FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Republican Gov. Charlie Crist made his pitch for a U.S. Senate seat by being anti-tax, anti-health care reform and anti-spending and didn't directly address two names that have become a thorn in his side — primary challenger Marco Rubio and President Barack Obama.
Sure, Crist criticized Obama's proposed health care option, saying, "We need to stop it in it's tracks," but he blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid instead of the president. And he did say voters need to look at candidates' records, but he didn't specifically mention former Florida House Speaker Rubio.
"I'm not just a guy who's running for office and promising you stuff, I'm a guy who's actually done it. You can look at our record and understand what we'll do if you send us to Washington," Crist said. "You need to compare the records of the candidates that are asking for your vote."
For months after deciding to run for Senate instead of a second term, Crist has said little publicly about the campaign while focusing on raising money. He has only recently started addressing crowds at Republican events instead of just people at fund-raisers.
Rubio has taken advantage of Crist's slow start with public appearances, rising rapidly in the polls and increasing his fundraising as he's traveled Florida criticizing Crist for being too moderate and for supporting the $787 billion federal stimulus package. Rubio's campaign has made repeated use of the image of Crist hugging Obama at a February event to promote the stimulus.
Crist and his campaign have said they are ready to fight back, but the speech in front of Broward County Republicans wasn't the place he chose to do so. He did, though, try to reinforce his Republican principles on spending.
While Crist backed the stimulus plan that most Republicans have criticized for driving the nation farther into debt, he's now talking like a fiscal conservative.
"In Washington, they're talking about a $12 trillion debt. Trillion! It's even hard to fathom, it's hard to imagine what that actually means," Crist said. "It's wrong. It's not the way to go and it's not what Florida has done."
Crist said like Florida, Washington should be forced to have a balanced budget and the president should be allowed to veto individual items in the budget.
He also criticized the proposed health care reform as costing too much while taking away billions from Medicare.
"I don't know why you vote for something that does that," Crist said. "A public option? It sounds like a public mess."
Crist and Rubio are seeking the seat that Sen. Mel Martinez left early. Democrats running for the seat include U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre. Crist appointed George LeMieux to finish Martinez' term.
