A few months ago, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist probably didn’t worry much about setting up small fundraisers with the help of of young conservatives, like the UCF College Republicans.
His campaign apparently didn’t see it worth his time to be interviewed by KnightNews.com and reach out to our visitors either, because we never got a response to our November request for an interview.
But Crist’s underdog opponent, Marco Rubio, spent time doing both.
Rubio’s campaign was responsive to our interview request, (although the date is still being worked out), and Rubio spent an evening fundrasing at a small event in Clermont with a group of student leaders from UCF’s College Republicans.
“And he then gave us a shout-out via his Twitter, which is pretty awesome,” UCF College Republican Marketing Director Jennie Hayes told KnightNews.com days after the October, 29 event.
“Thanks to UCF CR’s for their help tonight at my event! #sayfie,” Rubio tweeted, along with a picture showing him smiling in the middle of the excited students.
Back then, traveling to small events and talking to student publications appeared unnecessary for Crist, who had a convincing lead over Rubio in the polls.
But now, things have changed. And what many political insiders thought wasn’t possible just happened: Crist and Rubio are in a statistical dead heat.
A new Rasmussen Reports poll relased today has both candidates polling at 43% among likely Republican voters in their race for the US Senate seat vacated by Mel Martinez.
Now, with the race so close, every vote counts — including young UCF students influenced by College Republicans, and the thousands who visit KnightNews.com each month to stay informed.
As Crist continues raising big money at fancy venues, many out of state, Rubio is taking his message to smaller, ordinary venues and talking to anyone who will listen, including a group of bikers he spoke to on December 12.
He taps into anger from his base over stimulus spending and outrage that Crist shared a “man-hug” with President Barack Obama while he pushed for passage of the package. Crist must get in front of the regular people and explain his goals, or he’ll lose support.
For UCF’s College Republicans — the main influence over UCF’s conservative voters — the jury is still out, at least publicly.
“Our club does not endorse a GOP candidate during the primary season, but of course we will officially endorse a candidate once we move into the general election and there is one Republican candidate,” Hayes explained after the event.
But in a state where a handful of votes can decide the election’s outcome, wouldn’t you think Crist would pay more attention to the students of the largest university in Florida — and its publications?
Because when it comes down to election day, who do you think UCF’s College Republicans will support: the candidate who they’ve seen only on TV, or the man who met them, posed for a photo and tweeted a public “thank you” about it?
Our stance is simple: Crist should pay attention to the little people, because together they can make what seemed impossible reality — and today’s tie poll proves it.
