What to watch for in Florida's primaries
CBSNov 25, 2022
The Facts
Former Republican Gov. of Florida., Charlie Crist - who switched to the Democrat party in 2012- defeated Democrat primary challenger Nikki Fried by a roughly 60% to 35% vote margin on Tuesday. He will now oppose incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis in November.
Crist was elected governor as a Republican in 2006 and held that position through 2011. He ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2010 as an independent, before becoming a Democrat. He ran for gov. in 2014 but lost and has been serving as a Congressman representing the St. Petersburg area since 2017.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Democrats obviously don't back up their words with their votes. For all their rhetoric about progressive issues, and bettering the lives of women and minorities, they went with the lukewarm candidate. Crist's track record lacks any notable achievements, making him an even worse choice.
Democratic narrative
Choosing Crist over Fried was a pragmatic decision because he can appeal to moderate voters and create a coalition to defeat DeSantis. Gillum's loss four years ago is a cautionary tale of what can happen when the more progressive candidate tries to run for statewide office in Florida.
