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Crist working to be McCain's super-surrogate |
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Written by By Sam Youngman | Posted: 02/25/08 01:37 PM [ET]
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Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) insisted during an hour-long interview Monday with The Hill that he is not thinking about being Sen. John McCain’s (Ariz.) running mate, even as he rattled off talking points touting the presumptive GOP nominee as if already on the stump.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) insisted during an hour-long interview Monday with The Hill that he is not thinking about being Sen. John McCain’s (Ariz.) running mate, even as he rattled off talking points touting the presumptive GOP nominee as if already on the stump.
Crist repeatedly said he is too busy with the affairs of his state to entertain chatter about his potential as a vice presidential candidate, but sometimes struck notes that sounded as if he were auditioning for a vice presidential role.
He highlighted the importance of McCain’s experience in national security matters, defended him from charges contained in a controversial story in The New York Times last week and questioned the bona fides of Democratic Front-runner Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.).
With former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee standing as McCain’s only remaining opponent, Crist declined to suggest Huckabee should withdraw. He did, however, say that he thought former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s (R) decision to get out of the race was “statesmanlike.”
“I think it’s very admirable what Gov. Romney has done,” Crist said.
The popular governor’s last-minute endorsement of McCain in Florida’s primary last month was regarded by many as the final push that helped McCain get past Romney, essentially ensuring McCain the nomination.
The endorsement and subsequent McCain victory further stoked speculation that Crist could be a future vice presidential candidate.
On Monday, Crist consistently said he has “a full plate” and is not in a position to offer McCain any advice.
Crist is in Washington for the National Governors Association’s winter meeting. McCain was the keynote speaker at Saturday night’s Republican Governors Association dinner.
Three of the Republican governors in attendance keep surfacing as potential picks to join McCain on the ticket — Crist, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
When asked if he was comparing notes with Sanford and Pawlenty, Crist joked that he has talked to them a lot, “but not about that.”
Crist offered a strong defense of McCain in the wake of last week’s story in The New York Times that questioned the Arizona senator’s past dealings with lobbyists.
The Florida governor said he has no doubt that McCain has never been influenced by “any external, inappropriate factor whatsoever.”
“I don’t know that I’ve met a more honorable person in my life than Sen. John McCain other than my father and my mother, of course,” Crist said. “I think his integrity is beyond reproach.”
Crist said the Times story worked in McCain’s favor, creating a “rallying” point for conservatives who might not have supported the Arizonan.
“In a weird way, I think it ended up helping Senator McCain,” Crist said.
The governor also disregarded the Democratic National Committee’s recent charges that McCain is violating Federal Election Commission rules regarding public financing, with Crist saying the average voter doesn’t care about “inside baseball.” |
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