Former President Bill Clinton tried to persuade Florida Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek to drop out of his U.S. Senate race and support Gov. Charlie Crist's independent candidacy in hopes of thwarting a victory by Republican Marco Rubio.
People familiar with the matter said the former president and other top national Democrats worry a win by the charismatic Mr. Rubio, a 39-year-old Cuban-American, would make him a political phenomenon capable of boosting the GOP's chances with Hispanic voters. These people said the conversation occurred during Mr. Clinton's Florida visit on Oct. 19. Mr. Meek wavered for several days—suggesting to some that he could leave the race—but decided against it.
"They had a conversation about the fact that the prospects of him winning had passed him by and that the only way the Republican would be defeated is to jump on board with Crist," said a Florida Democrat familiar with the discussion.
The conversation was reported Thursday evening by Politico.
Meek campaign spokesman Adam Sharon said he didn't know if Mr. Clinton asked Mr. Meek to drop out of the race. "They talked, they've been talking about this race all the time," Mr. Sharon said.
But in a written statement, Meek campaign manager Abe Dyk said Mr. Meek "was never dropping out of this race, is never dropping out of this race, and will never drop out of this race."
Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna confirmed the conversation took place.
Three people familiar with the discussion said Mr. Meek came very close to dropping out. The talk with Mr. Clinton occurred after days of shuttle diplomacy by Clinton counselor Doug Band, who acted as an intermediary between the Crist and Meek camps. The people familiar with the matter said the White House, which has publicly backed Mr. Meek, was aware of the discussion but was not involved. A White House official did not respond to requests for comment late Thursday.
The news of Mr. Clinton's intervention comes as the race appears to be a two-way affair between Messrs. Rubio and Crist, with Mr. Meek dropping far behind. A Quinnipiac poll this week showed Mr. Meek backed by 15% of respondents, while 42% supported Mr. Rubio and 35% backed Mr. Crist.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele accused Mr. Clinton of wronging black voters in his attempts to coax Mr. Meek out of the race. Mr. Meek, a Miami congressman, is African-American. The intervention would send a "chilling signal to all voters, but especially African Americans," said Mr. Steele, who is black.
Mr. McKenna declined to comment on Mr. Steele's statement. The former president and Mr. Meek are close friends.
Mr. Crist has been trying to build a coalition of Democrats and independent voters, and some Democratic strategists have argued that Mr. Meek's base could put Mr. Crist over the top.
Other Democrats argue Mr. Meek should remain in the race because he may turn out a higher black vote—which would help Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink, locked in a tight battle with GOP businessman Rick Scott.
Crist campaign spokesman Danny Kanner called the report "accurate." He said Mr. Crist was focused on "uniting common-sense Democrats, independents, and Republicans behind his campaign because he is the one candidate who can defeat" Mr. Rubio." (source)
People familiar with the matter said the former president and other top national Democrats worry a win by the charismatic Mr. Rubio, a 39-year-old Cuban-American, would make him a political phenomenon capable of boosting the GOP's chances with Hispanic voters. These people said the conversation occurred during Mr. Clinton's Florida visit on Oct. 19. Mr. Meek wavered for several days—suggesting to some that he could leave the race—but decided against it.
"They had a conversation about the fact that the prospects of him winning had passed him by and that the only way the Republican would be defeated is to jump on board with Crist," said a Florida Democrat familiar with the discussion.
The conversation was reported Thursday evening by Politico.
Meek campaign spokesman Adam Sharon said he didn't know if Mr. Clinton asked Mr. Meek to drop out of the race. "They talked, they've been talking about this race all the time," Mr. Sharon said.
But in a written statement, Meek campaign manager Abe Dyk said Mr. Meek "was never dropping out of this race, is never dropping out of this race, and will never drop out of this race."
Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna confirmed the conversation took place.
Three people familiar with the discussion said Mr. Meek came very close to dropping out. The talk with Mr. Clinton occurred after days of shuttle diplomacy by Clinton counselor Doug Band, who acted as an intermediary between the Crist and Meek camps. The people familiar with the matter said the White House, which has publicly backed Mr. Meek, was aware of the discussion but was not involved. A White House official did not respond to requests for comment late Thursday.
The news of Mr. Clinton's intervention comes as the race appears to be a two-way affair between Messrs. Rubio and Crist, with Mr. Meek dropping far behind. A Quinnipiac poll this week showed Mr. Meek backed by 15% of respondents, while 42% supported Mr. Rubio and 35% backed Mr. Crist.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele accused Mr. Clinton of wronging black voters in his attempts to coax Mr. Meek out of the race. Mr. Meek, a Miami congressman, is African-American. The intervention would send a "chilling signal to all voters, but especially African Americans," said Mr. Steele, who is black.
Mr. McKenna declined to comment on Mr. Steele's statement. The former president and Mr. Meek are close friends.
Mr. Crist has been trying to build a coalition of Democrats and independent voters, and some Democratic strategists have argued that Mr. Meek's base could put Mr. Crist over the top.
Other Democrats argue Mr. Meek should remain in the race because he may turn out a higher black vote—which would help Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink, locked in a tight battle with GOP businessman Rick Scott.
Crist campaign spokesman Danny Kanner called the report "accurate." He said Mr. Crist was focused on "uniting common-sense Democrats, independents, and Republicans behind his campaign because he is the one candidate who can defeat" Mr. Rubio." (source)
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