Since former Republican governor and new Democrat Charlie Crist entered the Florida governor’s race, every public opinion poll shows him easily out-pacing primary opponent Nan Rich. But former state Sen. Rich told reporters at the Capitol Wednesday not to count her out yet.
Rich says her grassroots campaign is gaining momentum. She compared herself to Barack Obama in 2007, a time when she says few people thought Floridians would vote for an unknown African-American president—but they did. Twice.
“Floridians are ready for new leadership not based on personality, but rather on long-held principles and a clear set of priorities," she said. "And I stand here today not on platitudes or a pile of money. I stand here on principles, Democratic principles.”
Rich says her priorities include women’s rights, ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and holding workers’ rights higher than corporate interests. She also says if elected she’d focus on environmental policies like preventing runoff from entering springs and building infrastructure to fight sea level rise.
Polls show Charlie Crist ahead of her by more than two dozen percentage points.
