POLITICO.COM

Rep. Darryl Rouson, an African-American Democratic state lawmaker who has been a friend of the Crist family for two decades, acknowledged he has taken flak for publicly backing the governor’s candidacy. But he also stressed that many black voters will quietly pull the lever for Crist without ever admitting it.

“Frankly, the Democratic party can’t scream to high heavens, because so many Democrats across the spectrum are also supporting Crist. So they have to be careful who they crucify. His record is not so bad among black voters. He’s appointed black judges. He just appointed two black members to the Public Service Commission. He put teeth in the Civil Rights Act as attorney general,” said Rouson.

“They’re not going to vote for Rubio or for a billionaire who bet on the housing crash,” he continued.