Prominent elected Broward Democrats helping Charlie Crist raise money

Two elected Broward Democrats – Property Appraiser Lori Parrish and state Rep. Ari Porth – are the main hosts of a fundraiser next week for Republican-turned-no party Senate candidate Charlie Crist.

By helping the governor raise money, they’re spurning their own party’s leading candidates, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami and Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene.

Both Democrats praised the governor Friday, and said their fundraising help comes with endorsements of Crist, who will face the winner of the Aug. 24 Democratic primary and Republican Marco Rubio in the November general election.

“I’m a good Democrat. However, I also do not want to see somebody as right wing as Mr. Rubio jeopardize my rights and other peoples’ rights by getting elected. I guess that means I’m a Democrat and a realist,” Parrish said. “I’m a life-long Democrat. The day I turned 21 years old I walked into the Supervisor of Elections Office in Hollywood and registered as a Democrat ….. There are more issues at stake here than party.”

She said she didn’t expect any political repercussions for her or for Porth. “Ari and I aren’t doing anything but saying publicly what everybody else is talking about,” Parrish said. Continue reading here.