While Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) has overtaken Florida Rep. Charlie Crist (D) in the polls in the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary race, the former governor of Florida is still pulling in support for his gubernatorial candidacy in the form of financial donations. For the month of September, the gubernatorial hopeful pulled in $655,000, which leaves the Crist campaign with $2.8 million in cash on hand.
Crist’s campaign made the announcement this week, and the Florida Democrat also released a statement, thanking supporters and reaffirming his commitment to the gubernatorial race.
“I continue to be humbled and honored by the support I’ve received from Floridians across the state who are done with the reckless leadership that has turned its back on our neighbors,” said Crist. “It’s time we work to build and deliver a Florida for all of its people, where our middle class can thrive, our environment and families are protected, and the sun once again shines on the Sunshine State,” he added, commenting that “with these resources, we are one month closer to building that Florida, and delivering for all our neighbors.”
The Crist campaign reported that it had received $14,098 in donations from grassroots donors, and the campaign attributed Crist’s fundraising success to Crist’s campaigning “from Pensacola to Homestead.”
A September Political Matrix/Listener Group poll indicated that Crist is leading DeSantis with Florida likely voters, and the poll also indicated that “of 911 likely Florida voters… 63% have a favorable opinion of President Joe Biden’s workforce vaccine/testing mandate he put forth September 9, 2021.”
Since then, President Biden's approval rating has tanked to 38% after his of the Afghanistan retreat, and the current are of inflation Americans are now dealing with.
Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and President Biden have verbally sparred numerous times over the Governor’s opposition to vaccine mandates, mask mandates and vaccine passports.
Most recently, the Crist campaign enlisted Lourdes Diaz (D) as the campaign’s senior advisor for Hispanic Outreach and Media.
Diaz previously worked on the presidential campaigns of both President Barack Obama (D) and President Biden.
