What about Bob? New Hampshire’s former Senator Smith now a Florida Republican running against Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio (video)
June 15, 2009 at 6:22 am by Mitch Perry
By Mitch Perry
PoHo contributor and anchor of the WMNF Evening News on 88.5 FM community radio.
For weeks, state and national political reporters have been anticipating that the Charlie Crist/Marco Rubio race for the Republican nomination for Senate in Florida next year will be a barn-burning battle between competing philosophies in the party.
That’s despite a poll released last week that shows the governor with an overwhelming lead in the match-up.
And now Rubio doesn’t necessarily have a hold on all those disaffected Republicans who think the Governor is too moderate for their tastes.
Enter Sarasota resident Bob Smith.
He’s not your average disgruntled conservative but in fact a former two-term U.S. Senator from New Hampshire who also (sort of) ran for President.
Smith declared his candidacy officially last week for the nomination last week. Here’s video of his announcement:
In an interview, the 68-year-old Smith, who moved to Sarasota in 2003 after losing to John Sununu in the New Hampshire GOP Senate primary in 2002, said he’s motivated to run by the liberal leanings of Gov. Crist.
“I think Governor Crist wants to take the party in a different direction than I do,” Smith said. “I’m a Reagan Republican, a conservative on the issues.” He then spouted that he’s tough on immigration, pro-gun, pro-life. He knows that’s not Crist’s style, and that bothers Smith.
“We need conservative leadership that will come forth and say these are the principles of our party, and winning simply with an ‘R’ next to you name is not enough, because the victory is shallow. What’s a victory if you’re Democrat-lite?”
Conservative principles are what animate Bob Smith. In our 15 minute phone conversation, the word ’principles’ was uttered no less than at least half a dozen times.
His disdain for the moderate politics practice by Charlie Crist is not an uncommon feeling among rank and file Republicans, and thus, we also have Rubio’s candidacy.
Rubio is three decades younger than Smith, smoother, and frankly, more telegenic than the former New Hampshire lawmaker. So, other than ego, why does Smith think he has what it takes over the former House Speaker?
Smith talks about style and experience as differentiating himself from his fellow conservative. Style, Smith explains, in the respect that he says Rubio is better at party politics, having maneuvered his way to leadership in the Florida House.
And experience? Well, yeah, Smith has it in spades over Rubio. Two decades in Washington-type experience, which may not necessarily be what Florida GOP voters are clamoring for in 2010.
Last week, in arguing that perhaps Kendrick Meek or another Democrat would be a better choice for Floridians if they’re main issue was property tax or insurance reform, Palm Beach Post editorial writer Jac Wilder VerSteeg wrote:
Gov. Crist promised to lower property taxes and get property insurance premiums under control. So did former House Speaker Marco Rubio. Neither fulfilled his promise. Now the two are running against each other for the 2010 Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. Takes some nerve.
Can Smith be the Republican Party recipient of voter disgust? Not if the voting populace doesn’t know who he is.
“Money is very important”, he admits. “ I’d by lying if I said it wasn’t. You need to get your message out.”
But Bob Smith can dream. And he would no doubt love to get back at those Republicans who he says have lost their way.
“I believe if I were to win this election,” Smith said, “we would send a message to the rest of the country, that we can win on conservative values. “
