# The Florida Senate election **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 3, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721 "2010-06-03T02:07:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/41 "2010-08-26T15:12:20Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Mark (heh!) me down as another for anyone but Rubio. I also need to see how the numbers shake out in the next month or so. I feel bad throwing gays under the bus, but as a heterosexual, not getting tea partiers in office is more important than supporting gay rights. Does that mean you’re voting for Crist or for Meek? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/42 "2010-08-26T16:20:45Z")
Crist. If it’s true that Crist supported restrictions on SSM, and Meek does not, and they are largely the same otherwise\*, Meek would be the better candidate. But if Crist has a much better chance than Meek against Rubio, I will vote for Crist. \*Of course they are not, as no two people have the same policy views, but considering I am center-left in American domestic politics, there is a large chance that Meek and Crist will be on average just as good as each other from my point of view. ---
**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:** [August 26, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/43 "2010-08-26T17:04:00Z")
Perhaps more “on point” here, it is unlikely that our new Senator will be voting on anything SSM-related, at least during his first term. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/44 "2010-08-29T19:54:54Z")
Crist supported the ban on gay marriage and endorsed a ban on gay adoptions. He is political scum. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/45 "2010-08-29T21:43:00Z")
The repubs across the nation are taking a stand against Social Security and Medicare. I am not sure that will play in Florida with its aging population that votes. I think it will bite them unless they lie about it and convince the voters they are not. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/46 "2010-08-29T22:30:03Z")
Yeah, I think Rubio’s got a little bit of an uphill climb here (surprisingly). The more he caters to the right, the less attractive he is to the center (the left is a lost cause). His greatest hope at this point is that Charlie and Kendrick split the center and left votes somewhere down the middle leaving him at least the plurality winner. I can’t recall if there’ll be a runoff or not, but a runoff favors the extremist candidate since it’s essentially a very rapid get-out-the-vote contest. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/47 "2010-08-30T17:08:10Z")
Breaking news: [Florida is going for even more federal funding for the high-speed rail system.](http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/28/1796658/fla-seeks-more-federal-funding.html) Crist himself is asking for it, so presumably he’ll campaign on it. How do Meek and Rubio feel about that issue? ---
**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:** [August 30, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/48 "2010-08-30T17:21:56Z")
If Crist is for it, I think they have to be against it, on principle. Only they can’t agree with each other, so… the universe implodes? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/49 "2010-08-30T18:06:59Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > If Crist is for it, I think they have to be against it, on principle. Only they can’t agree with each other, so… the universe implodes? NIBBLER: Everybody out of the Universe! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/50 "2010-08-30T23:39:06Z")
Hypothetical: Crist does not make an independent bid, is defeated by Rubio in the primary, bows out gracefully (with lots of cursing, but gracefully under the circumstances), and the general election is just Meek vs. Rubio. Who wins? ---
**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:** [August 31, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/51 "2010-08-31T02:42:19Z")
Don’t make me answer that. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/52 "2010-08-31T02:58:46Z")
Well, leaving that aside for the moment . . . One thing we haven’t really discussed in this thread: Who would make the best senator? [Marco Rubio.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Rubio) [Charlie Crist.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Crist) [Kendrick Meek.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Crist) ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/53 "2010-08-31T03:01:23Z")
Rubio wins in a walk. As for how good a Senator he makes… …depends on how much he actually believes what he’s saying now in an effort to get elected. My guess is that he believes it all and is a disaster. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/54 "2010-08-31T03:02:12Z")
I actually kind of liked LeMieux. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/55 "2010-09-01T18:00:46Z")
And the Meek shall inherit the senate. The repubs have to divorce themselves from the party that wants Social Security and Medicare gone. They also want unemployment extensions ended. I think that is a tough sell in this economy. It might be harder in Florida. But of course they could just lie about it. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/56 "2010-09-02T01:42:30Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > But of course they could just lie about it. BREAKING NEWS!!! SUN RISES IN EAST!!! Film at eleven. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/57 "2010-09-09T16:48:43Z")
It appears there’s only going to be one debate between the three candidates: [October 24, at the USF Tampa Campus.](http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/cnn/cnns_candy_crowley_to_moderate_florida_senate_debate__171951.asp) I’m still deeply undecided/conflicted on whether to vote (or campaign) for Meek or Crist. I’d much, much rather have Meek in office, but Crist is running so much stronger, and I don’t want to split the anti-Rubio vote. America needs [instant-runoff voting,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant-runoff_voting) dammit! :mad: ---
**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:** [September 13, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/58 "2010-09-13T16:33:25Z")
Rubio was _all over_ Sunday Night Football. I actually had to switch hands because I got so tired giving his commercials the bird. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/59 "2010-09-16T17:24:51Z")
I feel sorry for Floridaites. You have 3 bad choices. Everyone of them has used their political power for personal gain to enrich themselves or their relatives. They have ignored their ethics to help big donors. It is sad. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721/60 "2010-09-16T17:29:19Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Rubio was _all over_ Sunday Night Football. I actually had to switch hands because I got so tired giving his commercials the bird. I’m glad that sentence ended the way it did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-florida-senate-election/541721.md?page=4)