Republicans Worry About Florida as Crist Weighs Independent Senate Run

WASHINGTON, April 28, 2010— -- The eyes of the political world are trained on Florida this week as Republican Gov. Charlie Crist nears a decision about whether he will bolt the GOP and run for the United States Senate as an independent.

Republicans in Washington are nervous that an independent bid by Crist could potentially upset the chances of former Florida House Speaker, Republican Marco Rubio, a favorite of Tea Party activists who has gone from underdog to prohibitive frontrunner in Florida's GOP Senate primary.

"If Charlie puts his self preservation ahead of party, it has the potential to create an upset for the Democrats," a Republican operative, who was granted anonymity so he could be more candid in his assessment of the race, told ABC News.

Crist's current predicament is a remarkable turnabout for a Republican who harbors presidential ambitions and who began his Senate race as a heavy favorite. His standing began to unravel last year when he embraced President Obama's stimulus package.

If Crist leaves the GOP, he will become the second high-profile Republican to leave the party after backing the stimulus. Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter, a long-time Republican senator, left the GOP one year ago and became a Democrat after this pro-stimulus vote made it all but impossible for him to win the 2010 GOP Senate primary against former Rep. Pat Toomey, R-Penn.

If Crist abandons the GOP, he has been put on notice that he could face major staff defections from operatives whose first commitment is to the Republican Party.

Crist may also be in jeopardy of losing some of his outside consultants: Crist pollster Glenn Bolger, for example, declined to comment when asked if he would work for Crist if he bolts the GOP.

The official line from Crist at this point is that he not yet made up his mind on an independent bid.

"I haven't made that decision yet," Crist told reporters earlier this week in Miami. When asked if voters wanted him to run as an independent, Crist said, "I'm not sure, and there is only one way to find out, and that's if we decide to do it."

Crist needs to make a decision by Friday because that is the state's deadline to officially file as a Republican or to enter the race without a party affiliation. He said on Tuesday, however, that he has set Thursday as a personal deadline to make up his mind.