Charlie Crist Campaign Denies Rumors Of An Independent Run For Florida Senate

UPDATE: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's Senate campaign pushed back on rumors that he will run as an independent rather than a Republican, blaming "the Rubio campaign's continual attempts to distract voters" for the latest scuttlebutt.

"To put these rumors to rest once and for all, as we have said countless times before, Governor Crist is running for the United States Senate as a Republican," Crist Campaign Manager Eric Eikenberg said in a statement. "He will not run as an Independent or as a No Party Affiliation."

There has been growing speculation that Crist, who continues to trail Rubio in the polls may be looking to drop out of the GOP primary.

Rubio announced Wednesday that he'd raised a whopping $3.6 million in the first 90 days of 2010, the St. Petersburg Times reports.

Rubio's fundraising haul has helped fuel the rumors about whether Crist would run as an independent candidate, and The Times found other evidence too:

This just a day after Gov. Charlie Crist bucked fellow Republicans and vetoed an elections bill he was expected to sign -- and the same day he reversed course and hinted he might veto a teacher tenure bill favored by Jeb Bush and other Republican leaders. On top of that, Crist plans to call the Legislature into special session this summer to overhaul state ethics laws -- an issue Republican leadership has avoided this year.

If Crist goes through with his plan to veto the Jeb Bush-backed teacher bill, it may be the last straw in the governor's Senate bid as a Republican candidate, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

"If Crist carries through with the veto threat, Jeb will endorse Marco in short order and Charlie will have no friends left in the party's hierarchy. That means no money, no endorsements, no nothing. His odds of winning in August will go from real slim to less than none barring some major revelation about Marco."

According the St. Petersburg Times, Crist would have until April 30 to change his party affiliation and run as an independent or remove his party affiliation altogether. If he were to do this, Crist could maintain his position as a registered Republican and use his campaign war chest in the general election instead of the primary.

Comments

[Qban1029]

03:01 PM on 04/09/2010

At the time I lived in Rubio's district and having known him as my representative in Tallahassee I can honestly say I much rather have Christ than the bigoted, close-minded, conservative nut Rubio!

[DogoftheEarth]

02:56 PM on 04/09/2010

I honestly don't know what Charlie is going to do.

He's toast in the Republican Primary, that's for sure.

However he has moved so far to the right in an effort to appease them that he has pretty much lost any credibility he had.

[Memphis Blues Again]

02:38 PM on 04/09/2010

I am a Florida native and I actually think Crist has done a good job for the people of Florida. I like a lot of the decisions he made such as accepting stimulus money despite the bullies from the GOP, allowing more acres to be preserved in the Everglades,attempting to get more money for Florida Forever, etc. It's a shame that the Republican party decided to punish him for not playing political games.

[stillbarbi]

02:20 PM on 04/09/2010

Today's FL Today paper printed an article that says Crist will not run as an Independent.

[hitt]

12:16 PM on 04/09/2010

I'll take Crist over that criminal Rubio anyday.

[den1953]

10:24 AM on 04/09/2010

Gov Christ should have quit half way through his Governorship and signed on with Fox News and wrote a book of fantasy that's the ticket you bet cha!

[Hoosierbrad]

08:33 AM on 04/09/2010

If the Republican Party s hit on me the way they s hit on Charle Christ I would do just that, and guarantee the Democratic candidate would have a real chance to win in November. Maybe the Rethugs would learn a little lesson.

[itjustis]

07:25 AM on 04/09/2010

Don't think he will enter the race as an Independent. Just more desperate thoughts from a desperate Democrat in Florida. But even if Christie does enter as Independent, latest Rasmussen poll shows that: Even in a three-way match-up with Crist running as an independent, Meek comes in second with 25% of the vote. Rubio leads with 45% support, while Crist earns 22%.

[MiamiBear]

02:53 PM on 04/09/2010

We're seven months out. LOTS is going to happen between now and then. The polls as they stand right now are nothing more than a snapshot in time of a very volatile situation. Stay tuned. You might be in for some real surprises.

[OldHick]

05:52 AM on 04/09/2010

Perhaps he could affiliate with the Tea Party. Get a platform, get on CSPAN, get public contributions.

[Ranta]

12:26 AM on 04/09/2010

No. The Rino's should all run against the party. Should be lots of fun. Go , Club For Growth, elect lots of right winger's. How can Sarah possibly support McCain when a Teabagger is running against him.

[Balloon-Boy]

11:02 PM on 04/08/2010

You will run as an independent.......And also, too; in what Respect Charlie?

[IDIOTA]

08:59 PM on 04/08/2010

Perfect -- do it. Your GOP is a disgrace. Abandon ship! Sarahcuda did.

[kinnycut]

08:40 PM on 04/08/2010

Charlie should run as an Independent because he is constantly at odds with both major parties, and his own Party, the Republican Party, is poised to crap all over him now after supporting him in lock step all these years.

[THISTLE]

08:09 PM on 04/08/2010

Charlie Crist openly embraced President Obama, and supported him on something that
would do good for the people of Florida. This is exactly what the majority of the American
people want. Working together - both parties for the good of individual states and the country.
And what did the Republicans do to Charlie Crist for this - they decided they were going to
destroy him. The Republicans could actually win more supporters if they would do what
Charlie Crist did, instead anyone that doesn't do exactly what they want - they set out to
destroy. The Republican Party is the most vile, slime party of all time.

[ohiodem250]

02:03 PM on 04/09/2010

No. The American people SAY they want bi-partisanship. Just like they SAY they don't like negative campaigning.

[stillbarbi]

02:26 PM on 04/09/2010

FL is a strange place. I know. I live here, and knocked on doors before the election in 2008.

It's amazing how many nitwits vote against their own interests in this state!

[RobbyRob]

07:37 PM on 04/08/2010

And the RINO will lose just like Arlen Expectorate will do....

Time to clean house and get rid of the progressives.

[platanoman]

08:36 PM on 04/08/2010

*roll eyes*

[BVictor1]

09:31 PM on 04/08/2010

go get teabagged.