Governor Charlie Crist said on “Meet the Press” with David Gregory on Sunday morning that, should he be elected to the US Senate he would “caucus with the people of Florida.” Crist, now running as a non-party candidate in the US Senate race was responding to Gregory’s question on whether he would caucus with Republicans or Democrats. When pressed further on whether he would vote with the majority or minority leader in the senate, Crist responded that he would “have to look out for the people of Florida.
Crist said that he had decided to run as an independent candidate in the race as he had been encouraged to do so by many who are frustrated with what’s taking place in government. According to Crist, as the race now stands, there is a (Democratic) candidate who supports big government, a (Republican) candidate who is for big corporations, and himself who represents the middle and a “new way”.
Asked whether he believed that the new Affordable Health Care legislation should be repealed, Crist said “yes” and made reference to “a (health) good plan” which Florida has and should be used as a model.
Crist also said he is in favor of carbon dioxide limits and made reference to the existing oil spill that is spreading in the Gulf which he described as “horrific” and would likely threaten not only Louisiana and other Gulf states, but Florida as well. The likely impact of the oil spill he said, “frightens me”.  Crist emphasized the importance of clean energy, including wind and solar as alternative energy sources and said that off shore drilling should be tabled for discussion.
Acknowledging that the US Senate race would be tough and it was an uphill battle, Crist said he gets great encouragement from Floridians on whom he would have to rely. He cited the teachers, who when he announced last Thursday in St. Pete that he would be running as a non-party affiliate, shouted “we’ve got your back.”
