Kendrick Meek will not be the next Senator for Florida. It would be awesome to have two Florida Democrats in the Senate, but that's not happening this year. Which leaves two options: Tea Party favorite and GOP Presidential nominee in '16 Marco Rubio, or more moderate Republican Charlie Crist. Only one of them will win. If Meek were not in the race, Crist would probably win. With him in there, Rubio most likely will. And most people know this. Here's what Politico is reporting (confirmedby the New York Times):
Sayeth Politico:
Bill Clinton sought to persuade Rep. Kendrick Meek to drop out of the race for Senate during a trip to Florida last week — and nearly succeeded.
Meek agreed — twice — to drop out and endorse Gov. Charlie Crist’s independent bid in a last-ditch effort to stop Marco Rubio, the Republican nominee who stands on the cusp of national stardom.
What's fascinating about this story - if accurate - is that Clinton was trying to convince him to drop out while he was down in Florida campaigning for him.
According to the Ben Smith article, it was a nearly done deal that Meek was going to drop out last month, but ultimately decided to stick it out because, according to one source, he didn't want to be seen as a quitter.
Well, congratulations Kendrick Meek, nobody is calling you a quitter. A lot of other things, maybe, but not a quitter.
I feel for Meek here. He was the duly elected Democratic nominee. Unlike, say, Charlie Crist, he's not a sore loser who couldn't take defeat and ran as a third-party candidate. He's supposed to be in this race! On the other hand, he can not win, and his being in the race may help send a Tea Party conservative to the Senate, and a bright future in Republican politics.
As this story gains traction, I can't imagine what Meek voters are supposed to think. Their candidate allegedly seriously entertained the prospect of dropping out. In other words, an admission of defeat. So who could be motivated to vote for him now, if he doesn't even think he can win? This is probably the next best thing for Crist. This poll is also pretty good.
But, again, the takeaway is that Kendrick Meek is not a quitter. Good for him.
Update: Something troubles me about the story. It's this:
The former president’s top aide, Doug Band, initially served as the intermediary between Meek and Crist, and Clinton became involved only when Meek signaled that he would seriously consider the option, Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna confirmed to POLITICO.
Why would Clinton confirm this information now? It can only be damaging and demoralizing to state Democrats. I don't get it.
Update II: Charlie Crist will be on Countdown with Keith Olbermann tonight (Hmmm...). If you're in the Metroplex or the Bay Area, it'll be posted online soon after.
Update 3D:
Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade is giving Democrat Kendrick Meek a boost in his struggling U.S. Senate race campaign. Wade is scheduled to join Meek at an early voting rally Thursday afternoon at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center.
Well, since everyone who's not a Miami Heat fan now hates the Heat, he just lost the support of the State's Orlando Magic, Atanta Hawks and New Orleans Hornets fans.