Former Chairman Still Haunting Rubio
FL Gov. Charlie Crist (R) is taking a hard line against ex-FL House Speaker Marco Rubio (R), accusing him of misappropriating party funds for his own use. And ironically, the party chairman Rubio allies ousted is the one causing Rubio heartburn.
The attacks come in the wake of a scandal that culminated in ex-FL GOP chair Jim Greer stepping down earlier this month. Greer made party credit cards available to some members of the legislature, including Rubio -- credit cards critics say were used improperly on many occasions.
Greer left office last week after enduring months of criticism from top GOP donors and Rubio backers. Crist originally tapped Greer to chair the state GOP, and Greer endorsed Crist's SEN bid -- a relationship with which Rubio backers were uncomfortable. In concert with long-time Greer opponents, who accused him of misspending party money, the criticism was enough to force Greer to announce his resignation earlier this year.
But even though he's gone, Greer is still playing a role in the race, and it's not a role Rubio wants to see. Rubio's camp, pushing back against the accusations of improper spending, has accused Greer of leaking key documents.
Charges on Rubio's card, first reported in this morning's Miami Herald, totaled $13,900 in personal expenses during his time as Speaker. Sometimes he contributed to the monthly bill; other times, he did not. During a 6 month period in which Rubio made no payments, the card shows purchases at an online Apple store, a lumber yard, a liquor store and an electronics store.
In a letter to new party chair John Thrasher, Rubio blamed Greer for the leaks.
"These actions are an appalling act of political desperation. The idea that the former chairman of the RPOF, or those working for the Governor, would selectively leak internal RPOF documents is disturbing. But sadly it is not surprising because these are the very men who put the party in the mess it is in today," Rubio wrote in the letter. "The Florida GOP under Jeb Bush was never run with this sort of arrogance, mismanagement, lack of integrity and lack of leadership."
Crist's campaign sees an opening to tear down Rubio's image as a hero of fiscal conservatives. Rubio, who finds himself on the defensive for the first time during the campaign, will paint the flap as an overblown product of Greer's mismanagement. Which line of argument carries the day in the FL press could drive the race over the next several weeks.
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