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Florida Republicans Torn Between Pragmatism and Conservatism

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the 2010 primary season heats up in Florida, the state's Republicans are embroiled in a contentious debate over the future of their party. On one side, pragmatists like Governor Charlie Crist argue that Republicans must appeal to a broader range of voters, even if it means running candidates who stray from the party orthodoxy. On the other side, conservatives like Marco Rubio, a 38-year-old former speaker of the Florida House, claim that Republicans have become Democrats' enablers in bigger deficits and bigger government, and that the way to win is to sharpen the distinctions between the parties.

Conservatives argue that Florida is a "hill to die on" for their cause, and that the primary challenge to Mr. Crist is the clearest example of the two competing concepts. Similar fights are playing out in primary races in other states, including California, where conservatives are championing Chuck DeVore, a state assemblyman, over Carly Fiorina, the former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard.

Key Takeaways:

  • Governor Charlie Crist's bid for the Senate seat is endangered by his support of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package.
  • Conservatives like Marco Rubio are challenging Crist's moderate stance and calling for a more principled Republican party.
  • Rubio has begun pulling closer to Crist in polls and fundraising, collecting nearly $1 million in the last cycle.
  • Crist argues that he is a "pragmatic Reaganite conservative" and has not apologized for appearing on stage with Obama.
  • A Quinnipiac University poll showed Crist beating Rubio and the presumed Democratic candidate, Rep. Kendrick B. Meek, by significant margins.
  • Crist's lead over Rubio has shrunk to 15 percentage points from 29 points in August.
  • Senator Jim DeMint has become a kingmaker for conservative challengers and argues that the voters will "weed out" Republicans who no longer share core principles.

Statistics:

  • Rubio has been trouncing Crist in party straw polls across Florida.
  • Crist has collected nearly $1 million in the last fundraising cycle.
  • A Quinnipiac University poll showed Crist beating Rubio and Rep. Meek by the following margins:

+ Crist vs. Rubio: 50-35

+ Crist vs. Meek: 51-31

  • Crist's lead over Rubio had shrunk to 15 percentage points from 29 points in August.

Sources:

  • "Florida is a hill to die on for conservatives," said Erick Erickson, editor of the conservative blog RedState.com, which leads a daily drumbeat against Mr. Crist (Source: The New York Times, October 31, 2009)
  • Senator Jim DeMint, Republican of South Carolina, has become a kingmaker for conservative challengers (Source: The New York Times, October 31, 2009)
  • A Quinnipiac University poll showed Crist beating Rubio and Rep. Meek by significant margins (Source: Quinnipiac University Poll, October 2009)
  • Crist has collected nearly $1 million in the last fundraising cycle (Source: The New York Times, October 31, 2009)

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