Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau - GOP Governors Give $1 Million to Crist
Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau - GOP Governors Give $1 Million to Crist
By S.V. Date
TALLAHASSEE The nation's 28 Republican governors are giving a $1 million check to help Attorney General Charlie Crist join their ranks in Florida, group chairman and 2008 presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said Sunday.
Romney, the outgoing governor of Massachusetts, who was in Tallahassee for a fund-raiser for Crist, said Florida is a pivotal state for the Republican Governors Association, which was the reason for the big check.
"And it ain't over yet," he said.
However, in a state the size of Florida with so many distinct television markets $1 million might buy less than a week of television ads in a full, statewide run.
But: "Those weeks are important," Crist said jokingly. "Each and every one of them."
Romney said the governors group also has committed $1 million to the race in Michigan and $750,000 to the one in Iowa. A total of 20 to 25 governors races around the country will get RGA money, Romney said. He would not disclose the total amount the group hopes to raise and disburse.
Crist also will be the beneficiary of a fund-raising visit from President Bush Thursday in Orlando. Crist said he is not worried about a president with poor poll numbers standing beside him.
"I'm not concerned about being linked with him at all. I'm proud of my president. I'm proud of the commander in chief," Crist said.
Crist has proved to be a prodigious political fund-raiser. In his primary election, Crist raised $13.9 million to Democrat Jim Davis' $4.4 million.
Crist also holds the advantage that he can solicit unlimited amount of "soft money" for the Republican party, which can in turn be used for his campaign. Davis, as a sitting congressman from Tampa, can raise no more than $10,000 per individual, and cannot solicit corporations or unions at all.
Davis spokesman Josh Earnest said Davis has been in touch with national Democratic officials, and said they are enthusiastic about his campaign as well.
Romney is the second high-profile GOP presidential candidate to appear with Crist in recent weeks. U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, endorsed Crist and toured the state with him last month, before the Sept. 5 primary in which Crist defeated Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.
The general election is Nov. 7 to replace Gov. Jeb Bush, who is barred by the state constitution from running for a third consecutive term.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/local_news/epaper/2006/09/18/a2a_cristmoney_0918.html