Meek vows aggressive Senate campaign against Crist

By Adam C. Smith, Times Political Editor
In Print: Sunday, June 14, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG - Democrat Kendrick Meek on Saturday promised a hard-charging U.S. Senate campaign that will make Charlie Crist sweat.

"If the governor was talking to you tonight, there would be some kind of fan running because he never wants to sweat in front of people for some reason," the U.S. representative form Miami quipped to 200 party activists at a Pinellas Democratic Party fundraising dinner.

"The questions will be answered. There will be no more ducking and dodging when it comes to this Senate seat," Meek told the enthusiastic crowd in Crist's hometown.

Crist is the heavy front-runner for the Republican nomination.

But Meek's speech highlighted some of the likely challenges of a campaign against the self-proclaimed "People's Governor." Meek spoke of tackling climate change and standing up to property insurance companies, which happen to be some of Crist's favorite talking points.

Other speakers Saturday night included state Sens. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres and Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, both candidates for attorney general.

Gelber until recently had been running against Meek for the Senate, and his switch to the attorney general's race drew a veiled jab from Aronberg.

"I do not see this as a steppingstone or a fall-back. This is my passion," said Aronberg, who suggested the office should be more aggressively pro-consumer than it has been under Republican Bill McCollum.

"Internet predators is an important issue, but is that the No. 1 and only important issue in the state of Florida today?"

Gelber, a former federal prosecutor and state House Democratic leader touted his experience. He was the top deputy in a U.S. Attorney's Office with 200 prosecutors.

State Sen. Charlie Justice, who is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores, noted that people had doubted his chances when he ran for the state House and state Senate, and he proved them wrong.

"Voters voted for change in 2008. You elect me to Congress, we'll make real progress ... I'm not running against anyone, I'm running for Congress because I'm determined to make a difference," Justice said.

Pinellas Democrats for years had opted not to hold such annual gala events.

Pinellas Democratic chairman Ramsay McLauchlan said it's an indication of the progress being made in what used to be a notoriously divided local party.

"The main thing is people are getting along," he said.