Back in November, we ran a poll asking whether former Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich is a viable candidate for Governor.
49% of you responded “No,” 42% said “She has the potential to go all the way” (i.e. win the general election), and 9% thought “She can beat Charlie Crist but would lose to Rick Scott.”
Three months later, we’d like to put to our readers the same question.
The Florida Squeeze 
I voted no in November and felt she should drop out and support Charlie.
Now seeing what an absolutely inept candidate Crist is I am praying Nelson runs.
Maybe she can pull it together. Crist isn’t heating Scott no matter what the polls say. His campaign launch was comical and he comes across as a shallow empty suit on these interviews. Scandals are brewing and he will be clobbered by them. Also his support of Jeb Bush is unforgivable.
He ain’t winning so let’s hope she does.
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Nan can and will beat Chicken Charlie and Rick the Prick. We will take back Florida and our country.
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Do you realize, Floridian, that if you STOPPED hoping that Nelson got in the race, and started supporting NAN RICH, that FLORIDA, (and therefore Floridian), would win??? YOU know that she’s the best candidate…stop sitting on your hands and DO SOMETHING!!!
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I belive she’s in it to win it , however i also belive by her running she will be taking votes from Charlie and will leave Rick the Prick wide open in the General , we as dems and libs … should be aware of there games … let’s not be fooled again here in Florida .. this has been the talk of the nation , as to not doing what is right … let’s get this one right for a change …
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Nan has my vote in the primary and as a write-in in the general election. Given the choice of Scott or Christ….I used to think I would vote for ANYONE to defeat Scott. Really thinking of a write-in rather than a vote for either Republican.
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Given that Crist seems to have the full support of the Democratic Party I don’t think Nan can pull it off. If she doesn’t then why not vote for the Libertarian candidate?
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Because the Libertarian Party is irrelevant and has nothing in common with the vast majority of social justice liberals who are the base of the Democratic Party.
Why should anyone vote for the Libertarian candidate?
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I’m voting for Adrian Wyllie because he is very close to my views. Does Crist’s history support your social justice views? As Libertarian and progressive our social justice goals as are probably very similar. The difference is in how we achieve those goals.
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I disagree. As a Libertarian Socialist, if Nan doesn’t get the nom, Adrian Willey has my vote. I’ve met the gay, and I’d rather have a third party than RINO/DINO Crist.
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Yes!!!!!
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Chain Gang Charlie does NOT have the full support of the Democratic party…just those firmly entrenched Dems making a living from the political process. True, progressive Democrats are standing with, behind, and in front of NAN RICH. SHE is the only candidate that supports everything that we support.
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I like her! However, politic is a matter of name recognition, unless Charlie Crist was a bad governor like Rick who think that the voters have bad memory; Nan could win. Charlie Crist was a republican who did what any governor should do whenever the president of the United States travel to a State, including Florida: Republican disowned him, because they did not like it at all. It will be a great thing for the State of Florida if they could work together.
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If Charlie endorses Nan, I’m sure she will endorse Charlie against Rubio. Win-Win.
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Looks like 57% think Nan can beat Charlie. This is one poll you will never see in the corporate media.
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Nan continues to gain against Charlie.
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So glad to see more and more people are becoming aware that Nan is by far the better candidate and will be a great governor. I hope the Party will get behind her as well.
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Walter..the “Party” is not going to get behind NAN. Too many old, white politicians and out-of-work politicians see a cash cow in Chain Gang Charlie. Spread the word…talk to people. Never doubt that ONE person can change the world…that’s the only thing that ever has…(sorry Margaret Mead).
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Patti, believe me, I am under no illusion that Nan will actually get resounding support from the DNC. I guess I was expressing wishful thinking. Wherever I can, I bring up Nan – I don’t want Charlie, because most of his policies would be the same as Scott’s. And we need much better in Florida.
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We, the unfunded majority, must just keep on keeping on. Thank you for SEEING what’s happening. NAN RICH for GOVERNOR !!!!!
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I don’t see what you’re adding by repeating your well-document endorsement of Nan in all-caps with multiple exclamation points. We are on your side, you are internet-screaming at probably the most liberal subset of Florida Democrats on the web. Please, easy on the cheerleading.
