Strategic Context
Charlie Crist is the representative candidate of Democratic, who is vying for Florida governorship in 2014 gubernatorial elections. He had political backgrounds since he had served as a governor from the year 2007 to 2011, as a Republican representative. However, in the year 2010, he abandoned the Republican Part to vie as an independent for the U.S. Senate. Unfortunately, he lost the race to his opponent Marco Rubio. After two years later, in the year 2012, Crist endorsed and back up President Barack Obama, who was contending for the presidency with Democrat Party. Therefore, Crist shifted his gears and announced to be a Democrat. The changes were among the strategy of his campaign at national level and made him famous to many since he was not on the opposition side. The policy shifted the gears of the campaign and influenced the nature of his race (Bruggeman). It was clear and pretty obvious where Crist campaign he could see a pathway to victory.
The campaign race in Florida will be affected by how the candidates will give their debates on implications for renewable energy as well as environment policies. The residents of the county will be analyzing the decisions and events that will be occurring during the campaign spell. Gubernatorial candidate Charlie has distinguished and understood that the corrupting influence of renewable energy has blocked efforts to helping the county of Florida evolution to have a fair and free market that will improve the economy of renewables. The impact makes Charlie Crist to be a challenger to Governor Scott, who had contrast views on this impact. Throughout his campaign, Crist seems to be boastful about his solar support, which makes his supporters to believe in him since he has a similar opinion to the needs of Florida. Governor Charlie Crist has been known as ‘green governor’ who previously have been addressing and supporting renewable energy agendas. Charlie presented more awareness in doing what was in the best interest of all Floridians than in calming his party base (Torresnet). Scott, by distinction, has too frequently let his hard-right ideology dictate his policies.Campaign Participants
Elected Officials
Charlie Crist was endorsed by elected officials who see the future of Florida in him, believed and trusted in his potential leadership of change. The elected officials included Bob Butterworth, who was a former Attorney General of Florida. Bob Butterworth and other prominent state Democrats back up Crist since they wanted a viable gubernatorial candidate. Bob had no doubts that Charlie is the right person to change Florida. Kathy Castor who was United States representative for Florida in the 14th congressional district. Charlie Crist was endorsed by Dan Gelber, who was a preceding State Senator, and he was nominated for Attorney General in the year 2010 and he said that he was for Crist (Bruggeman). Dan argues that during Crist’s term as Attorney General of Florida, he proves he was a true bipartism and a real moderate leader. The above elected officials had experience in U.S. politics; therefore, they acted as mentors of Governor Charlie Crist. As the campaign race continues, Charlie gets endorsement from the former United States president Bill Clinton. Clinton seems to use his star power to ramp up support nominee for Democratic Charlie. Using President Clinton’s pillars, Charlie said that he will be on the front line to make sure there is equality for the middle class and no gender discriminations. He promises his Floridians that there will be equal pay for women, expansion of health care, raising the minimum wages, and making ensuring everyone has a fair shot at success.
Organizations
The following are organizations that back up and endorsed Charlie Crist in his gubernatorial elections. The first organization was an important trade union with about 1.5 million representative workers who work in the public sector. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) believe and prefer a governor who is a business minded and they prefer Charlie Crist for governor (Ammann). Additionally, Charlie Crist was endorsed by Equality Florida organization that represents the LGBT group. In his campaign, Crist said that it is essential to use the influence of the Governor’s Office in a constructive way. By saying so, he seems to pressure Republican Attorney General of Florida by defending and stopping a fight of overturning same-sex marriage (Bruggeman). These lead to support from Equality Florida Action PAC as well as Human Rights Campaign, which is based in Washington. In his speech, he added that it has come a moment of time that one let people of Florida State to live their lives, and the Republican should keep their nose out of Florida’s people life. According to Equality Florida, while Charlie Crist was a governor he was a longtime LGBT-rights advocate.
The Florida AFL-CIO is contrasting many of the strategies of Republican Rick Scott. However, there was a controversial for who will win the endorsement between Charlie and Nan Rich, who were the nominees of Democrat. Later, Crist wins unanimous support from the organization which supports him as the candidate of Democratic for governor. According to Crist, he was proud to stand in the midst of workers in the AFL-CIO, and he believes that the economy work well when it is built from the middle class. Additionally, Teacher Union Organization endorses Charlie (Ammann). They prefer him as people’s governor; the organization has approximately 140,000 current and retired teachers. In Charlie speech, he said that he knows the worth of public education, and he will be committed to delivering the appropriate needs and services. He trusts that in order to advance the economy there was a need to grow and advance public schools, and built a firm foundation of quality teaching staffs in order to build a world class education system.
