The negative tone of the Florida governor's race has hurt Democrat Charlie Crist and likely handed a win "by a whisker" to Gov. Rick Scott, former Rep. Mark Foley of Florida said Wednesday on
Newsmax TV's "America's Forum."
"The negativity has not only turned people off, but it's really dragged what was a popular guy, Charlie Crist, to an even tie with [Republican Gov. Rick] Scott," Foley said. "That's remarkable."
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The electorate views Crist suspiciously because "he's been on three different teams already," Foley said, referring to
Crist's transition within a two-year period from Republican to independent to Democrat.
Foley predicts a Republican victory, but thinks it will be reminiscent of Florida's Bush-Gore debacle in 2000.
"What's going to happen here is, it's going to be a squeaker," he said. "I predict it will be Scott by a whisker, but there'll be recounts, there'll be acrimony, there'll be legal challenges. We will see a repeat of 2000."
Medical marijuana, placed on the ballot at the behest of Crist's side, according to Foley, doesn't look like it's going to affect voter turnout in the least.
"They thought that would drag or drive turnout spectacularly in the liberal core … turnout's going to be anemic," Foley said. "Democrats are fearful, and that's why Scott has this election.
"When you ask people who they support, they may say Crist or they may say Scott," he said. "When you ask who's likely to win, it tips to Scott's favor. Still think it's going to be within the margin of error, which draws the parallel of 2000 recounts, acrimony, street protests."
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This year's midterm races have amounted to a referendum on
President Barack Obama, something that Foley said will ultimately benefit the GOP, who he predicts will take 51 or 52 Senate seats.
"The IRS scandal, the Ebola scandal, Fast and Furious, Benghazi, all of those issues have shown this administration's incompetent," Foley said. "The public's looking for a change.
"I wish Republicans were more popular, I wish we had better wind at our back, but given the president's low poll numbers, people naturally gravitate."
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