Crist has been trying to float the "Meeks is dropping out" rumor for days now. But I must admit, it would be fun to see what happens if he did.
Considering that early voting has already been happening there probably isn't much point in Meeks dropping out now.
sorry, "Meek", no "S". wsj reported this earlier in the month, all denied it, but story has just broken wide, deal was in place, and Meek changed his mind @ the last minute. might have been good strateregy for The Once in September or early October. hard to see how this plays well for Crist now. and the whole Cinton (1st black prez) asks the black guy to stay home, can't play well with one core dem constituency.
Not just asked - got him to agree before he changed his mind: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44337.html If Meek was smart, he would drop out. He's not going to win. He would've helped his party and the issues he supposedly cares about. And it would enhance his future with the party.
Yes, that's the "helped on the issues he supposedly cares about" part, for the reading comprehension challenged.
Meek denies there is any truth to the rumor. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39901311/ns/politics-decision_2010 Fla. Senate candidate denies Clinton asked him to quit Polls show Democrat Kendrick Meek trailing behind two rivals for seat MIAMI — A Florida Democrat running a distant third in the state's three-way Senate race again denied Friday that former President Bill Clinton asked him to withdraw from the race in order to help Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a former Republican who is running as an independent. Democrat Kendrick Meek told NBC's TODAY show that he had discussions about the race in Florida with Clinton during the former president's visits to the state to campaign on his behalf. But he denied that Clinton asked him to step down. "I never once told him that I was getting out and he never once asked me to get out." A number of media on Thursday, including Politico and CNN, reported Clinton had tried to persuade Meek to drop out of the race to prevent a win by the contest's frontrunner, Republican Marco Rubio. "The argument was: 'You can be a hero here. You can stop him, you can change this race in one swoop,'" a Democrat familiar with the conversations told Politico. According to the Politico report, Meek agreed, and planned to endorse Crist, but then failed to go ahead with the withdrawal. Politico cited Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna. Meek denied there was any plan for him to drop out. He also rejected poll numbers showing him getting only about 15 percent of the vote in next Tuesday's election. Crist's campaign, for its part, said in a statement: "While this story is accurate, the Governor's focus is on uniting common-sense Democrats, independents, and Republicans behind his campaign because he is the one candidate who can defeat Tea Party extremist Marco Rubio and deliver bipartisan results for Florida in Washington." The governor also confirmed to MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann that the discussions did occur, saying he had "numerous phone calls" with people close to President Clinton. A Meek withdrawal would boost the chances of Crist, who was a Republican when he became governor in 2007 but left the party when polls indicated Rubio would trounce him in the August Republican primary election. In a Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday, Rubio, who is widely seen as a rising Republican star, led with 42 percent compared to 35 percent for Crist. Meek trailed with 15 percent. National opinion polls show the Republicans on track to win enough seats to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives, which could put the brakes on President Barack Obama's legislative agenda. Surveys show Democrats are also likely to lose Senate seats but they may keep a slim majority.
I don't think he has much choice to do that, but Crist, Clinton, and I think the White House have all confirmed it.
Crist has said so but I don't recall Clinton or the White House confirming they asked Meek to drop out. [edit]Sorry I meant that Clinton didn't confirm he had asked Meek to drop out. From the text it just sounds like they had a discussion but nothing specifically asking Meek to drop out. [/edit]
Sorry - it was Clinton's spokesman. Clinton has spoken to the media since then and didn't contradict that. Here's what Clinton came out and said: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101029/ap_on_el_se/us_florida_senate_clinton Clinton acknowledged during an interview aired on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 that Meek wanted to discuss the possibility of withdrawing, so they did. He did not say he asked Meek to quit. "I said in the end, you know, he would have to do what he thought was right. He'd have to do what he felt right about," Clinton said. As for the specifics of the conversation, Clinton said that would have to stay between the two men, who have been friends for years. Basically, Meek desperately needs his good friend to come out and support his version of the story, and Clinton kept his answer completely vague. That pretty much tells us what happened. By saying that Meek approached him about the topic, he also contradicted Meek's claim that this was all created by Crist.
Most polls did show Crist leading in a two-way race. Its too late at this point, most likely, but a Meek drop out a week or two ago would have made Crist the favorite.
Yes it is vague but in your quote it says "He did not say he asked Meek to quit" That is a pretty straightforward rebuttal to "Clinton asked Meek to drop out." Clinton never did that sort of thing. It sounds like that was implied in the meeting but without more context I don't see it as Clinton directly applying pressure on Meek to drop out. From the description it sounded like Meek wanted to talk to Clinton about he saw the race going not Clinton trying to force Meek out.
I think you're misreading it. Clinton didn't say that he didn't ask Meek to drop out - he simply didn't address it. You're reading "He did not ask Meet to quit" whereas it's actually "He did not SAY he asked Meek to quit".
