Charlie Crist Mulls Independent Run, GOP Pressures Him To Drop Out

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Charlie Crist said Monday he may quit his GOP primary race and run for the Senate as an independent, his once-promising career threatened by fast-rising conservative opposition.

After weeks of insisting he would stay in the Aug. 24 primary, Crist told The Associated Press in a phone interview he intends to be "very, very thoughtful and deliberate" as he makes up his mind. The governor trails conservative rival Marco Rubio by double-digit margins in public polls after holding a huge lead at the outset.

The race is being closely watched nationally as a test of the strength of the tea party movement vs. more moderate Republicans. Rubio rose from obscurity to a favorite among conservatives with strong support from tea party activists. Crist, a moderate leader in one of the nation's largest states, had been considered a potential GOP presidential or vice presidential nominee.

Crist said he intends to listen to Florida residents as he decides his political future. He must make up his mind by the April 30 deadline to get on the ballot, and he cannot run as an independent if he gambles on the primary and loses.

Rep. Kendrick Meek is the likely Democratic nominee.

Just two years ago, Crist was riding high within the Republican Party, a popular governor on the short list for vice president on the GOP ticket. When Republican Sen. Mel Martinez announced his retirement, Crist was seen as a shoo-in for the job, a possible stepping stone to a presidential run.

But Crist's fortunes were upended by his embrace – literally and figuratively – of President Barack Obama and his $787 billion stimulus package along with the state's economic woes and the strong challenge from the right.

Now top Republicans are pressuring him to quit rather than run as an independent.

"If Governor Crist believes he cannot win a primary then the proper course of action is he drop out of the race and wait for another day," Rob Jesmer of the National Republican Senatorial Committee wrote in an e-mail to consultants.

NRSC Chairman Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who last May endorsed Crist, has tried calling him to convey the same message, but Crist didn't return the call, Jesmer said.

"If any of you have influence with Governor Crist, we hope you will call his campaign and encourage him to do the right thing," Jesmer wrote. He also said he thought there was "zero chance" Crist would stay in the GOP primary.

Crist said he planned to return Cornyn's call, but that it's Floridians who will influence him.

"I care what my fellow Floridians think and what their thoughts are much more than anybody from Washington," Crist said.

A year ago, a Quinnipiac University poll showed Crist ahead of Rubio by 46 percentage points. Last week the same poll showed Rubio ahead by 23 percentage points. Meek is the leading Democrat in the race.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, campaigning with Rubio in Tampa on Monday, also said Crist should either stay in the primary or drop out altogether. He said he expects Crist to "do the right thing."

Romney is often mentioned as a potential 2012 presidential candidate, and backing Rubio could help endear him to Republican voters uncomfortable with his moderate stands on abortion and gay rights when he ran for office in Massachusetts.

In an interview after the event, Rubio declined to pressure Crist to drop out, saying the reason he is running will not change no matter who is in the race.

"I think we need to send someone to Washington who will stand up to the Obama agenda and offer an alternative, and both Kendrick Meek and Charlie Crist, I think, to one extent or another, would support the Obama agenda," Rubio said. He said he hadn't thought about how his campaign strategy would change with Crist running as an independent.

Crist, Rubio and Meek are running to fill the seat held by George LeMieux, Crist's former chief of staff. Crist appointed him after Martinez resigned before completing his first term, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.

___

Associated Press Writer Mitch Stacy in Tampa contributed to this report.

Comments

[lssbigdog]

08:02 AM on 04/28/2010

Shhhhhhhhhh Don't tell anybody.
Marco Rubio investigated by IRS, F.B.I., U.S. Attorney.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/us-attorney-irs-and-fbi-investigating-florida-gop-credit-card-use/1088979
Rubio created a Political Action Committee to help potential political candidates, but funneled most of the funds to himself, spending nearly $150,000 on administrative and operating costs. Over an 18 month period

Marco Rubio spent big with little scrutiny
Marco Rubio's spending as his influence increased contrasts with his anti-establishment Senate campaign.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/13/1527321/rubio-spent-big-with-little-scrutiny.html#ixzz0mKalyKAe
For his last year as speaker, Rubio reported a net worth of less than $8,400. despite earning $69,000. from Florida International University, $45,000 from the state and $300,000 from Broad & Cassell. The father of four had more than $900,000 in debts, including two mortgages on properties in Miami and Tallahassee, a home equity loan and a student loan.
Rubio calls himself a Jeb Bush Republican, Scarey very very Scarey

[tnkeating]

06:31 PM on 04/27/2010

Charlie, if your listening, can you hear that swishing sound going past your ear on the way to the shrimp boat. You would be better off running for the border.