Florida Pipe Trades Council organization voted solidly to support Crist for governor; this was the first major union endorsement that shows a successful pathway that could take Charlie to his former job. Using his strategy of creating more middle-class jobs, improving health care and public education for working families seem to be the key plan that brought the FPTC support. FPTC represents approximately 12,500 pipefitters, welders, plumbers, sprinkler fitters and HVAC service technicians all from Florida. Charlie appreciated the support from FPTC and promised to focuses on building an economy that will strengthens the development of the middle class (Bruggeman). Another organization that endorsed Charlie in his race for governor was Florida Planned Parenthood, with their slogan “women are watching” they support the candidate that who could access women’s health and secure a pro-women state legislature. Late June, Florida Police Benevolent Association announced officially to support Democrat candidate in the Florida governor’s race.
Newspaper
The first newspaper that supported Charlie in his race for the governorship was Tampa’s La Gaceta newspaper. The newspaper had a similar opinion with those for Charlie. Thus, they backed him to ensure Charlie has deriver issue such as women’s right to choose. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board announced that their governor choice was Charlie, according to them Charlie governed as a moderate leader. In conclusion, the newspapers that endorsed Charlie in governor’s race, stipulated that for the benefit of Floridian capital city as well as for the sake of Florida in large, there is only one choice for governorship race who is Charlie Crist.
Campaign Organization
A successful campaign is planned and carried out my many willing supporters. Charlie built a grassroots campaign organization that was people-focused team which will represent Florida’s diversity. The principal objective of the team was to counter and defeat Rick Scott and put Florida’s middle class back in charge as the governor. Charlie chooses Omar Khan as his campaign manager, Jessica Clark as the deputy campaign manager and also finances director. He also chooses Katie Bohnett as the Director of Scheduling and Cesar Fernandez as the political director. The team was talented, good people and with academic qualification according to their respective position (Torresnet). Charlie took his campaign in areas where he was opening offices, for instance, Poinciana campaign office. Charlie also had opened campaign offices in Hilsborough County, Tampa, and Riverview. In Pork County, Charlie as nominee for Democratic Party has offices in Winter Haven, Lakeland, and Haines City. Charlie Crist's campaign team was made of 12 qualified staffs and consultants.
Developing a Strategy
Charlie Crist and his campaign team developed a campaign strategy that aimed mostly the Black Americans and the middle class. Charlie did not rely on expensive TV adverts campaigns, but he employed staffs that were ready to go under the grassroots of the Floridians. The field operations teams were used particularly in South Florida, with the objective of outperforming any other candidate. Charlie finds a goal that would reach the minorities and independents, it was a strategy for voters’ turnout, and the campaign team enhances that if everyone vote automatically they will win.
Campaign team also employed Hispanic voters target as a strategy for winning the race. Charlie went for a Hispanic running mate in order to be able to win Hispanic votes. With his strategy of fighting for abortion, birth control and equal pay, the strategies seem to work for him. The campaign team touted its newest TV ad that aims to paint the Republican incumbent as extreme due to Scott multiple signing on laws restricting abortion rights (Torresnet). The climax strategy was a big party which closes the race and united Rick Scott. The campaign team strategy was to win 49% of the Tampa Bay district. They also targeted to win 42% of the white people’s vote; also they targeted at least 52% of the Hispanic vote. The campaign team also makes a strategy of wining Republican voters than how Scott would win from Democratic voters. The last strategy was to win at least 93% of the African-American votes and struggle to upsurge blacks turnout from the 11% to 15%.
Identifying and Targeting Voters
The Crist’s campaign team identified and targeted the African-American; their support would ignite a winning spark on his side. The primary turnout of the Blacks has been weak, however, Charlie’s team targeted to change and improve turnouts. Democrats must concentrate with African-American votes, and they must target above 92%, this will secure them in being on the front line of winning the race. According to recent opinion polls conducted by Public Policy Polling in January, 2014 Charlie Crist emerge the winner with 58%. However, he continues to campaign in order not to lower his popularity and be promising to his supports. Florida has a turnout approximately 6,000,000 voters. According to the statistics, Latino and Black's votes were on Charlie side. However, the whites were against Crist and they refer him as ‘governor of the blacks’. In order for the Democrats to emerge victorious, the votes from distinct categories would determine their win. Charlie should above 65% votes of Latino, 40% votes of Whites and 90% votes of the Blacks. Therefore, the total percentage would be 195% out of 300%. This will give the Democrats candidate a landslide win of 585,000 votes. This will create a bigger difference between Charlie Crist and his opponent Rick Scott.
