Crist blames economy (and that now-famous photo) for hurting him with conservatives

Why are so many conservatives fed up with Charlie Crist? It's the lousy economy, Gov. Crist said in a Political Connections interview airing today on Bay News 9.

"When you're in times like that, sometimes there is a desire to blame someone. I'm an old quarterback, and I remember in games that we won, the quarterback, frankly, would get too much credit — more credit than you deserve — but you're the leader," said Crist. "Now when you're the quarterback and you lose, sometimes you get too much blame. The same thing is true, I think, of public servants in a leadership role."

And another reason? "I don't know that the photograph was helpful," Crist said of the now-famous image of him embracing President Barack Obama in February while they campaigned for the $789 billion stimulus package.

Rothstein's wish for Crist takes the cake

It wasn't the double layers of chocolate that had everyone abuzz, nor was there anything particularly special about the white chocolate placards that read: "Happy Birthday, Gov. Charlie Crist. From Scott and Kimberly Rothstein."

Rather, it was the fact that Fort Lauderdale lawyer Rothstein — now at the center of an alleged Ponzi scheme in which he is accused of bilking millions of dollars from investors — paid $52,000 just to have his name on Crist's birthday cake. Some of the lobbyists and honchos with the state's biggest special interests — Florida Crystals, the GEO Group, Mardi Gras Race Track and Casino, Disney, TECO, Florida Power & Light, among others — each paid a mere $5,200 to sponsor each candle on that beautiful July 24, 2008, day at the Breakers hotel in Palm Beach.

Fresh off a trip to Europe with his then-fiancee, Crist was thanking the 40 or so folks in the Magnolia Room when a voice disturbed him — Rothstein's. He was talking so loudly while the governor was talking that Crist finally stopped and looked up from the microphone.

"Scott, if you want the mike, it'll cost you $100,000," Crist said in jest and remonstrance, according to people in the room.

Asked about the special-interest cake on Political Connections, Crist made no apologies.

"I wish you didn't have to raise money," he said. "In order to be able to communicate with almost 20 million people, it's important to be able to have the resources to deliver a positive message."

Anthony Shriver for governor?

There's been lots of Buzz lately about Anthony Kennedy Shriver of Miami — son of Sargent and Eunice, brother of Maria — running for governor. We haven't heard back from him, but it sounds like he is very seriously looking at the race. Perennially rumored to be on the verge of running for statewide office, Shriver leads Best Buddies International, a charity that helps mentally retarded people.

What's not clear is whether there's much reason to see him as a serious threat to front-runner Alex Sink. If Caroline Kennedy couldn't get anywhere in her foray into New York politics, why would a more obscure Kennedy fare much better in a race with a well-funded and overwhelming front-runner?

McCollum counts on Rothstein fallout

One of the more interesting story lines to watch in the coming months will be Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum's dealings with state Republican Party chairman Jim Greer and Crist.

People in Crist's world were livid last week when Attorney General McCollum called on Sink to return all campaign contributions connected to Scott Rothstein. Why? Because Rothstein had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Crist and the state GOP.

Don't think for a second that the McCollum campaign failed to appreciate that the shot at Sink would also hit Greer and Crist.

Times/Herald staff writer Marc Caputo contributed to this report.