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WASHINGTON - Upset that John McCain is boasting that he campaigned in Florida's primary against a national catastrophe fund bill, a Florida congressman Tuesday urged Gov. Charlie Crist to work harder to convince the senator to support the idea.
Particularly irritating, said Democratic Rep. Ron Klein of Boca Raton, is that Republican Crist is now stumping outside Florida with McCain, amid speculation the governor could be a potential McCain running mate.
"I said to him, listen, if you're going to play a role in his campaign, and this is one of our two big issues in Florida, you need to be all over this," said Klein, recounting comments he made to Crist during a meeting between members of Congress and the governor Tuesday.
Responded Crist: "As Ronald Reagan used to say, if you agree with me 80 percent of the time, you are probably my friend. Above and beyond any single issue, I've tried to never identify a candidate who is worthy by one issue alone."
Klein is a co-sponsor of a bill that has already passed the House to create a national fund to help assure property insurance availability in disaster-prone areas.
But McCain, in a speech Thursday to the Conservative Political Action Conference, pointed to his opposition to Klein's bill as evidence that he sticks to his conservative convictions on such issues as smaller government, fiscal discipline and low taxes.
McCain noted he had campaigned in Iowa against agriculture subsidies and in New Hampshire "against big government-mandated health care."
Then McCain said: "I campaigned in Florida against the national catastrophic insurance fund bill that passed the House of Representatives ..."
Despite his opposition, McCain won the GOP primary.
During the meeting, Klein told Crist that McCain doesn't seem to fully understand the bill he has been criticizing. He said the senator continues to characterize it as costing $2 billion a year - which Klein said is inaccurate.
Klein also took issue with other McCain comments, including to The Tampa Tribune, in which the senator has said he prefers a "regional approach" in which Florida would combine with Louisiana and other Gulf Coast states that are vulnerable to hurricanes.
Klein also mentioned that McCain has suggested that FEMA would play the role of a fund in his administration.
"FEMA can't really resolve this issue," said Klein.
At the meeting, Klein urged Crist to work to make sure McCain's campaign staff is better informed about what a national catastrophe fund would do.
Crist said he would. But afterward, Crist still defended his endorsement of McCain, as well as his continued campaigning on his behalf and his appearances in other states.
"It's a very important one (issue), don't misunderstand me," said Crist of the Cat Fund.
"But you know the character that John McCain has and possesses (and) the integrity and honor that he has bestowed upon our country by his tremendous service and sacrifice is just extraordinary," said Crist.
Earlier in the day, Crist told reporters at the Capitol he had "no idea" if he is being considered as a running mate for McCain.
Florida GOP Sen. Mel Martinez eventually jumped in to rescue the governor when a reporter asked Crist if he would turn down an offer to round out a McCain ticket.
"It's not a job you run for," Martinez said. "Some people run away from it."
Martinez added: "The bottom line is that we know what an attractive political figure the governor is, and that's obviously a good thing for Florida."
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What do you think? Comment below. Reporter Billy House can be reached bhouse@mediageneral.com or 1 (202) 662-7673
Particularly irritating, said Democratic Rep. Ron Klein of Boca Raton, is that Republican Crist is now stumping outside Florida with McCain, amid speculation the governor could be a potential McCain running mate.
"I said to him, listen, if you're going to play a role in his campaign, and this is one of our two big issues in Florida, you need to be all over this," said Klein, recounting comments he made to Crist during a meeting between members of Congress and the governor Tuesday.
Responded Crist: "As Ronald Reagan used to say, if you agree with me 80 percent of the time, you are probably my friend. Above and beyond any single issue, I've tried to never identify a candidate who is worthy by one issue alone."
Klein is a co-sponsor of a bill that has already passed the House to create a national fund to help assure property insurance availability in disaster-prone areas.
But McCain, in a speech Thursday to the Conservative Political Action Conference, pointed to his opposition to Klein's bill as evidence that he sticks to his conservative convictions on such issues as smaller government, fiscal discipline and low taxes.
McCain noted he had campaigned in Iowa against agriculture subsidies and in New Hampshire "against big government-mandated health care."
Then McCain said: "I campaigned in Florida against the national catastrophic insurance fund bill that passed the House of Representatives ..."
Despite his opposition, McCain won the GOP primary.
During the meeting, Klein told Crist that McCain doesn't seem to fully understand the bill he has been criticizing. He said the senator continues to characterize it as costing $2 billion a year - which Klein said is inaccurate.
Klein also took issue with other McCain comments, including to The Tampa Tribune, in which the senator has said he prefers a "regional approach" in which Florida would combine with Louisiana and other Gulf Coast states that are vulnerable to hurricanes.
Klein also mentioned that McCain has suggested that FEMA would play the role of a fund in his administration.
"FEMA can't really resolve this issue," said Klein.
At the meeting, Klein urged Crist to work to make sure McCain's campaign staff is better informed about what a national catastrophe fund would do.
Crist said he would. But afterward, Crist still defended his endorsement of McCain, as well as his continued campaigning on his behalf and his appearances in other states.
"It's a very important one (issue), don't misunderstand me," said Crist of the Cat Fund.
"But you know the character that John McCain has and possesses (and) the integrity and honor that he has bestowed upon our country by his tremendous service and sacrifice is just extraordinary," said Crist.
Earlier in the day, Crist told reporters at the Capitol he had "no idea" if he is being considered as a running mate for McCain.
Florida GOP Sen. Mel Martinez eventually jumped in to rescue the governor when a reporter asked Crist if he would turn down an offer to round out a McCain ticket.
"It's not a job you run for," Martinez said. "Some people run away from it."
Martinez added: "The bottom line is that we know what an attractive political figure the governor is, and that's obviously a good thing for Florida."
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What do you think? Comment below. Reporter Billy House can be reached bhouse@mediageneral.com or 1 (202) 662-7673