Contacting the Voters
This was the strategy that Charlie opponent capitalized on it Rick Scott used TVs and radio ads to increase air war and up his campaign. Scott spends about $50 million in TV ads. Every week the campaign had another face, with different advertisements. This becomes the ground game strategy for both the teams, and however, Charlie reduced his pace in these politics and went to grassroots where he established his roots to rallies campaigns. Charlie Crist used radio ads featuring President Barrack Obama’s voice and encouraged Floridians that no one would prevent them from voting. The presidents also encourage Floridians to vote if they want to raise minimum wage, if they believe in changing fair shot in every child, and if they want a governor who will fight for Floridians, not just the power and wealth, they should vote for Charlie Crist. The air war was put in the end by Scott wins, expensive and negative ad war favored Rick Scott. The cost of the ad was so expensive, for instance, in November 3; the CPI said the both candidates expended $95.4 million in purchasing ad time. Crist and the Democrats spend $34 million.
Financing the Campaign
Charlie’s campaign gets million of cash infusion from the state’s public campaign financing program. The infusion will aid Charlie to cut short Scott commanding fundraising advantage strategy. Since Crist comes into the campaign race in November, his political and campaign committees have raised approximately $14.4 million and expended approximately $3.6 million. This was according to the latest campaign finance report that was released. In that time, Scott has risen up $23.7 million and consumed $22 million (Torresnet). The top industries that contributed finance of Charlie’s campaign are Real Estate that contributed about $2,493,416, Law Firms contributed $2,132,458, Health Professionals contributed to $1,073960, Insurance Firms contributed up to $494950, while General Contractors $468,225. In summary, individuals’ contribution was approximately $11.2 million, PACs contribution was about $8.1 million, and unknown organizations contribution was $25,600.
Outcome of the Election
The result of Florida gubernatorial election, 2014 was surprising on the Charlie side, things went wrong but time had erupted, and there was no way to reverse the situation. The result that was officially announced was Rick Scott was the leading candidate with 2,861,390 votes which was converted to 48% of the total votes casted. Charlie Crist followed as the second candidate with 2,795,263 votes which was 47% of the casted votes. The winners were Republican incumbents Rick Scott and Carlos Lopez-Cantera, who would be in charge of Florida State for four-year terms for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, correspondingly. The race was a toss-up since the Republican and Democrats were almost to tie. Incumbent Governor Rick Scott was re-elected again with his running mate Carlos Lopez-Cantera. Republicans had consequently won the three previous gubernatorial elections in Florida (Ammann). However, the margins of win had contracted with each election conducted (Bruggeman). The competitive gubernatorial election race was the solitary contest on the November election that endangered to shift the biased stability of power in Florida. Both chambers of the Florida the governor's office and State Legislature were held by the Republican Party, therefore creating Florida a state government trifecta.
Works Cited
Ammann, Phil. "Tampa's La Gaceta newspaper endorses Charlie Crist for governor." SaintPetersBlog. N.p., 14 July 2014. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. <http://www.saintpetersblog.com/archives/152502>.
Bruggeman, Karyn. "Can Charlie Crist Ride Out Rick Scott’s Media Storm? - NationalJournal.com." www.nationaljournal.com. National JOURNAL, Nov. 2014. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. <http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/can-charlie-crist-ride-out-rick-scott-s-media-storm-20140709>.
"Gov. Rick Scott, Charlie Crist start final push; Scott adds $12.8 million to campaign." Tampa Bay Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
Smith, Adam C., Mary E. Klas, Marc Caputo, and Kathleen McGrory. "Gov. Rick Scott, Charlie Crist start final push; Scott adds $12.8 million to campaign." Tampa Bay Times [SUN CITY CENTER] 1 Nov. 2014: n. pag. Print.
Torresnet, Frank. "Charlie Crist | The Orlando Political Observer." The Orlando Political Observer - Elections, Candidates, and Political News. N.p., 4 Nov. 2014. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
