Kendrick Meek Death Watch: Crist Getting Dem Money

The powerful progressive blog Taliking Points Memo ran a story titled "Are Democrats Abandoning Kendrick Meek In Florida." The question is rhetorical. Florida Democrats Jon Ausman, Carol Roberts and Joe Angelo have endorsed Jeff Greene over Meek. The fact that Meek has been in the Senate race for nearly two years and didn't seal up endorsements is pathetic. Meek is getting flanked by Greene in the primary.

Gov. Charlie Crist has tapped into the Democratic fundraising machine. The St. Petersburg Times reports of Crist receiving donations from trial lawyers and unions. Lance Block hosted a fundraiser for Crist. In attendance were Former Democratic Florida House Speaker T.K. Wetherell and Dexter Douglass, a former advisor to Lawton Chiles. Rep. Darryl Rouson (D) was at another Crist fundraiser.

Even Democratic guru Steve Schale admitted support for Meek has been weak.

"There is certainly a 'Can Kendrick win?' or 'Can Jeff win?' factor," said Democratic strategist Steve Schale, "but I think most of it is personal loyalty (to Crist)."

The well-staged photo-op of Crist and President Barack Obama was not an accident on the part of the White House. Florida Democrats took the Obama-Crist photo-op as an unofficial endorsement. The White House knows Meek is a horrible candidate and feel Crist is the best chance for Democrats to keep the majority in Congress. Crist will meet with Vice-President Joe Biden tomorrow in Pensacola.

On My 22, I wrote a blog post declaring that Meek had no chance of becoming a U.S. Senator. I stand by that assessment.