But, in keeping with his reputation as the Sunshine State’s leading politician’s politician, Crist may well have calculated that he had little left to lose by greeting the nation’s chief executive. And some Florida pols suggested Crist’s appearance with Obama on the tarmac at MacDill Air Force Base could even mark the beginning of one more transformation for a Senate candidate who’s struggled to find the right pitch for his campaign.
Mac Stipanovich, a Republican lobbyist who has long supported Crist, said the move could improve Crist’s image among Floridians who oppose the president, but who still think it’s appropriate to show respect for a president visiting with billions of dollars in funding for the state.
“I don’t think that it’ll hurt him, because the people who are going to go off the top rope on this are going to go off the top rope regardless,” Stipanovich said. “This is politics and policy. There’s plenty of room for vigorous dissent.”
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