Race of the day: A Tea Party senator from Florida?
Marco Rubio, a darling of grassroots conservatives, is facing off (again) against Gov. Charlie Crist in Florida's Senate contest
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Name & Party:
INDEPENDENT
Charlie Crist
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
REPUBLICAN
Marco Rubio
Basic Info:
Gov of Florida
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Age: 54
Fmr speaker of Fla. House
Age: 53
Issues:
- Pro choice
- Supports stimulus plan
- Opposes Obama's health-care reform
- Pro life
- Opposes stimulus plan
- Opposes Obama's health-care reform
Polling At:31%43%Campaign Chest:$1.4 million$5.6 millionKey Quote:"It's abundantly clear to me that there's an extreme right faction in the Republican party.""I think all the extreme views today in American politics are largely found on the left."Petty Controversy:Accused of running up hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal charges as part of Florida GOP spending scandalAccused by opponent of using taxpayer funds to get his back waxedWild card:Democrat Kendrick Meek is currently polling at around 20%, and will likely siphon many votes away from Crist.
Dueling Ads:
"Independence": Crist argues that he has stood up to "right wing party bosses" before, and that this time he'll derail Marco Rubio's "extreme agenda."
"Noise"
After all the campaign attacks, Rubio says the important question is whether our children will inherit a "diminished country" or a stronger one.
Charlie Crist's "Independence":
Marco Rubio's "Noise":