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Amy Sherman
By Amy Sherman March 5, 2010

Aronberg says Crist called him "rock star"

State Sen. Dave Aronberg, a Democratic candidate for attorney general, is trying to appeal across party lines with an eye toward the general election. He's portraying himself as a politician focused on principles rather than partisan warfare.

The "About Dave" page on his campaign Web site says, "The Naples Daily News called him 'the real deal,' and Governor Charlie Crist has praised him as "a rock star." It does not explain the context or source for the Crist quote.

Given how partisan politics have become, it's surprising to see such favorable comments from someone of the opposite party. So we wondered if the Republican governor really described a Democratic legislator and attorney in such favorable terms.

We found the quote in an April 19, 2007, post on the Miami Herald's Naked Politics blog titled, appropriately, "Aronberg is Crist's 'rockstar.' " Here's what it said:

"To be honest, about anything Sen. Aronberg does is important to me," Crist said when asked about Aronberg's proposal to revise state sex offender residency rules. "The guy is brilliant. He's a rockstar, and I have such great respect for him. And he's just a good, decent man. And almost everything I can think of that he's ever promoted or pushed has been something I'm able to support gladly."

The "rock star" quote was repeated in several other articles, mostly in the Palm Beach Post. A May 14, 2007, Palm Beach Post article said: "After Crist gushed last month about Greenacres Democratic state Sen. Dave Aronberg ('The guy is brilliant. I mean, he's almost a rock star.'), Aronberg got a tape and planned to give it to his mom for Mother's Day."

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You'll notice the Post version of the quote includes the qualifier "almost," but we listened to audio from the original Miami Herald interview and indeed Crist unequivocally says, "He's a rock star."

The "rock star" quote even played a role in a debate among Republicans about whether to support Aronberg. A Palm Beach County-based lobbyist wanted to launch a Republican committee to endorse Aronberg "citing the Democrat as 'honest' and having 'integrity,' and invoking Crist's praise of Aronberg as a 'rock star,' " the Palm Beach Post reported July 19, 2008. Then party chair Jim Greer nixed the idea of the Republican party backing the Democrat.

So Aronberg is correct. Crist sang his praises and put him on the big stage. We find his claim True.

UPDATE: This item was updated on March 6, 2010, because audio of the original quote shows Crist did not use "almost" as a qualifier.

Our Sources

State Sen. Dave Aronberg's Attorney General campaign Web site www.davearonberg.com/about, March 5, 2010

News articles

The Miami Herald, Naked Politics blog, "Aronberg is Crist's 'rockstar,' April 19, 2007

Audio from Miami Herald interview with Charlie Crist, April 19, 2007

The Palm Beach Post, "Crist exercises his views on fitness,'' April 20, 2007

The Palm Beach Post, "Paper ballot switch leaves trail of blame over money", May 14, 2007

The Palm Beach Post, "Democratic push comes to shove for Newell Seat", July 30, 2007

The Palm Beach Post, "Revenge sparks GOP attack ads, Democrats say", July 19, 2008

The Palm Beach Post, "P.B. County Republican plans to help Greenacres Democrat", July 27, 2008

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "Aronberg a flip flopper? State GOP says so", Aug. 27, 2008

The Palm Beach Post, "Aronberg's challenger pins hopes on West Coast", Oct. 17, 2008

The Miami Herald, "State Sen. Aronberg to run," June 5, 2009

Interviews

Allison North Jones, state Sen. Dave Aronberg's Attorney General campaign spokeswoman, March 5, 2010

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Aronberg says Crist called him "rock star"

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