On stumping and Florida's 'empty chair'

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By Carmen Gentile, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

MIAMI

Like so many residents of the Sunshine State, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is not originally from here.The Pennsylvania native-turned-chief executive of Florida says it's his new home's siren song of beautiful beaches and abundant investment opportunity that makes the state so alluring to transplants "not only from the United States, but from all over the world."

"We're the melting pot of the American melting pot," said Mr. Crist in his recent interview with The Washington Times.

Aesthetics and beachfront condos aside, Florida is a political prize both presidential candidates covet, perhaps more than any other.

The setting for the close of the controversial 2000 presidential election, during which Mr. Crist's predecessor and presidential sibling Jeb Bush held the state's highest office, Florida once again figures prominently in the November election.

Both Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain have taken pains to court Florida's Latin vote, knowing that support can make the difference between winning and losing the White House.

And if widespread rumor and speculation ring true, Mr. Crist is on Mr. McCain's shortlist of potential running mates.

Though the Republican governor recently visited Mr. McCain at his Arizona home, he has repeatedly denied being asked to join the Republican ticket.

When asked whether his fiancee would consider moving to Washington "were he to get a promotion," the 52-year-old Crist, whose public demeanor and press savvy is unparalleled among Florida politicos, noticeably squirmed and said he hadn't discussed it with his betrothed, Carole Rome, a 38-year-old New York native and heiress to a family fortune made selling Halloween costumes.

Using his deftness for deflection on the million-dollar question everyone is asking him these days, the Florida governor instead likes to talk about why Mr. McCain is the best choice for president for both Floridians and all Americans.