Dirty Tricks and Charlie Crist
The latest polls in the Florida gubernatorial race have Charlie Crist with a 10-point lead over Jim Davis, 53-43, with 3 percent undecided. Despite the fact that 10 points is considered the thin line between a sure thing and a tossup, Associated Press writer Brent Kallestad refers to it as a "commanding lead" in his story. But that doesn't really bother me. The Cook Political Report and the Washington Post still insist on calling Michigan, Minnesota and Nebraska states to watch in the U.S. Senate campaign, despite the fact that the Democratic contenders in those races enjoy 20 or 30 point leads in many polls.
Anyway, back to Charlie. The Sun-Sentinel reported today that the Democratic Party has asked Attorney General Crist for any and all records he has relating to Foley. Sure, it's a fishing expedition, but if played right, it could be a successful one, in the tradition of Democratic enemy Karl Rove. Hell, they didn't even need to ask Crist for any records he had. What's already out on the Net provides more than enough ammo.
Yeah, I can see it now....
(Grim baritone voiceover as TV shows a stark, black-and-white picture of Crist)
"As state attorney general, it has been Charlie Crist's job to protect our children from sex fiends and pederasts."
(Cut to this picture:)
"So why is Charlie Crist palling around with known deviant Mark Foley, the disgraced congressman who salivated over congressional pages?"
(cut to video of Jim Davis, offering a couple teenagers a manly handshake as he meets them in their classroom)
"Jim Davis doesn't believe in coddling sexual predators. As governor, he'll make sure the attorney-general's office cracks down on all forms of government corruption, whether they involve diddling congressional pages like Republican congressman Mark Foley, money laundering charges like Republican congressman Tom DeLay, bribery scandals like Republican congressman Duke Cunningham, or lobbyist corruption like Republican congressman Bob Ney. Jim Davis will come down on these greedheads like a screaming eagle of righteous justice. And Charlie Crist?"
(Cut to this picture:)
"He'll just keep having lunch and playing tiddly-winks with degenerates. Charlie Crist -- if you can't trust him with your children, you certainly can't trust him with your state."
(Cut to video of Jim Davis, looking tough with shirt sleeves rolled up, who says:)
"I'm Jim Davis, and I approved this message, because Florida needs someone who will work with our families, not against them."
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See what I did with the last line about Crist? I made it so that the fact that Crist can't be trusted with children is a known fact. Neat, huh? Oh, and also, while Foley and Crist are having lunch there, they certainly aren't playing tiddly winks. But saying this would force Crist to come out and say, "I did not play tiddly-winks with Mark Foley," which will only help matters.
Man, why doesn't a political campaign hire me? They'd shoot up in the polls like gangbusters, dammit!