# Florida gubernatorial election 2014 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 11, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026 "2014-02-11T02:56:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/1 "2014-02-11T02:56:58Z")
[Florida gubernatorial election, 2014.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_gubernatorial_election,_2014) The first-term incumbent is Republican [Rick Scott](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_scott), who is seeking re-election. The most prominent Democratic challenger so far is ex-Governor (and ex-Republican) [Charlie Crist](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Crist). So far they’ve lined up on opposite sides of the [medical marijuana ballot initiative](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=714237) (Crist is pro, Scott is con). And now it appears they’re lining up on opposite sides of the [Cuban embargo](http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/10//v-fullstory/3926318/the-cuban-embargo-emerges-as-a.html) (Scott is pro, Crist is con). Crist, BTW, has a new book out, [_The Party’s Over: How the Extreme Right Hijacked the GOP and I Became a Democrat_](http://www.amazon.com/Partys-Over-Extreme-Hijacked-Democrat/dp/0525954414/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392078736&sr=1-1&keywords=the+party%27s+over). [PoliticsUSA reviews.](http://www.politicususa.com/2014/02/10/book-review-charlie-crist-spills-beans-gops-descent-anti-obama-madness.html) As a Floridian I can tell you: When Crist was Governor before, nobody much loved him, and nobody much hated him. He was just kind of there. The only interesting thing about his administration was speculation over whether he’s gay. (Still unresolved – he married a supermodel, but, you know.) Scott is a far more polarizing figure. To put it mildly. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/2 "2014-02-11T14:28:32Z")
I remember the same thing about Crist, although I think it was less not caring one way or another so much as slight approval. He did a good job. And yes, Rick scott is a very polarizing figure. Plus we still don’t know if we can trust him. I’m not sure how someone with his background would be taken seriously as a candidate. But then he did go up against Bill McCollum in the primary in an election where career politicians were at a big disadvantage. My vote is up for grabs in this one. It all depends on where Crist positions himself I guess, and whether he can stick to those positions. I know who Rick Scott is as governor. I’d take Republican Charlie Crist back as governor in a heartbeat. But is the new Charlie Crist the same as the Republican Charlie Crist, or is he going to be a completely different governor? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/3 "2014-02-11T15:29:46Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > And yes, Rick scott is a very polarizing figure. Plus we still don’t know if we can trust him. I’m not sure how someone with his background would be taken seriously as a candidate. Well, I think we’re past **that!** The incumbent always is! ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/4 "2014-02-11T16:06:42Z")
Crist had to deal with a term in office that coincided with the downturn in housing in the country that particularly hit Florida. The rise of the TP cost him the primary, and…now Scott is a very unpopular governor who might not win his own primary? Don’t know. I’d bet Crist could be an effective governor if he can get Democrats to vote during the off years to reverse the total takeover of the legislature the R’s have gained in the last 10-15 years. Floridians will come out in droves to vote D for Senator and President, yet seem to prefer R’s for local and Governor offices. Very strange voting patterns, I say. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/5 "2014-02-11T17:12:33Z")
I am firmly on Team Charlie all the way. I thought he was a great governor as a Republican and I think he’ll be a great Governor as a Democrat. I think a lot of Floridians are so disgusted with Gov. Voldemort that they’ll vote for Anyone Who Isn’t Rick Scott. I’d vote for Mickey Mouse at this point, but Charlie Crist is a fine candidate. I’m delighted he’s running since Alex Sink can’t seem to pull it off. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/6 "2014-02-11T17:29:15Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I’d vote for Mickey Mouse at this point . . . **He** couldn’t **lose** in Florida! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/7 "2014-02-11T17:37:58Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And now it appears they’re lining up on opposite sides of the [Cuban embargo](http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/10//v-fullstory/3926318/the-cuban-embargo-emerges-as-a.html) (Scott is pro, Crist is con). BTW, [a new Reuters poll](http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/11/us-usa-cuba-poll-idUSBREA1A16D20140211) says 56% of Americans and 63% of Floridians support normalizing relations with Cuba. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/8 "2014-02-11T17:53:57Z")
A shame it is, truly, that we the people have to drag our politicians, clinging to the past and grasping at ephemerae, into the future. A shame we don’t vote our consciences rather than by our familiarity with their name. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/9 "2014-02-11T18:34:05Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > Crist had to deal with a term in office that coincided with the downturn in housing in the country that particularly hit Florida. The rise of the TP cost him the primary, and…now Scott is a very unpopular governor who might not win his own primary? Don’t know. I’d bet Crist could be an effective governor if he can get Democrats to vote during the off years to reverse the total takeover of the legislature the R’s have gained in the last 10-15 years. > > Floridians will come out in droves to vote D for Senator and President, yet seem to prefer R’s for local and Governor offices. Very strange voting patterns, I say. We’re a no income tax/low spending state, relatively. We function more like Texas than New York in the way we view the role of state government. I think the problem Crist is going to have is that Democrats will feel reduced to voting for a Republican to beat a worse Republican. I’m not sure they’ll turn out for that. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/10 "2014-02-11T18:35:13Z")
