Florida Gov. Rick Scott brought former Gov. Jeb Bush, one of South Florida’s most popular politicians, to campaign with him 
last month in Homestead.
Friday, former Gov. Charlie Crist — who wants his job back — raised the ante and brought a former U.S. President to the battle for guv.
And Bill Clinton can turn any campaign into a concert tour.
But his role Friday was more cheerleader than front man as he stumped for Crist, a one-time Republican governor who is running for the same job now as a Democrat in what many expect to be a tight race.
Read related story: Charlie Crist names Annette Taddeo as running mate
His role as a cheerleader at what amounted to a blue pep rally indicates how important this governor’s race is for both parties on a national level. In the nation’s largest swing state. On a midterm year.
And he basically said that the whole thing depends on how many Dems come out in November.
“We’re great at doing what’s right if there’s a presidential election on the ballot but we’re not nearly as good as our Republican opponents are at showing up in the midterm elections,” Clinton told the crowd of about 200 supporters at the JW Marriott in downtown Miami.
“The whole shebang is going to depend on who shows up.”
It is just the first of several planned high-profile campaign events with blue big shots that hope to rally the troops. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will campaign with Crist on Monday and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who may challenge Hillary for the 2016 nomination, will stand by Crist later this month.
Read related story: Lynda Bell jumps in on photo op with Rick Scott, Jeb Bush
Their biggest job will be to convince Dems that Crist, who has run as a Republican and as an Independent, is really one of them. On Friday, Clinton seemed to focus on the most loyal blue voters: Blacks and women. He reminded the crowd of several hundred that Crist, even as a GOP guv, extended early voting hours and enacted the automatic restoration of votin
g rights for ex-felons convicted of non-violent crimes. And, he reminded them, Gov. Rick Scott — who he painted as a millionaire beholden to business interests — has since undone both measures. The former prez also said that Crist would work to raise the minimum wage, ensure equal pay for women and expand Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of Floridians.
While he easily beat Sen. Nan Rich for the nomination Aug. 26, he is still fighting the flip-flop image and what national observers call an unprecedented barrage of negative advertising that paints him as a professional “slick politician” who did a “lousy” job as governor.
According to the Associated Press, Scott has spent more than $25 million on advertising so far. Expect it to be $100 million by the time November comes. Because it seems to be workings. Polls that had Crist leading earlier this year show the margin is closing.
So, who is Scott going to bring to campaign with him next? George W. Bush? Or is baby brother the best Scott can do?
Bill Clinton adds star power to Charlie Crist campaign tour added by Ladra on
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