Crist Blasts Scott In Palm Beach Speech
WEST PALM BEACH (CBSMiami/AP) — In his fight for a second chance at the office, former Governor Charlie Crist blasted his successor Monday during a speaking engagement in West Palm Beach.
The Republican-turned-Democrat heaped criticism on Gov. Rick Scott on virtually every area of his leadership in a speech before a crowd of several hundred people at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches.
"Florida doesn't have an economic plan unless you count flying around in your private plane and holding press conferences and giving away taxpayer money to your buddies," Crist told the crowd.
Scott's campaign sent Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera to rebut Crist. The lieutenant governor said most of Crist's speech was divisive and untrue.
"I feel like I'm watching a bad political movie. Charlie has become the unpleasant stereotype of a politician willing to say anything, do anything to further ambitions. When the state was in really bad shape, he didn't care about leadership. He left to pursue his own ambition," said Lopez-Cantera in a statement.
Crist is considered the front-runner for the Democratic nomination to face Scott in November.
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