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Giuliani Makes Good on Long-held Grudge Against Crist

Giuliani claims former governor hurt his 2008 presidential campaign

Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist, left, talks to Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, before testifying on Capitol Hill in 2012. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist, left, talks to Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, before testifying on Capitol Hill in 2012. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Rudy Giuliani never forgets.

The onetime mafia prosecutor told a newspaper columnist Monday that he still blames former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist for his dashed presidential ambitions in 2008 — because, Giuliani maintains, Crist didn’t keep a promise to endorse him.

Now that Crist has switched parties to run for Congress as a Democrat, Giuliani has made a point of making his feelings known.

“Charlie is a completely dishonorable man,” Giuliani told Tampa Bay Times Political Editor Adam C. Smith.

 

Not that anyone in Florida had any doubts about where Giuliani stands on Crist. The former New York City mayor was featured in a 2014 attack ad  when Crist was running for governor as a Democrat. 

“I’ve never met a person in politics that I disrespect more than Charlie Crist,” Giuliani said in a video the GOP played in every Florida media market that year. 

[Crist Announces Florida House Bid]

Giuliani’s comments Monday picked up the thread.

“He would fit in with Hillary. Hillary is a bigger liar than anybody, and Charlie is more dishonorable that anything. Charlie is a completely dishonorable man, and stands for nothing,” Giuliani said, according to Smith. “If Bernie were the nominee, Charlie would probably be running as a socialist.”

Crist has denied making any promises to Giuliani.

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