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Crist Facing Conservative Rebellion

Associated Press file photo (2007)

Gov. Charlie Crist is known for allying with moderate Republicans such as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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By WILLIAM MARCH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 27, 2009

Florida Republican Party circles are hearing increasing talk of conservative dissatisfaction with Gov. Charlie Crist, and a possible primary challenge if he runs for the U.S. Senate next year.

Crist's high poll ratings, which muted such criticism early in his term, remain high, pollsters say, but are no longer preventing the talk.

Some conservatives, never happy with Crist's emphasis on racial diversity, environmental regulation and populist willingness to take on big business, are now saying it openly.

"It's the kind of disappointment that's going to have people looking in other directions for leaders," said former state Rep. Dennis Baxley of Ocala, now executive director of the Florida Christian Coalition. "The conservative movement needs a strong leader."

Whether that will translate into tangible political opposition remains to be seen.

More pragmatic Republicans note that Crist has expanded the base of the party by getting Democratic and independent votes, and made himself not only a household name in Florida but well known nationwide.

"He's looked upon as such a popular and compelling figure that the sky's the limit," said Republican advertising consultant Adam Goodman of Tampa. "There are always going to be people to his right and to his left both in the party and in general. As long as he maintains his anti-tax platform, he'll be fine."

Party figures say a primary challenge is more likely if Crist switches offices, running next year for the Senate instead of re-election as governor.

"In Tallahassee, there's a conservative Republican Legislature to balance the governor," noted Tony DiMatteo, former Pinellas County Republican chairman, who has pronounced himself disillusioned with his county's favorite son governor.

The talk of a primary challenge to Crist focuses on individuals including former state House speakers Marco Rubio and Allan Bense.

Rubio has formed an exploratory Senate campaign committee and issues veiled criticism of Crist, but won't say whether he would run against him in a primary. Bense says he's out of politics, at least for the moment.

"Clearly the governor holds all the cards in a Republican primary – it would be a very difficult race for anyone to take on," Bense said.

Conservative dissatisfaction began soon after Crist was elected governor in 2006, focusing on his climate change policies and speeding up restoration of voting rights for felons who have completed their sentences.

It has peaked with two recent events: his public support for President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package, and his appointment of Judge James Perry to the state Supreme Court.

Perry, Crist's first black Supreme Court justice appointee, was originally made a circuit judge by former Gov. Jeb Bush, a hero to state conservatives. But he's a registered Democrat, and conservatives favored another candidate.

Those events have cost Crist support from some of his most ardent party activist backers.

""My phones have been ringing off the hook," said DiMatteo, now a Pinellas County delegate to the state party. "A lot of people around the state feel the same way I do. We didn't leave Charlie, Charlie left us."

In 2006, the Pinellas GOP was one of four county parties, along with Pasco, Broward and Dixie, that broke party rules by endorsing Crist in his primary against Tom Gallagher.

Party organizations traditionally stay neutral in primaries. Those four stuck their necks out for Crist, and had to pay financial penalties as result.

Today, some party leaders in those counties say it wouldn't happen again.

"Charlie Crist has been a friend of mine for a long time – he's the first politician I ever wrote a check to," said Bill Bunting, Pasco county chairman in 2006. "But if I had to go before the committee again [to seek a primary endorsement of Crist] I'm not sure I could do that."

The criticism has gone beyond individual griping, noted Darryl Paulson, a political scientist at the University of South Florida and a Republican.

•On March 3, the Florida Federation of Republican Women passed a resolution taking a veiled shot at Crist for supporting the stimulus package.

•In February, a move to have the Palm Beach County Republican Party pass a resolution criticizing him drew substantial support, but was ruled out of order by the county party chairman.

•Crist's fellow Republicans in the state Legislature haven't kept a lid on their griping about his budget proposal, which they said relies too much on federal stimulus money, and on revenue from expanded gambling.

Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander of Lake Wales even posted a sign outside a Senate appropriations office telling visitors to "remove all standard issue EOG [executive office of the governor] rose colored glasses" before entering.

Despite that, Paulson said, "given Crist's ability to raise substantial amounts of money and his appeal to crossovers and independents, I couldn't name anybody who would have even a reasonable shot at defeating him in a primary."

And Republican pollster Alex Patton of War Room Logistics in Gainesville said there may be criticism among party activists, but it doesn't appear to have spread to the general population or grassroots Republicans.

Patton's polling through February, he said, shows no decline in Crist's popularity among Republicans, and shows him easily beating challengers including Rubio and Bense in a Senate primary.

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

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