Charlie Crist is an Eisenhower Republican or something

Far more than personal politics, I think this race will be decided by simple demographics. In the voting booth, Florida is dominated by two main groups: Hispanics and white retirees. Rubio, the upstart, can count on a healthy boost from the former. But Crist, I think, can count on a healthier boost from the latter. If there is a state in the union where memories of an archaic form of Republicanism live, it is Florida. The form I speak of is that of Eisenhower. It is a Republicanism that did not love government — but did trust it. That did not wear its religion on its sleeve — and distrusted those who do. That did not politicize war — because it knew war is not a game.

Before anyone accuses me of equating Charlie Crist to Dwight Eisenhower, let me state unequivocally that I consider the equation laughable. But if my assumption about the senior vote in Florida is correct, the question is: which candidate most resembles Ike? It’s Crist. By a nose.