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Fla. primary: Ex-gov. Crist seeks job back as Dem

By WTOP Staff

BRENDAN FARRINGTON
AP Political Writer

MIAMI (AP) — A former Republican governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, campaigned at early voting sites and black churches on the final weekend before a state Democratic primary as he sought his old job back under a different party affiliation.

Crist attended a South Florida church service on Sunday, sitting two rows in front of the state’s former Senate Democratic leader and chief primary rival Nan Rich. Both he and his underdog opponent have campaigned heavily in populous Miami-Dade and Broward counties of South Florida in hopes of boosting voter turnout for Tuesday’s primary.

The Democratic winner is expected to face Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who has only minor opposition in the Republican primary. Scott has focused most of his re-election bid on Crist and polls show a tight race for governor likely should he and Crist meet in the general contest. Crist’s effort to return to the governor’s office as a Democrat is being closely watched nationally.

Crist was once considered a potential running mate for 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain, but his political fortunes changed after a widely publicized photo of him hugging President Barack Obama during a 2009 rally in support of the $787 billion federal stimulus. Crist later lost a Senate campaign as an independent and then made the final conversion to Democrat after campaigning heavily for Obama’s re-election.

On Sunday, Rich and Crist both shook hands, then both swayed to the gospel music, Rich clapping her hands to the beat. They both also visited the same early voting site at a library in Miami Gardens, where Rich quietly walked through the crowd talking to voters about issues such as education and health care.

By contrast, Crist was surrounded by a large crowd where he posed for pictures and shouted out “I love you” to supporters.

That the two Democrats were campaigning head-to-head was a change from the way the primary has played out over past months. Crist has refused to debate Rich and rarely acknowledged her as a candidate, frustrating Rich and her supporters who wanted an opportunity to point out their differences.

Rich is a lifelong Democrat who has talked of consistency on issues, vowing to keep abortion legal, supporting gay rights and tightening gun laws.

Crist was seeking a strong showing Tuesday to put aside any doubts that Democrats haven’t accepted his party conversion. He spent many of the final days before the primary in South Florida, which holds the most Democratic votes.

“It’s always important no matter what the election, whether it’s a primary election or a general election, to get the vote out,” Crist said. “Particularly for the primary, South Florida is a significant focus for us.”

And at an earlier church stop in Miami Gardens, Crist let the congregation know he has been converted.

“I’ve seen the light and I am a Democrat,” Crist said. “A Florida Democrat! Praise God!”

For his part, Scott on Monday was expected to announce a series of education proposals in a state where education, along with jobs and the economy, are becoming flashpoints in the governor’s race. Scott has been hammered by Crist over school budget cuts that Scott endorsed during his first year as governor.

Associated Press Writer Gary Fineout in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this report.

Follow Brendan Farrington on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bsfarrington

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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