With the New Year right around the corner, there will likely be several stories looking back at Gov. Charlie Crist's past year.
And there's no doubt that - if polls are to be believed - that Crist's seemingly upward political trajectory has reached its apex and is heading in the other direction.
There can be lots of theories about how this happened: The reality of Florida's dismal economic situation finally catching up with the perpetually-optimistic Crist, the constant pounding of criticism from U.S. Senate rival Marco Rubio (and Crist's decision not to return fire until maybe too late), his embrace of President Barack Obama, or even the decision to run for the U.S. Senate in the first place.
But if you look closely the press coverage began to change during the summer of 2008. This is when Crist went on a trade mission to Europe and Russia where he did things like discuss climate change with the Prince of Wales. At a time when the state's economy was already souring, this was the first time that it was suggested that Crist's political radar had malfunctioned. The trip abroad came of course at a time when Crist's inner circle was hoping that he would wind up as the vice-president nominee to U.S. Sen. John McCain, so maybe there was a thought it would help offset Crist's lack of foreign policy experience.
Yet it's worth noting that no news organizations could afford to go on the trip with Crist since many of them were already laying off employees. When Crist returned, there was the first of many attempts by the Crist administration to focus on the economy, i.e. "Accelerate Florida," "economic gardening," workforce center visits, and all the way up to the recently-concluded special session on rail projects that the governor said would create "jobs, jobs, jobs."
The Monday morning quarterbacking that will eventually go on is whether enough time and energy were spent on economic issues. It's worth noting that Crist's poll numbers didn't begin to dip until 2009 when the full force of the economic downturn began to grip the state and the unemployment rate surged higher and higher. (One caveat - there's nothing to suggest that Crist can't change this trajectory next year, especially since he will be able to spend millions during his Senate campaign.)
On the jump there is a timeline of Crist's last 18 months.
July 3, 2008: Gov. Crist gets engaged to Carole Rome.
July 12, 2008: Crist leaves Miami for a trade mission to Russia, England, France and Spain. Later news reports peg the cost of the trip for Crist and his entourage at more than $400,000.
Aug. 14, 2008: Crist launches his "Accelerate Florida" program, an "economic stimulus" plan designed to "boost Florida's economy by creating thousands of jobs."
Aug. 15, 2008: Florida's unemployment rate is 6.1 percent.
Aug. 29, 2008: U.S. Sen. John McCain announces that he will pick Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Sept. 8, 2008: Quinnipiac University releases poll that puts Crist's job approval rating at 61 percent.
Sept. 19, 2008: Florida's unemployment rate is 6.5 percent.
Oct. 28, 2008: Crist extends early voting hours, a move that is quietly criticized by some Republicans.
Nov. 4, 2008: Democrat Barack Obama carries Florida in route to winning the presidency.
Nov. 18, 2008: Crist's job approval climbs to 68 percent, according to a poll released by Quinnipiac University.
Nov. 19, 2008: Quinnipiac University poll finds 59 percent of Florida voters say they are worse off than they were a year before.
Nov. 21, 2008: Florida's unemployment rate is 7 percent.
Dec. 10, 2008: Crist announces the start of Cover Florida, his effort to have the state help obtain health insurance for the state's uninsured.
Dec. 12, 2008: Crist marries Carole Rome at a ceremony in St. Petersburg.
Jan. 2, 2009: Crist appoints Jorge Labarga to the Florida Supreme Court, bypassing Frank Jimenez, a one-time top aide to former Gov. Jeb Bush whose addition to a list of judicial finalists came under fire.
Jan. 5, 2009: State lawmakers hold special session to cut the state budget due to declining tax revenues. Crist asks that lawmakers also approve $10 million economic gardening program.
Jan. 21, 2009: Crist's job approval rating is 65 percent according to Quinnipiac poll.
Jan. 23, 2009: Florida's unemployment rate is 8.1 percent.
Feb. 10, 2009: Crist joins President Obama in Fort Myers where he says it's important to pass a federal stimulus package.
Feb. 19, 2009: Crist's job approval rating is 67 percent, according to Quinnipiac poll.
Feb. 20, 2009: Crist accepts federal stimulus support to increase weekly unemployment benefits by $25 a week.
Feb. 20, 2009: Crist outlines budget proposal that relies on $4.7 billion in federal stimulus aid to balance the 2009-10 budget.
March 3, 2009: Crist gives his third State of the State speech where he urges legislators to pass a compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, use stimulus money to balance the budget, set aside money for economic development initiatives, and give universities greater power over setting tuition.
March 11, 2009: Crist appoints James Perry to the Florida Supreme Court, a move that is criticized by conservative groups even though Perry was appointed to another judgeship by former Gov. Jeb Bush.
March 27, 2009: Florida's unemployment rate is 9.4 percent.
April 1, 2009: Crist announces a new deal with U.S. Sugar that is considerably smaller than the initial one he proposed in June 2008.
