For all the references to Charlie Crist being an “opportunist,” an ideological chameleon and a serial flop-flipping, flip-flopper, his biggest electoral negative in a 2014 square-off against Scott is likely none of the above. His weathervane politics are still eminently spinable: He’s a thoroughly nice, affable guy who can “evolve” to do what’s best for Florida. Besides, instances of pols changing parties and positions were not exactly unheard of before Crist.
However, you don’t have to be a Dem, a GOPster or an Independent to have felt betrayed in 2010. When Florida was being hammered by the most trying economic times in memory, Crist had conflicting priorities. Had he stepped up instead of stepping down, there never would have been a Gov. Scott. That was the upshot when “For the Career” trumped “For the People.”
In a non-presidential, off-year election that typically skews to grass roots voters, that could be problematic for a pro-Crist turnout. But there’s no denying, of course, the volume of anti-Scott sentiment in the mix. And imagine the campaign optics: charm-offensive guy vs. offensive guy.