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Subscribe to RSSPOLITICO's Ben Smith reports tonight that former President Bill Clinton, a longtime ally of Florida Senate candidate Kendrick Meek, got close to convincing the Democratic candidate to drop out of the three-way race in the face of flagging poll numbers.
Meek's exit could have paved the way for a victory by independent candidate Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist and Meek have split the votes of Democratic-leaning voters, allowing conservative Republican Marco Rubio a comfortable first-place lead. A recent poll showed Meek with just 15 percent of the vote.
Smith reports that Clinton almost succeeded. Twice.
Clinton campaigned with Meek in Florida on Oct. 19 and 20, and thought he had won Meek over in an evening conversation the night they spent together in Jacksonville. But as the week wore on, Meek lost his enthusiasm for the arrangement, spurred in part, a third Democratic source said, by his wife’s belief that he could still win the race. Clinton spoke with Meek again at week’s end, three Democrats said, and again Meek said he would drop out.
“It was a completely done deal,” one source said.
The Crist, Meek and Clinton camps even set a date for an endorsement rally: the following Tuesday, Oct. 26.
But Meek changed his mind again last weekend, writes Smith.
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Barack Obama and Bill Clinton both understand the simple fact that having a Hispanic Senator whose is conservative may take away sure votes from the Democrats in the future. The democrats thoughts they had the hispanic vote locked up for a long time. To complicate matters further The Republican candidate for Gov. of New Mexico{Sanchez} is way ahead in the polls
If Bill is so concerned about candidates dropping out to save the "team", why did he not encourage his own wife to drop out when it became clear that Obama would be the winner?
Bill and Hillary are interested in shoring up support for her future campaign for president.
The main difference between a liberal and a conservative is one is worried about what the gov will do FOR ya and one is worried about what the gov will do TO ya. I think y'all know which is which.
The main difference between a liberal and a conservative is one is worried about what the gov will do FOR ya and one is worried about what the gov will do TO ya. I think y'all know which is which.
Only the democrats would ask the only African American to quit the race. How sad they have become. What about social justice and equality?
NO compromise, coming from the republican tea party extremist, that's one word the rush to judgement voter's ignore, so before you pull that republican lever look the word up.
Christ confirmed yesterday on his interview with Gretta that WH was in touch with him. Bill Clinton has been trying to get Meek out of the race and that would not be his first attempt to play dirty. This is not about the Black race - as this article has been trying to portray.
This is about legality of dissuading a candidate from running for office by offering him/her alternate deals.
If you recall, earlier Bill Clinton offered the PA candidate Joe Sustek's opponent in dems primary alternate position which he declined.
This sleazy politics has become a norm of O's party and you - the so called progressive continue to fuel it by supporting such dirt bags! Dig into your souls and help cleanse this nonsense!
Elections are the happy hunting grounds for the Dems. As well as the favorite stomping ground for perversion, subversion and diversion. They are well educated and versed in this. I hand it to them.
Obama is too slick to do anything like this directly. That is why Clinton is used.
Now that Meek declined this offer he gets nothing from WH. That has been a norm for O's politics. Use and discard, shift and blame, lie and pose. There is no substance, there never was!
Really, agar? Was it all right to do when Reagan offered to give a CA Senator a job if HE dropped out of the race?
Two wrongs do not make it right. I do not know about that incident but if it did happen it was not right then and it doesn't justify any such attempts now.
Also, that is not only sleazy thing Obama has in his arsenal. Backroom deals, bribery, constantly shifting blame and looking for targets to sacrifice to make himself look good, Save or create like manipulation of statistics and using public funds to selectively aid voter groups are part of his political ideology.
Do you even have an idea what all he did to get into IL senate? Not to talk about the caliber of his buddies and his church pastor. Need I remind you of the constant Bush bashing and taking pride in the economic success when we have 14.8 million unemployed!
I like most, can deal with little incompetency but not deceit. My 2 cents, if you care. Today, I like Meek more than Obama and Christ and would vote for him before either of the two!
I love libs, try to justify present corruption with past corruption. Perfectly illustrates the circular, reactionary, and dysfunctional thinking of liberals.
none of it is corruption.