Thanks for reading and for your comments, Patti.
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Sorry, Ryan. I did not mean to scream. I have been capializing Nan’s name because, some people haven’t heard it. I reaaly do apologize.
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No problem at all, Patti. I appreciate it. Kartik and I are glad you read and discuss on the Squeeze.
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Hi Waltraud and Patti.
Which policies do Crist and Rick Scott have in common that Nan Rich would govern substantially differently on?
Conversely, aren’t there are some issues where Nan and Scott agree where Charlie would be preferably?
How about tort reform. Nan, whose husband is a doctor, has repeatedly sided with the health care industry on this important issue whereas Crist, more in line with the traditionally liberal trial lawyers, has not.
I really like Senator Rich and think she would make an excellent governor, but we’re not doing ourselves any favors when we idealize or vilify the field of Democratic candidates. Especially since we lefties are so deeply in the minority in Tallahassee, this is a choice we must make practically and tactically rather than on the basis of identity or profile.
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Hi Ryan…thanks for your input…do you have SPECIFICS that you’re speaking of? As far as “Crist policies,” I don’t believe that there are any that are not subject to revision based on the political climate…BUT…I may be wrong. Looking for your input, other than, “She can’t win…she’s too Jewish…she doesn’t have enough money…she’s too liberal.”
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I’m looking for the same, like I offered above on tort reform. I can dig up the votes on that issue ASAP if you’d like. What are some issues that go the other way? I’m genuinely curious and like I said, there is no doubt that Nan has a genuinely liberal Democratic record.
I’ve never said to anybody that they shouldn’t support Nan because she’s a Jewish South Florida liberal. That umbrella group of people has far more in common with me than most supporters of Charlie.
What most people are concerned with is the infrastructure and public visibility of her campaign, not her demographic category or political orientation, which most people reading this share.
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Also, agreed that Charlie has been very apt to change his mind over the years. He has basically supported whatever the polls favor at the time. Some have argued that’s not such a bad approach, others say it makes him unprincipled. I reserve judgment on that.
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Well, here’s where we disagree. It seems as if “everyone” is reserving their judgement on Chain Gang Charlie…and waiting to see “what’s going to develop.” Watch me shout again, NAN RICH for governor. The Democrat who we DON’T have to wait for…we know her positions, and they are ours.
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I think people are waiting on Nan, too — is she going to get some mainstream momentum going or isn’t she? If all the white die-hard liberals like you and me in Florida got together and made a pact to support her come what may, she would still lose. Especially with huge FL Supreme Court nominations and the veto stamp, many people aren’t willing to take the high road to defeat.
I know I’m not telling you anything you don’t know, but these are the conversations that are going on where I am and they’re not all happening strictly among consultants and professional cronies.
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Anyway, have to be going but nice talking to you and have a good night.
I promise, the conversation will go on all summer at least.
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I agree. With Crist you really don’t know what you are getting. And when he endorsed Jeb Bush as President – well, that shows me he hasn’t left his Republican roots behind. He changed his stance on issues constantly. Sorry. I can see 1 or two issues, but his whole ideology supposedly changed in a matter of a couple years??? No way!
NAN RICH for governor!!!
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Say whatever you want to say — we never edit these comments unless they violate the terms of service, are slanderous, etc. — but the excess punctuation marks and capital letters are more at home on tea party discussion boards and AM radio.
Please take it easy on the cheerleading, i.e. “x for x!”. We want everyone to be able to speak without being yelled at.
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I was in Clermont on Wednesday…brought some bumper stickers. We have to do our part to reach out to folks we know outside of Broward County. NAN RICH is a far, far superior candidate than either Scott or Crist. Hello Democrats!! NAN RICH…supporting YOUR Democratic principles: yesterday, today, and tomorrow!!!
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Only in your delusions.
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Ryan, I shall try to write without passion.
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I make no money from this blog and wouldn’t be writing it if I didn’t have passion for providing a liberal Democratic voice to the Floridian conversation. Thanks for reading.
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