Democrat Charlie Crist announces his run for Florida Governor with video attacking GOP rival Ron DeSantis for 'ignoring the science' on COVID and 'handing out vaccines to his rich friends'
Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist announced Tuesday he is running to reclaim the Florida governorship he las held as a Republican – as tried out slashing attacks on the state's GOP governor Ron DeSantis.
Crist released a new video where he says DeSantis 'handed out vaccines to his wealthy contributors while seniors were left waiting.'
'DeSantis is stripping away your voting right ... he doesn't believe in voting rights, doesn't believe in background checks for guns, doesn't believe in a woman's right to choose, doesn't listen, doesn't care, and unless you can write him a campaign check, you don't exist,' says the moderator.
Crist ripped DeSantis at an outdoor even in St. Petersburg,' his hometown.
On the coronavirus, 'He listened to quacks and conspiracy theorists,' said Cris. 'He's waged a constant assault on democracy from voting rights to civil rights.'
Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist, who served as Florida governor for a single term as a Republican, announced Tuesday that he is running for governor
Crist said DeSantis puts his 'personal political fortunes' first - a reference to a potential 2024 presidential campaign.
Democratic Florida Rep. Val Demings, who served as an impeachment manager, state Agricuture Commissioner Nikki Fried and former Rep. Gwen Graham (the daughter of former Sen. Bob Graham) are frequently mentioned as potential Democratic candidates. There may well be others.
Crist's decision to run leaves Democrats in Congress defending yet another seat as they seek to maintain their slim majority.
Florida's coronavirus infection rates were the highest in the country, even as DeSantis signed an order ending state emergency orders Monday. The Sunshine State has led the nation in new cases for nearly two weeks, with more than 3,000 Monday.
Florida is the nation's third most populous state. It ranks sixth in cases based on a seven-day average, Palm Beach NBC affiliate WPTV reported.
On Monday, DeSantis signed his order suspending all local emergency mandates.
'I think the approach here is showing Florida leading the way,' said DeSantis, a Donald Trump loyalist who played golf recently with the former president at his Mar-a-Lago course.
The order has the effect of rolling back local mask mandates. 'Over the last year, we've seen some of the abuses. We want to make sure we stop that,' DeSantis said.
On Tuesday DeSantis mocked Crist's run, asking: 'Which party is he going to run under?' and suggesting he do so as a Green.
'If you look at our state and how we’re doing, I don’t think people could argue with the result,' said DeSantis. “Please run on lockdowns, please run against us putting seniors first.'
Crist charged in a February letter to the Justice Department that DeSantis 'is establishing vaccine distribution and administration sites in select locations to benefit political allies and donors, over the needs of higher risk communities.'
Crist has some built-in advantages in terms of name recognition and a strong fund-raising network, said Aubrey Jewett, political science professor at the University of Central Florida.
'He certainly has a shot to win. I'm not sure he will,' Jewett said. 'He has been around the block.'
Crist, 64, does have a political resume that's hard to beat.
Crist blasts Gov. Ron DeSantis (r) for his handling of covid vaccine sites in the state
Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist is seen introducing President Barack Obama at a town hall meeting in Fort Myers, Florida, February 10, 2009 back when Crist was a Republican
Crist served in the state Senate through the 1990s, then decided take on then-U.S. Sen. Bob Graham - one of Florida's most popular politicians. Crist lost.
After that, he served as state education commissioner, then as Florida attorney general. Next on the list was an unusual three-way race against U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio in 2010, in which Crist ran as independent. Rubio won re-election.
Then, after becoming a Democrat, Crist lost in 2014 to then-Gov. Rick Scott. Crist has now served three terms in the U.S. House.
In a recent interview, Crist said he has given this latest political foray a lot of thought.
'If you feel up to the task, and people are telling you it's time, I want to do it,' Crist said.
Whoever wins the Democratic nomination for governor will take on DeSantis, who polls show remains popular in Florida. But Crist noted how often Florida statewide race are often settled by hundreds or even fewer votes.
'I really am an optimist. There are wins and losses in life,' Crist said 'I think people deserve someone who has a servant's heart.'
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