Paul-977599, Do you know that that dissuading someone from running for an office position is illegal. That is why all this is done in secret!
Sounds like you are part of this scheme! Until O came such dirt was seldom seen in American politics!
Define sex? Why not, IT WORKED! Just what the fuuck would you call it?
You want to give a cite on that agar? By the way? You are aware of the deals Cheney was making with big oil when he was in office? As to this two wrongs don't make a right nonsense...get over it, unless you are willing to hold both sides accountable and put your leaders in jail, don't bring it up.
Never supported Cheney on that and even Held Bush accountable for spending. never supported the Haliburton deals or the associated year marks. they are all wrong. I gave you the impression that I am only against the current corruption, I correct it now.
President Clinton figured out how to get the pundits to mention Meek's name. They were all sure they had a gotcha moment. He (Clinton) plays the media like a Stradivarius. Can you imagine Chuck even mentioning Meek's name otherwise?
That tropical air is too much for Clinton. He should stay in the winter zone. Since he got his shaft oiled in the Oval office he he thinks he is a kingmaker. The trouble is I want to know why he is not down in Haiti and what his so called Initiative organization is doing. He been like a prima dona before the whole world telling them how he is changing the whole world. The Dems are dirty. They always seem to pick up the strangest , weirdos to do thier dirty work. The Dems party is like a homeless shelter with the dregs of humanity.
It wasn't like that during Gore's time, it is now under the tutelage of Obama!
Corruption percolates down - top to bottom, not otherwise.
Did you guys notice how this story is buried under mountain of titles and not one of MSNBC;s major headline news?
This network is deep buried in bed with democrats! Talk about a fair unbiased news network!
Its been the headline all morning long. It is just drivel to say that MSNBC is biased to the democrats. Chuck has been spinning about a republican Tsunami for months.
Really, This article in not the News headline @ MSNBC news site. It is only accessible by scrolling way down under their Political page!
How come there are hardly any commentators here?
You talk about MSBNC being unbiased? Have you ever heard of Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow? Chris Mattews?
You are the limit my friend! What would you call CNN's Jack Cafferty then? A conservative Right Winger Republican then?
Wasn't brought up in Reagan's or the Bush days either. Does it occur to you that you have a hatred for President Obama that is personal, having nothing to do with politics?
Premature conclusion! Read my comments on your previous comments!
Not the person but the policies, that is hypocritical, divisive and reckless to all of us. I did not bring up the debt issue, but that is the bottom line, not to talk about the pain of people who are enduing this economy on a daily basis. 14.8 million times their average number of family members say 3.5 makes it 51.8 million sufferings out of 305 million US population.
You do not know what you are supporting!
The Friday before the election, and First Read can not find even one Democrat to put on the show? I guess Chuck likes the Fox version of "Fair and Balanced"
found the main story:
http://politics.newsvine.com/_news/2010/10/28/5369970-fla-senate-candidate-denies-clinton-asked-him-to-quit-#comments
So Crist came on Gretchen show and admitted that he went to the WH and plotted with the Dems that he was part of the guilty party. Poker faced and unashamedly regularly calling Rubio a right wing nut. Why do they have people like Crist in these races? Well, I guess in all human affairs in war and peace you'll find traitors and lackeys like Crist and the others. They can't win but they want power. They'd kill their own mother for power. When a man turns a politician he becomes haunted, with the mirage of absolute power always before his eyes. These people should be charged for illegal activities.
Ditto! Do not support jumping Jacks, incl Sustek. How would you say you are true to your principles, when you keep switching them?
Clinton is brilliant, he got more free media for Meek's in the last 24 hours, then Meek's has gotten all election season long.
Agreed Patrick!
Of course the MSM and tea baggers are not quite bright enough to realize what's going on... lol
I LOVE IT!
This Republican loves it---Crist is Rubio's only competition. Getting Meek's name in the press only takes votes away from Criist and widens the lead for Rubio. This race is over---Rubio will win.
Democrats are normal people during the year , except when there is an election every two and four years.