“[Governor Crist is] a very charming person.  Always charming.  Real. I think he wants to do the right thing. I have confidence in Charlie Crist.” –Crist Supporter Barbara Stephens

Fla. Gov. Crist still giving hugs in Senate run
By Brendan Farrington
Associated Press Writer

…Saturday Crist was doing what he does perhaps better than any politician in Florida – connecting with people. Until now, his focus has been raising money and giving speeches to Republican clubs. Now his goal is to fire up his supporters.

“This is really the first campaign swing I’ve made in this state,” said Crist, who reminded supporters that Rubio has been campaigning nonstop for months. “The other guy has been running around the state, he does it all day long. I have no idea how he feeds his family when he does this all day long, but I know how I feed my family, by working for you being your governor.”

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He was charming. Whether it was hugging Patsy Kruppenbacher as he arrived at her Orlando home for an event with supporters, or making an unscheduled stop at a Winter Haven barbecue festival, where he was mobbed by the crowd, inching his way through signing autographs, stopping for photos and hugging Scooter before finally reaching a stage to give a quick hello.

“I just had the best barbecue I’ve had in my life” said Crist, who earlier took a single bite of a pulled pork sandwich. “It was tender, it was sweet and it was good – just like all of you.”

“I hope you make it,” exclaimed Jeriann Clark, 66, of Lakeland, after taking a picture with Crist. Later, she admitted she will still do more research before committing her vote, but she clearly was enamored with the governor. “He’s doing a good job. He’s doing great. I’d like him up there in the Senate, but we’ll miss him here in Florida.”

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Sure, Crist also talked about some issues, reminding people he’s cut property taxes and is seeking more cuts this year for small businesses, but it was mostly about the personal contact.

And as far as the criticism that he’s worked too closely with the other side, Crist argued that simply spouting out party ideology doesn’t accomplish anything. He told crowds he is a pragmatic Republican – he’s conservative, but understands to accomplish anything, there has to be compromise with Democrats.

“We understand that in order for our schools to get better, for our economy to improve, we have to take common sense ideas from wherever they may come from, and if you take that Florida common sense to Washington, maybe they can learn a little from it,” Crist said.

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“He’s a very charming person,” said Barbara Stephens, who Crist embraced at his first stop of the day. “Always charming. Real. I think he wants to do the right thing. I have confidence in Charlie Crist.” …

The article in full is available here: http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tallahassee&sParam=32737879.story 

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