Newly minted Democratic Florida gubernatorial nominee Charlie Crist believes President Joe Biden has been a “phenomenal” commander-in-chief.
Fresh off of his primary victory, Crist appeared on CNN’s “New Day” Wednesday morning when he was asked if he wants Biden to campaign with him.
“Absolutely,” Crist responded. “Listen, look what President Biden has done for our country. He’s been exceptional. Look what he’s done for the world. I mean, what’s happening in Ukraine, him bringing NATO together, new members to NATO — Finland, Sweden. It’s remarkable. The EU. I mean, what other president could have done what he’s done? He’s been phenomenal.”
It is true that Finland and Sweden have taken the massive step of seeking to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
But the suggestion that it only would have happened with Biden in the Oval Office is rather laughable. Russian Vladimir Putin and his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine were a great selling point for joining an alliance that has a collective defense treaty.
Watch the video below:
Charlie Crist just now: Biden is an “exceptional” president. “Look what he’s done for our country. Look what he’s done for the world.” ?
— Christina Pushaw ? ?? (@ChristinaPushaw) August 24, 2022
pic.twitter.com/ZBPSFaShU2
Crist went on, “Gas prices are down. Inflation is trending down. Democracy is trending up.”
He also baselessly claimed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) “doesn’t support African Americans and their right to vote.”
Finally, Crist concluded with some uncomfortably effusive praise of Biden:
“Joe Biden supports all of that. He’s a good man. He’s a great man. He’s a great president. I can’t wait for him to get down here. I need his help. I want his help. And he’s the best I’ve ever met. I know this man. He offered me his lunch when he was campaigning for me a couple of years ago down in Florida… But seriously, this man is a great man. Thank god Joe Biden’s the President of the United States today. Thank god for that, and President Obama before him. These are good people. I’m sorry, I love these guys.”
It’s not surprising that Crist would want whatever help he can get. Polls taken of then-hypothetical match-ups between DeSantis and Crist — before the primary — show the Democrat trailing the incumbent governor.
RealClearPolitics average of polls gives DeSantis a nearly seven-point lead over Crist.
But Crist’s desire to have Biden campaign with him seems like an odd choice as then-President Donald Trump carried Florida in 2020 by over three percentage points. That is a larger margin than his 1.2% victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Former President Barack Obama also carried the state with a razor-thin margin in 2012.
Additionally, a poll released last week by the Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida found DeSantis had a 50% approval rating in the state.
Meanwhile, FiveThirtyEight’s tracker finds that nationally, 40.9% of Americans approve of Biden’s job performance.
Perhaps Crist was just trying to pander to Biden, but the president probably won’t be much of a help in Florida.
