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George Buck, Charlie Crist’s Republican opponent, to announce official campaign launch in Clearwater

Buck will announce his candidacy for the 13th Congressional District U.S. House of Representatives seat at Bascom’s Chop House in Clearwater Monday from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
 
A snippet of a press release announcing George Buck's official campaign kickoff. Credit: George Buck, Republican for U.S. House of Representatives
A snippet of a press release announcing George Buck's official campaign kickoff. Credit: George Buck, Republican for U.S. House of Representatives
Published April 16, 2018

Charlie Crist will soon officially have an opponent in the race for Florida’s 13th congressional district seat.

Republican George Buck, a former academic and firefighter, will hold an official campaign launch at Bascom’s Chop House in Clearwater Monday from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

“His proven leadership in times of crisis, his ‘boots on the ground’ philosophy and qualifications bring fresh and realistic approaches that have not been seen in Washington in quite a while,” Buck’s campaign said in a release touting the event.

Buck has a tough opponent on his hands in Crist, a seasoned fundraiser with near universal name recognition. The Republican governor-turned Democratic congressman raised over $447,000 in the first quarter of 2018 and is sitting on $2.1 million cash on hand. Buck has yet to file a campaign finance report.

Still, if Buck can raise some dough — and Republicans avoid a Democratic wave in November — the Republican could have a puncher’s chance. Crist took the district from Republican David Jolly in 2016 by just three points.