Newsom v. DeSantis

Our most recent book is titled Divided We Stand: The 2020 Elections and American Politics.  Among other things, it discusses state and congressional elections. 

Steve Contorno at CNN:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is sending money across the country to help Rep. Charlie Crist defeat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this November.

The California Democrat on Thursday tweeted that he was pledging $100,000 to make DeSantis a “one-term governor” and he called on his supporters to donate to Crist, who won the Democratic nomination to be Florida’s governor on Tuesday.

Asked about the donation during a Los Angeles event, Newsom said he was compelled to donate to Crist because “I don’t like bullies.” Newsom pointed to DeSantis’ verbal assault of Dr. Anthony Fauci at a rally Wednesday, during which the Republican leader said of the country’s top infectious disease expert, “Someone needs to grab that little elf and chuck him across the Potomac.”

 

Yesterday, Charlie Crist told Floridians he doesn't want our votes. Today, Charlie Crist thanked the governor of the failed state of California for his money. Priorities!

Join us on a tour of Gavin Newsom's Dystopia-by-the-Sea to learn why we say "Don't California My Florida"... pic.twitter.com/tZyPSrqsQD

— DeSantis War Room (@DeSantisWarRoom) August 25, 2022

The Politics of the Oil Slick

Five years ago, the response to Hurricane Katrina suffered from poor coordination between President Bush and the Democratic governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco. The 2010 oil slick may well worsen partisan polarization and blame-shifting. Every governor of a Gulf Coast state is a Republican:

• Rick Perry of Texas
• Bobby Jindal of Louisiana
• Haley Barbour of Mississippi
• Bob Riley of Alabama
• Charles Crist of Florida

Crist, of course, is now running for the Senate as an independent. But the president and other Democrats are supporting their party's own candidate, Kendrick Meek.