, "Is there no one national leader right now?" Crist replied, "I don't know if there is or is not at this time. Well, there is an actual leader, his name is President Obama and the people elected him and I'm willing to give him a good shot."

Jindal, meanwhile, panned the stimulus package as fundamentally opposed to GOP principles, saying only the private sector can solve the nation's economic problems.

"We can't print enough money to get this economy moving again," he said.

Asked about the party's future, he said, "We've got to stand up on principle ... If we can offer authentic, honest solutions, we will build our party. I don't think we expand by becoming an imitation of the other party."

A recent fundraising trip to Iowa helped stir speculation about Jindal's goals for 2012.

He said he plans to run for re-election in 2011, but wouldn't commit to serving out that term - "What I'm saying is I'm running for re-election. I have no plans beyond that."

Crist responded as he has for weeks when asked about next year's Senate race: "I don't know, I'm focused on Florida."

He has said he will decide after the 2009 legislative session ends May 1.

Jindal, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford are among the leaders admired by the party's conservative base.

A Louisiana native born of Indian-American immigrants and a convert from Hinduism to Catholicism, he opposes embryonic stem-cell research, favors teaching intelligent design in science classes, and has been championed by Rush Limbaugh as "the next Ronald Reagan."

Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761.

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