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Smith declares he's '100 percent' for Davis

Three weeks after their bitterly fought Democratic gubernatorial primary, the loser emerges to stand with the winner.

By ALEX LEARY
Published September 26, 2006

GAINESVILLE — Facing obstacles in his run for governor, Jim Davis got a long-awaited boost Tuesday from a former rival, Rod Smith.

The men, who faced each other in a bitterly contested Democratic primary, stood at the steps of City Hall here and vowed to work together to defeat Republican Charlie Crist, who leads by virtually every measure, including fundraising and polling.

“We have a great opportunity this year, I think it’s an unprecedented opportunity, to elect what I think is the most important change in the state of Florida and that is for Jim Davis to become the governor,” said Smith, a state senator who lives outside Gainesville.

It was their first appearance together since the Sept. 5 primary, a three-week delay that fueled speculation of discord among Democrats. Such chatter grew Monday as two Smith supporters, including his political director, formed a group to raise money for Crist.

But Smith dismissed the significance of that move and his own tardiness in coming to help his former opponent. (Crist’s primary rival, Tom Gallagher, showed up for a unity event on Sept. 7.)

“I’ve read in the papers where there’s some concern about what I’ve been doing,” he said. “Well, I’ll tell you exactly what I’ve been doing: I’ve been going to work every day paying my law firm back for about a year and a half of carrying me. … But please do not be misled or misconstrue that somehow my support for this campaign is anything less than 100 percent. I believe that Charlie Crist ought not be the governor of Florida.”

Voters may think otherwise, if polls are accurate. Two surveys were released Tuesday, one showing Crist leading by 14 points, the other by 15. However, other polls have showed the race a near tossup. Take them all together, Davis said, and he’s in the game.

While they had not previously campaigned together, the two Democrats spoke numerous times on the phone and Davis sought Smith’s thoughts on his selection of former Air Force fighter pilot and state Sen. Daryl Jones as his running mate. The choice, Smith said, “shows he has the kind of judgment that is important to the future of Florida.”

Davis used the event, watched by a handful of Democratic supporters and a full contingent of reporters, to repeat his attacks on Crist, saying that as attorney general, he has not protected consumers in any meaningful way.

“For eight years Charlie has failed to do anything to ease the crush of property taxes on homeowners and business owners,” Davis said when asked about Crist’s new focus on that issue.

Crist wants to double the $25,000 homestead exemption, among other things. Davis does not support that move, but has yet to offer details on his own plan.

Davis blamed Republicans for pushing the burden of school and transportation costs to homeowners, in the form of local taxes, while proclaiming billions in tax cuts at the state level.

“That’s ridiculous,” Crist responded in an interview. “ … The people at the local level deserve a property tax break and my opponent doesn’t get it. The difference is crystal clear.”

Meanwhile, the Republican Party on Tuesday announced its third pro-Crist TV spot, this time focusing on property taxes — a move timed with the candidate’s tour of southeast and southwest Florida to meet with homeowners.

Davis, who is far behind in fundraising (last week Crist gathered about $1.2-million to Davis’ $148,000), has yet to air a commercial. “The time,” he said, “is not right yet.”

[Last modified September 26, 2006, 21:48:44]