McCain Gets Surprise Endorsement Of Popular Florida Governor

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Florida Gov. Charlie Crist endorsed a beaming Sen. John McCain on Saturday night, delivering a boost three days before the state's pivotal primary.

Crist praised McCain as a "true American hero." At a county GOP dinner in St. Petersburg, Crist added, "After thinking about it as much as I have, I don't think anybody would do better than the man who stands next to me, Sen. John McCain."

It was the second high-profile endorsement in as many days for McCain, who is locked in a tight primary race with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Crist stepped to the podium a little more than 24 hours after Sen. Mel Martinez announced he was backing his colleague in the Senate. Officials said Martinez, who campaigned Saturday with McCain, had prodded the governor to follow his lead.

Crist said he would campaign for McCain in the coming days. "I just feel in my heart he's the right man for the job at the right time," he told reporters afterward.

The winner of next week's primary will capture all 57 delegates at stake, a large prize that will set the stage for a virtual nationwide primary on Feb. 5.

Crist's endorsement was sought by all the GOP presidential rivals, including Romney, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

McCain said the nod "means a lot in this race."

"I'm honored and privileged," McCain told reporters. "And I intend to work very closely with him on the issues. We've got to provide home insurance for every person who lives in the path of a hurricane. We are going to have to work together to save the Everglades and other great environmental treasures of this state."

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He quipped: "We will continue to compete for both baseball spring training and for tourism."

McCain does not support a national catastrophic insurance fund for Florida and other hurricane-prone states, instead saying he could bring industry and government together to protect homeowners. Crist does support a national fund.

It's unclear what effect the two endorsements will have on McCain's candidacy.

At the very least, the nods of Florida's two top Republican elected officials could serve to validate McCain's candidacy with the GOP establishment and counteract the fears among some that he would not be a loyal Republican while in the Oval Office.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, in an e-mail to the Associated Press, said: "I respect the governor's decision but Republican voters will determine who they want among very fine candidates. I look forward to working for our party's nominee in the general election."

Bush has not endorsed a candidate but many of his allies and aides have backed Romney.

Crist, a popular first-term governor, had suggested he would stay out of the multi-candidate GOP primary, and played coy about his preferences for a year. He met with all the serious contenders, and appeared with some at events.

McCain campaigned for Crist during his 2006 campaign for governor, endorsing him before the primary and appearing with him the day before the election, when Crist opted not to appear with President Bush at a Pensacola rally.

Giuliani also campaigned with Crist, and Romney delivered a $1 million check as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

While Crist has met with other Republican candidates in his office, he took an extra step last spring by introducing McCain at a fundraiser held a few blocks from the Capitol. During a debate last fall, when Crist introduced the Republican candidates, he warmly embraced McCain while shaking the hands of his rivals.

Crist has been seen as a moderate Republican. He has championed efforts to curb climate change, and was praised by former President Clinton for his efforts to restore voting rights of felons who have completed their sentences.

He also pushed for a law that requires a paper trail in state elections, a measure that bans the electronic voting machines his predecessor, Gov. Jeb Bush, sought after the 2000 presidential election. That election ended in a hotly contested recount, which President Bush won by 537 votes.

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Associated Press writers Liz Sidoti in Orlando, Fla., and Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee, Fla., contributed to this report.

Comments

[gcallaghan]

Republicans = Military Failure

[evahartselftlanguages]

TO: Senator John McCain January 27, 2008
Presidential Candidate for 2008

Ref: YOU'RE SURRENDERING AMERICA'S PEOPLE UNPATRIOTICALLY, NOT DEMOCRATS:

Firstly, you abandoned and surrendered America and its people by going off on another Adventure to Iraq and leaving Afghanistan after the terrible 9/ll NY attack here in America. It didn't occur in Iraq. We could have been attacked here again.

Secondly, you abandoned and surrendered America by reaching into the Cookie Jar Treasury now it's empty. Global terrorism is not confined to Iraq, but globally. Yet you built fortresses in Iraq as the embassy.

History records it was big Armies that sacked and quelled Lords and nobles who were attacking peasants,priests, and common folk. Where is our money now to build a strong Army? In past anti-American General was put back in Falujah. Whose surrendering whom!

Thirdly, you ignored Freedoms as ignoring our American Vote of 2004 for change. President Thomas Jefferson said,"He wanted the Majority Vote to prevail for just decisions to be made for what else have we and was equally insistent that Minority Rights be protected.­"!

Fourthly, I cannot listen to a talk show radio here in San Francisco to hear about politics and my Rights without some dirty sex talk included by talk show hosts. Where's your gentlemanly Chivalry,D­emocracy.?

Fifthly, I quit evil jobs and discovered scarce food,jobs resouces in U.S 97. Florida no Welfare Sandhez ltr to me97 and shelters 3 weeks. Other cities no Welfare. Shelters shorttime and charging money here too. Elliot Liebow, Jewish Anthropologist, writes in his '93 book,"Closing down shelters in Wash DC and in cities around country is criminal. Welfare gives meager money. I sent you letter 3 yrs ago of scarce foods,jobs you never answered. You ignored my Religious and Job Rights. Uncompassionately cruel! Homeless,job seekers have Civil Rights. I put this on radio and you were not listening to people.

Proverbs 29:14 A King Keeps His Throne Forever If He Cares for Rights of the Poor." Eva Hart Christian Army 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109 Rec job Sec of Def 64.

[elleanee]

Endorsed by the governor of Florida?? Well, we know what that means...th­e corporate owned voting machines will skew the votes toward McCain. What a totally corrupt state. Thanks Jeb Bush!

[Beolarry]

The establish media don't want to be seen as "overdoing it" as they start their coverage of Tuesday's Florida Primary results, so they decided to hide McCain on the cover of Time Magazine and as Tim Russert's guest on
"Meet the Press."

[fourex]

I'm still not surprised. What's wrong with my MSM responses?

[Ginzaman]

Impeach Bush and Cheney:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I7nz5rcBmI

[WolfLady]

Another pie in the face for Flippin' Mittwit. Thank you, Mr. Crist!

[zendem1]

McCain: "Did you just grab my ass, Charlie?"

[Oldmanlincoln]

I am not surprised at this endorsement. I remember the last one the then governor messed with and look what it got us in the Whine House.

[jubo]

'I don't need a dog, I've got McCain.' - George W Bush

[Beolarry]

McCain blood libeled Mitt Romney in Florida, Saturday. He accused him of advocating peace in Iraq.

[ICantBeBothered]

mclame is barely more coherent than doofus boy (bush).

[LITU]

Ah, John McCain, the guy who killed innocents from high above, who sold out to the enemy, who demonized torture while turning a blind eye to the real adherents of the art, who willingly dismissed international law for the sake of the corporate ethos.

America, what have you become that you would embrace such a soulless ghoul?

[LITU]

If this doesn't prove that Floridians are among the stupidest fuckers on the planet, nothing will.

[researcher]

for the repubs mc cain is a shoo in. a war hero in that other illegal war called nam.

bomb bomb iran mc cain fits americans mentality very well. appeals to middle americans. decades of capitalism has created a war for profits and jobs mentality.

we have become the worst terrorists in the world and we think might makes right.

very few talk about the illegal iraq war only if surge is working. kind of like the germans in world war II.