(CNN) – The St. Petersburg Times obtained a copy of a voicemail Republican-turned-independent Gov. Charlie Crist left before 5 a.m. Monday for Democratic Senate nominee Kendrick Meek.
According to the audio, Crist wanted to meet Meek later in the day to set up a situation where Meek would back out of the Florida Senate race. Meek later said no.
Last Sunday, the three candidates for Senate faced off in a CNN/St. Petersburg Times debate, and Crist spoke to Meek briefly after the debate.
This audio comes just days after controversial reports that former President Bill Clinton asked Meek to withdraw from the race and throw his support behind Crist.
Clinton said he spoke with Meek twice regarding the possibility of exiting the race, but that he did not explicitly ask him to do so.
Meek told CNN Friday that Clinton had never approached him about exiting the race, but said Crist had been the one to broach the subject.
On Thursday Crist said he spoke with Meek and "several people" at the White House, as well as Clinton counselor Doug Band about asking Meek to bow out.
Meek has since been defiant about his chances in the upcoming election. Clinton will campaign with him in Orlando, Florida, on Monday night.
Meek and Crist will face Republican Tea Party-backed Marco Rubio in the election Tuesday.
From CNN Politics
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Now we know the truth
Last week Fox try to blame on white house and Bill Clinton
Where in this audio does anyone hear this: **According to the audio, Crist wanted to meet Meek later in the day to set up a situation where Meek would back out of the Florida Senate race. Meek later said no.**....???
It's hard for Meek because of his mothers past.Nut doesn't fall far from the tree! Of all the three evils ,Crist is the lesser,that's why unions and other groups are endorsing him.Rubio is a wolf in sheeps clothing,mark my word!Most of the scams in Fla are done by Latinos,pure fact! So watch your wallets and purses if Rubio gets elected.THIS Dem voted Crist!
Where does anyone get the idea that the proposed meeting was for Crist to convince Meek to drop out? You're squinting pretty hard to read between the lines if that's what you're pulling out. Honestly, I don't live in FL and could not care less who wins this race, but why is the media stoking fires IN FAVOR OF A DEMOCRAT with such a benign voicemail just days before the election. This is the media at its worst. Shame on you.
Most blacks I have spoken with feel the same way the Meek is too big headed and only thinking about himself. If we lose, his career is over. He will not get re-elected. His stupid eggo will cause him his job when he is up for re-elected becasue we all know that he is not a team player. He is a fool.
Meek is only thinking about himself and not what is best for our party. He is not a team player and I get sick when I see his face.
You have to remember that Christ is still a Republican with a different name, as you know the truth doesn't mean much to a Republican. Or a Tea Party member for that matter.
Pete: I being a latino, have never in my life stooped to do or say that I know of us pick pocketing. What a racist thing to say. Shows your color, and yellow does not fit this country.
To this person, Meek comes across as just fine. Intelligent, articulate.
Voicemail mentions nothing about Christ asking Meek to drop out. Infact Mr. Christ only mentions returning a phone call, from Mr. Meek, and mentions a meeting later on. No mention of reason. However, the inference from this is pretty clear, Mr. Meek is so desperate, that he will even release a voicemail from a private phone call. A man who inherited a congressional seat from his mother, is not ready for primetime. Does not have the spine to withstand the heat. Chances of him landing a senatorial seat from Florida are close to Zero. He is only going to help elect Mr. Rubio, an extremist Right wing tea bagger.
Crist is another example of why we need to get rid of career politicians. He will do or say anything to stay in power. Bring on some new blood that will actually represent the people!
Fox News didn't accuse the whitehouse of being involved, Charlie Christ did. Lets not distort the truth here!
Nothing really "EXPLOSIVE" about that voicemail. Little too much journalistic license there CNN.
Crist says he spoke to people in the White House but won't reveal who....Hmmmm I'd like to know who and the probable deal that Crist would Caucus with the dems in the Senate. Clinton says he spoke to Meeks about dropping out but... "he did not explicitly ask him to do so." Hmmmm, sounds like "what the meaning of IS is."
Crist and Clinton...... GOT SCRUPLES?
I respect Meeks for standing up for his supporters who will back him win or loss.
Nothing worse than a commander bailing out in a middle of a firefight while throops are getting nailed. Herein lies the problem with partisan politics. Mr. Meeks just proven to me that he is there to represent those that voted for him and is beyond the political BS that's been plaguing this election.
For all the so called "democrats" voting for Charlie Crist, how dare you? Florida always picks the wrong man. why florida why, DAMN. Charlie Crist is sleazy. He has "entitlement" issues and it's so clear, cause i live in Florida. THe best thing for florida is if this guy does not win.
As a black woman, I am so sick of Meek. He has become a major spoiler. He should not have gotten in the race in the first place. Regardless if Crist was in the race or not, Meek had no chance in FL. On Nov 2nd, people are going to be surprised how many black people actually voted for Crist. If Meek got out the race along time ago, Crist would have won the senate seat. I support Crist 100%.
According to the audio, Crist wanted to meet Meek later in the day. To take it the next step and report as fact that it would "set up a situation where Meek would back out of the Florida Senate race" is wild speculation.
And to Steve in North Carolina ("Crist is another example of why we need to get rid of career politicians. He will do or say anything to stay in power. Bring on some new blood that will actually represent the people!") – did you bother to type this yourself or simply cut and paste from Marco Rubio's site?
All these guys are "career politicians"; some will just have longer careers than others. Crist has ticked off politicians on both sides by doing what he believed was best for the people he represented – or what he believed was best for his career AS a politician because it was best for the people he served. Throughout this election cycle, Meek and Rubio have sought to get elected by drawing attention to Crist's willingness to "do anything to get elected"; they've made it largely about him when they would have done better to focus on why we should elect either of them on their own merits.
Why isn't anyone screaming "racism"? If the Republicans had done this, we never would have heard the end of it!!!
Obummie will do anything to win Florida. Won't happen now and certainly won't happen for him in 2012. Not even he and his thugs can cheat enough to get it done.
Meek, you are a disgrace. There is no way you can win. The country will remember you fro dringing a nutcase to the senate. Thanks for all your service. I hope your constituency (and the Dem leadership) remember this forever.
unfortunately Meek will not drop out and endorse Crist which means Rubio will win, i dont know any other way that it will turn out! Meek's ego will not let him see the truth, and chance Florida has of staying moderate will exit with Meek staying in, there it is, simple and clear!
By the way Fed Up: it is not racism, its what happens in politics during election cycle all the time, Republicans did do that you moron, look at Alaska, look at Delaware, look at Nevada, so now go ahead and scream racism!
Terry in VA: Like the Republicans will not do anything to get elected... like taking money from foreign sources and not disclosing... Like putting people at polls to "guard" against election fraud.. Let's wait till we get closer to 1012 before you make such predictions. Reagan's approvals were less than Obama's and he got re-elected. Lots of time between now and then..
As a black woman, I am sick of Meek as well. This race is not about him as it is about winning and he is not going to win not by a long shot. His career is OVER!