[AGP]

07:17 PM on 04/26/2010

The Governor of Florida has a right as an American to make his decision about staying with the Republican party or running as an independent. It's obvious that Rubio enjoys support from the extreme conservative wing of the Republican party which fails to allow for the views of a moderate governor and his likely supporters. This situation is quite analogous to what Joe Lieberman faced in Connecticut.

Endorsements of Rubio by former Vice President Cheney and previous candidates like Mike Huckabee (paroler of convicted felons) and Mitt Romney (author of the Massachusetts health reform plan) and former do nothing governor Jeb Bush mean very little to most Florida voters.

Governor Crist in making his decision should take into account those Republican and independent moderate voters who will not have an alternative when casting a ballot in the upcoming primary election unless he runs as an independent. If I were facing Crist's dilemma I would make my decision based on what's best for Florida voters, all of them, not based on a party endorsement that has been dictated by others.

Frankly, it will be both courageous and patriotic on Governor Crist's part to stand up to these fair weather friends and provide a choice for moderate Florida voters. He is a strong leader and that will power will now be observed by everyone.

I wish him well if he decides to stand up for all Florida voters. He has my full support!

Dr. Alan Phillips

[brabra]

08:16 PM on 04/20/2010

Governor Crist is not a conservative at heart, He has done a lot for us here in Florida. He sides with the people and this angers his conservative base. He is loved in Florida without regard to party affiliation. If he runs as an Independent he will definitely cypher off some of the votes from Dem. Rep Kendrick Meeks. I dare say he could possibly win this as an Independent. The teachers union love him so does other unions in Florida.

[mountaingal]

12:55 PM on 04/20/2010

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie--you get no respect. They didn't even wait for you to drop out before they start dancing on your political grave. Shun the Repubs and the Teabaggers and go towards the light. Run as an Independent. You will NEVER get another Repub office because you dared speak the word "Independent." You will always be viewed as a traitor to the Good Old Poops club so you are toast. Run as an Indie. Run, Charlie, run. Run, run, run.

[blaising]

09:27 AM on 04/20/2010

"...Now top Republicans are pressuring him to quit rather than run as an independent."

Well, there 'ya go. Take the Frank Luntz talking point advice, and do the OPPOSITE. (It's worked out stunningly well for President Obama and the Dems).

When was the last time the GOP's advice yielded good results for the people of Florida? Teddy R, maybe?

[Cryostatic]

08:19 AM on 04/20/2010

The GOP is dead inside, Charlie, it's time to let go. Don't let your fiscal conservatism imprison you within their tomb.

[Osmona]

04:59 AM on 04/20/2010

I'm a Dem and I say Charlie SHOULD run Indie or switch to Dem.

[SiameseTrainer]

04:25 AM on 04/20/2010

Goodness me! Crist might vote for his constituents and support Democratic initiatives? Throw that A$$whole under the bus indeed. I want a RADICAL on my side! Wakey, wakey Folks. Democracy is your choice.

[RonGallion]

01:57 AM on 04/20/2010

Stick a fork in Crist he is done.

[SPAIN62]

01:45 AM on 04/20/2010

Amazing, the RNC embraces opportunists and dimwits like Palin and Brown, but they cast aside one of the few Republicans that has any sense or a brain in their party. The GOP is no longer a “conservative party,” it is a right-wing party. And going further and further to right.

[thecesar]

02:10 AM on 04/20/2010

That's the point .

No news here.

[Ralph Boyd]

01:40 AM on 04/20/2010

The RNC cut Crist's throat to put Rubio in a position to run for the presidency in 2012 or 2016, a nice engineered Obamaisc narrative by Jeb Bush, but all appearance and no substance. Rubio entered politics from a career as a lobbyist for Miami-Dade county and he made 300K from his lobbying firm Broad&Cassel, (that works for State Contractors) last year. Mind you this Florida's State House Speaker.

Somehow this blatant conflict of interest is legal in Florida, but then Florida has been under Republican control for a while.

[ObamAtomic]

02:22 AM on 04/20/2010

On Florida , authorities are busy catching pot growers and speeders.
The state is full of interest of conflict,every one is the taking!

[ObamAtomic]

12:09 PM on 04/20/2010

*every one is on the taking!

[Jtt]

01:15 AM on 04/20/2010

One of the last respectable republicans.

[dukeitout]

01:10 AM on 04/20/2010

Top republicans are pressuring Crist to drop out of the Florida race and not run as an independent. Crist is running behind in the republican race.This is similar to the race in Connecticut a few years ago when Lieberman couldn't win the democratic slot and decided to run as an independent. But of course the democrats abandoned the democratic nominee and supported Lieberman as an independent. The republicans are ahead of democrats when it comes to party loyalty.

[glomtt]

01:05 AM on 04/20/2010

LOL! He's a maverick like McCain and Lieberman. One day they are mavericks and one day they are not. They will do and say whatever they have to get a vote. They have no real convictions.