Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (D) made a giant boo-boo on Monday night during a debate with Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.), the incumbent representative for Florida’s 13th Congressional District seat: he called Hillary Clinton honest, prompting laughter and boos from the audience.
Speaking at the Palladium Theater in downtown St. Petersburg, Crist stated: “I am proud of Hillary Clinton. I think she’s been a very good secretary of state, a very good senator from the state of New York. The thing I like most about her is I believe she is steady, I believe that she is strong, I believe that she is honest, and I look forward to voting for her.”
That did it. Laughter and some boos from the audience abounded.
Jolly nailed Crist after Crist stated he supported a woman’s right to choose abortion, pointing out Crist’s anti-abortion positions in his former life as a Republican.
Jolly also heard some boos from the crowd when he allowed he wasn’t sure whether to vote for Donald Trump. The 13th Congressional district leans Democratic now; the Florida Supreme Court ordered the state legislature to redraw its boundaries last year.
Jolly pointed out, “He got in this race because the lines changed. I got in this race despite the lines changing.” Crist stated that the politician he most admired was President Barack Obama.
Video of Crist’s comment drawing laughter below: