http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/polit... Appearing Friday evening in Palm Beach County, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meeek told supporters and party activists that the turmoil in the race shouldn’t raise doubts about his candidacy.
“This election is a very, very, very winnable election,” he said. He vowed not to promise people the world just to get votes. “I’m not going to tell you that electing me to the United States Senate is going to make the sun rise an hour earlier. That’s what a politician will tell you.”
The overall race was scrambled last month when Gov. Charlie Crist abandoned his bid for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate and launched an independent candidacy – going for many of the same voters Meek needs to win.
Republican Marco Rubio is the third major candidate. Meek referred to Crist and Rubio as his two Republican opponents and jabbed at Crist whose position on offshore oil drilling has evolved over the years.
Crist was a longtime opponent, then softened his stance when he was being considered as a potential vice presidential running mate for John McCain in 2008, then shifted back to opposition.
“It’s easy to say you’re against offshore drilling now,” Meek said, contrasting Crist with himself. When President Barack Obama called for more offshore drilling earlier this year, Meek didn’t endorse that move.
Meek considers the race a three-person general election contest, and publicly that’s how he’s running his campaign, declaring “I am in a three-way race in the general election.”
But the late entrance of Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene in the Democratic primary upended that contest and has forced Meek to defend his path to the nomination. Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre was already running an underdog campaign.
Meek spoke to and answered questions for close to 90 minutes Friday evening before about 140 people at the South County Civic Center west of Delray Beach. Earlier, he met behind closed doors with about 30 party leaders.
Several people in the general audience said they were leaning Democratic, and almost certain to support Meek. But they said they wanted a chance to see the candidate.
Meek told the crowd, which was almost entirely Democratic, that if he wins in November it would be “a big deal in the country” because so much national attention is focused on Florida’s U.S. Senate race.
Posted By: Kendrick Meek
Wednesday, May 19th 2010 at 10:02AM
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