Democrats _hate_ Rick Scott. Frankly, most of us would rather prop up Lawton Chiles’ corpse in the governor’s mansion for six years than reelect Scott. Turnout will be there. > [@crucible](#): > > Floridians will come out in droves to vote D for Senator and President, yet seem to prefer R’s for local and Governor offices. Very strange voting patterns, I say. Not in droves. We come out just enough to offset Republicans. The races are always close. New York elects Democratic officials in landslides but had like a dozen straight GOP gubernatorial terms (not the most conservative candidates, admittedly.) ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/11 "2014-02-11T18:37:59Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I am firmly on Team Charlie all the way. I thought he was a great governor as a Republican and I think he’ll be a great Governor as a Democrat. I think a lot of Floridians are so disgusted with Gov. Voldemort that they’ll vote for Anyone Who Isn’t Rick Scott. I’d vote for Mickey Mouse at this point, but Charlie Crist is a fine candidate. I’m delighted he’s running since Alex Sink can’t seem to pull it off. It’s a shame about Alex Sink. I’d endorse her for anything. Charlie Crist is part of that old guard of Republicans who have a mind of their own, and a rational one at that. The ones whose primary goal is good and honest governance, not “defeat Democrats and oppose whatever they stand for”. So precious few of those left. The party has kicked almost all of them out. ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/12 "2014-02-11T18:39:52Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Democrats _hate_ Rick Scott. They’re not the only ones. We had a good run under Crist, and my ass is going to be in the voting booth when Dick Snott’s term is done, ensuring it is done for good. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/13 "2014-02-11T18:39:53Z")
I know Democrats hate Scott, but given Florida’s economic performance under scott I don’t see how any but the most ardent partisans work up enough hate to turn out. He just hasn’t been bad as governor at all. he balanced the budget without raising taxes and unemployment has dropped below the national average. I’m not sure what more you can ask of the guy. The only reason I might support Crist is the corruption issue. There’s no major scandal associated with Scott yet, but I’m seeing enough smoke to predict there might be fires in the second term. I just don’t trust him. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/14 "2014-02-11T18:54:17Z")
As has already been explained to you, the economy has performed worse than projected under Scott. His own economic promises were _worse_ than the projected recovery if the state did nothing. Anyway, he is constitutionally mandated to balance the budget without raising taxes; the governor only has authority to cut spending. Anyway, Scott didn’t actually do anything. He inherited a projected shortfall, not an actual one, and it didn’t materialize. [Here](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/231558-florida-finance-document-july-2011.html) are the revenue figures for Crist’s last year in office and Scott’s tenure. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/15 "2014-02-11T19:27:21Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I think the problem Crist is going to have is that Democrats will feel reduced to voting for a Republican to beat a worse Republican. I’m not sure they’ll turn out for that. Oh, believe me, they will! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/16 "2014-02-11T19:28:26Z")
> [@Askthepizzaguy](#): > > It’s a shame about Alex Sink. I’d endorse her for anything. > > Charlie Crist is part of that old guard of Republicans who have a mind of their own, and a rational one at that. The ones whose primary goal is good and honest governance, not “defeat Democrats and oppose whatever they stand for”. > > So precious few of those left. The party has kicked almost all of them out. Including Crist. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/17 "2014-02-11T22:23:00Z")
Rick Scott made his fortune in a crooked health care outfit, and he spent millions of his own dollars pushing the TP and the organized attack on ObamACAre. After that, it was a short hop to the Florida Statehouse. Most Floridians are now wise to how he bamboozled them. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/18 "2014-02-11T23:09:29Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > Most Floridians are now wise to how he bamboozled them. N.B.: I’m sure a significant number know and don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/19 "2014-02-11T23:34:27Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > As has already been explained to you, the economy has performed worse than projected under Scott. His own economic promises were _worse_ than the projected recovery if the state did nothing. Anyway, he is constitutionally mandated to balance the budget without raising taxes; the governor only has authority to cut spending. Two points: 1. The end results are still the most you can expect from a governor. Many governors do worse than projected. Just ask Quinn in Illinois, who is pretty much certain to lose his job. 2. Florida was projected to have a lower unemployment rate than the nation? That’s an interesting projection. I wonder who made it? Is this brilliant person also going to tell us which stocks are going to outperform the S&P 500? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026/20 "2014-02-11T23:56:18Z")
The most we can expect from a governor is… for the economy to perform about as well as expected? I was kind of expecting my governor not to turn down federal funding for rail projects, not waste a shit-ton of money drug testing welfare recipients for zero return, and not randomly disenfranchise black people. YMMV. Also, _as was explained to you in the prior thread_, the predictions were from the state’s own economists. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-gubernatorial-election-2014/681026.md?page=2)