Florida Voters on Crist's Side of Seminole Casino Gambling Issue

Now, as lawmakers prepare to meet and discuss what gambling plan they wish to negotiate with the Seminole Tribe, a poll says Florida residents are behind Crist's plan at better than two to one.

Governor Charlie Crist of Florida was presented with a crisis barely hours after being sworn in, and solved the problem by netting the state hundreds of millions in revenue that had previously been untapped. But state legislators, driven by gambling special interests and pride, got the state Supreme Court to rule the compact expanding gaming at Seminole casinos illegal, and Crist's work was undone.

Now, as lawmakers prepare to meet and discuss what gambling plan they wish to negotiate with the Seminole Tribe, a poll says Florida residents are behind Crist's plan at better than two to one. According to the Miami Herald, a poll conducted by Quinnipiac University found respondents in favor of keeping the Crist compact 63 percent to 33 percent.

Crist took office with a looming deadline, left by predecessor Jeb Bush, after which the Seminoles could act unilaterally and pay the state no revenues at all. Crist granted the tribe use of Class III slots, which they would have received anyway. He also gave them exclusive blackjack and table games.

In return, the Seminole promised hundreds of millions to the state annually, after years of paying nothing. Yet some legislators, under pressure from other gambling venues, have rejected the deal.

The poll also showed that voters preferred expanded gambling to raising taxes, 59 percent to 36 percent. If the Crist plan isn't approved, opponents better have a handy and well-reasoned substitute, or voters could turn ugly.