Governor Charlie Crist’s communications director, Erin Isacc is calling it quits. Isacc’s departure comes within days of Crist’s announcement that Andrea Saul, a one-time spokesperson for Senator Orin Hatch (R-Utah), will be his campaign senate communication director, a position that some thought would be filled by Isacc.
Isacc’s abrupt leave-taking comes too, in the midst of Crist’s falling approval ratings and bad press, largely of his own doing. Crist recently denied that he had endorsed the stimulus package, even though he openly welcomed President Obama, shared a platform with him in February in Fort Myers and heralded how much good the federal monies would do for Floridians, in the midst of an economic crisis. Moreover, he along with 18 other governors, wrote throwing their support behind the stimulus plan.
Recently, Crist told the press that he was unaware of Obama’s planned visit to Florida. On the contrary, the St. Petersburg Times obtained e-mails which show Crist’s top aides in Washington and Tallahassee were notified of Obama’s visit.
Moreover, the fact that Florida’s economy is approaching a train wreck, with unemployment running at more than 11 percent, higher than the national average, hardly endears the once-popular governor to Floridians.
Isacc’s departure was described by Shane Strum, Crist’s new chief of staff, as a resignation in favor of “other opportunities”.
There is no word yet on who will replace Isacc, but many observers suggest that there is a lot of work to be done to turn around Crist’s declining fortunes.
