TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., might additional safe his lead within the primary battle for governor.
Crist faces Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a fellow Democrat, of their first and solely scheduled debate.
The former governor of Florida has the cash and the endorsements. On Thursday night, he may also have the eye of the state’s Democratic Party, mentioned former state Rep. Sean Shaw.
“Democrats are going to be watching, and a lot of minds are going to, probably, be made up based on what happens there,” Shaw, a Crist surrogate, mentioned.
Shaw anticipated Crist could be poised and polished on stage, prepared for no matter his opponent had to throw at him. The seasoned former politician mentioned he not often runs into somebody higher at Florida politics than Crist.
“Since he’s become a Democrat, Charlie has been great” Shaw mentioned. “And there’s a reason that the overwhelming majority of elected and former elected have been with Charlie. We trust him. We are with him, and we are ready to go”
Trust will probably be an enormous focus for Fried.
The agriculture commissioner advised us Tuesday that the get together needs to be cautious of the previous Republican. She has hammered Crist for an inconsistent document on points like homosexual marriage and abortion main up to the debate. Pundits anticipate the stress to proceed.
“We may agree on policy positions today,” Fried mentioned. “But I certainly do not trust Charlie, and the people of our state should not either.”
Fried’s tactic will probably drive Crist right into a simultaneous protection of his document whereas attacking the incumbent. Political consultants have mentioned going after Gov. Ron DeSantis will likely be important to successful the nomination.
“If you’re the frontrunner, you just simply have to exude confidence and convince Democratic voters who are going to vote in the primary you’re the best candidate to defeat Ron DeSantis,” mentioned Dr. Susan MacManus, University of South Florida professor emerita. “So, that’s pretty much his challenge to keep this lead. He has got to exude confidence and that he’s the one that can beat the governor.”
Crist has been spending nearly all of his campaigning targeted on DeSantis. It’s put him ahead in most polls, although Fried’s campaign believes she is closing the hole as her identify recognition grows.
Fried can be in sizzling water with the Crist campaign after suggesting, during an interview Tuesday, that her opponent may not present up to the debate due to COVID.
The Crist campaign supplied this assertion in response:
“Nikki Fried and her campaign continue to mislead voters to distract attention from her floundering campaign. Charlie is looking forward to taking the debate stage on Thursday, where, unlike the Commissioner, he will share his vision for a Florida united.”
NBC 6 in Miami and Telemundo are co-hosting Thursday’s debate. The stations have scheduled it to start at 7 p.m. ET and final an hour.
Florida’s primary is Aug. 23.