April 15, 2009: Crist's job approval rating is 66 percent, according to Quinnipiac poll.
April 17, 2009: Florida's unemployment rate is 9.7 percent.
May 8, 2009: State legislators send Crist a $66.5 billion budget that includes $5.5 billion in federal stimulus funds, but also relies on increases in driver fees, a $1 a pack increase in cigarette tax and a hike in college tuition.
May 11, 2009: Crist announces candidacy for U.S. Senate instead of seeking second term as governor.
June 10, 2009: Quinnipiac University poll shows Crist leading Rubio in GOP primary 54-23 percent. That same poll puts Crist's job approval rating at 62 percent.
June 19, 2009: Florida's unemployment rate is 10.2 percent.
July 17, 2009: Florida's unemployment rate is 10.6 percent.
Aug. 17, 2009: Florida Chamber of Commerce poll shows that 49 percent of likely voters believe the state is headed in wrong direction. Yet the poll shows a 67 percent job approval rating for Crist.
Aug. 19, 2009: Crist leads Rubio in GOP primary 55-26 percent according to Quinnipiac University poll. That same poll shows Crist's job approval rating at 60 percent.
Aug. 28, 2009: Crist appoints his former chief-of-staff and one-time campaign manager George LeMieux to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez.
Aug. 31, 2009: Crist signs a new compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida that differs from the one authorized by state legislators. It is given a lukewarm reception by state legislative leaders and has yet to be approved by legislators.
Oct. 16, 2009: Florida's unemployment rate is 11 percent.
Oct. 21, 2009: Crist leads Rubio in GOP primary 50-35 percent according to Quinnipiac University poll. Crist's job approval rating has dropped to 59 percent in poll.
Oct. 26, 2009: Crist at first says he did not know President Obama was traveling to Florida, then clarifies later that he did not know his exact schedule.
Nov. 2, 2009: Crist's job approval drops to 42 percent according to a poll done by the Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9.
Nov. 4, 2009: Crist tells CNN that he didn't "endorse" the stimulus package.
Dec. 12, 2009: State legislators pass legislation that creates a statewide rail system in order to help lure nearly $4 billion in federal stimulus money set aside for rail projects.
Dec. 15, 2009: Florida's unemployment rate is 11.5 percent.
Do we really think that we are the only ones who realize that Charlie Crist is a total joke?
When Sara Palin was chosen over Charlie Crist by John McCain that says it all.
We had better wise up and not let the millions that Charlie has collected
in and out of state allow him to buy a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Remember, ABC. Anyone But Charlie.
Posted by: P.C | December 30, 2009 at 05:18 PM
When Florida needed leadership and substance, the governor gave us gimmicks and fluff. A case in point are the governor's advocacy for Amendment 1 (that benefited homeowners already protected by homestead exemptions), saying that education would be held harmless and that taxes would drop like a rock. Just weeks after the vote, the governor had to announce that education revenue projections would be drastically downgraded. Taxes did not drop like a rock and essential services were damaged at a time of serious need.
Crist had all of the goodwill in the world and dashed it on the rock of false claims. Credibility is damn near impossible regain when it is lost. Ask George W. Bush.
Posted by: rush is right about run of the mill | December 30, 2009 at 06:06 PM
The problem with Charlie is the same thing that got Bill Clinton in trouble. He has no foundational comment to any particular truth. He supports whatever will further his personal interests...period. Trips abroad to curry VP consideration, embrace the Presidents spend us out of debt plan and then deny it, some even say the marriage was for political gain. How can we trust a guy like that?
Posted by: Are you kidding me Charlie | December 31, 2009 at 09:33 AM
His first mistake was when he condoned the corruption of city officials in Gulf Breeze, FL who set a human trap for me to get hurt. A little about me: I am the President of TourFloridasCoast.com and I used a swing in a city park in Gulf Breeze FL that broke due to lack of maint. and my life has been ruined so now I will use my tourism / marketing expertise to show the world that Florida Government is corrupt, "You hurt the wrong guy Charlie, you should of helped me instead of letting me become homeless and lose everything, that was not very nice. Oh yea, I am dragging Clay Ford along with you through the digital mudhole you F__k. 2010 is going to uncover even more corruption led by you Rudolph, you stupid idiot.
Posted by: Gerald Crosby | December 31, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Governor Crist is a phony!
Carl Sandberg famed author and poet said, “A liar needs a good memory”!
Charlie seemed to forget?? That President Oboma was in Florida for the dedication of the solar plant at Arcadia? You might expect that from a man who took the FL Bar 4 (four) times before he passed it!
He started the FL Commission on PUBLIC RECORDS to help his image with the press and did not support one piece of legislation.
Charlie only cares about Charlie and it shows!
Posted by: Cameron Berry | January 06, 2010 at 10:11 AM