Florida governor to make Senate run
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announced Tuesday that he'll skip a second term as the state's chief executive and run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Mel Martinez next year.
Crist, 52, has maintained approval ratings in the high 60s despite the state's gloomy economy, budget cuts, a high foreclosure rate and the highest unemployment since 1975.
The moderate Republican faces a primary challenge from former Florida House speaker Marco Rubio, a conservative who is questioning Crist's commitment to Republican principles.
"The challenges that Florida faces are not just Florida challenges, they're national issues," Crist said. "I believe I can best serve the people of Florida — if they're willing to allow me — as their next United States senator."
Crist drew immediate support from the national party establishment, including Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, head of the Senate GOP campaign committee, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
"Gov. Crist's support appears to be both wide and deep," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Polling Institute. "As for a primary, although some conservative activists have grown disillusioned with him, there is no evidence that unhappiness has spread to the GOP rank-and-file."
Rubio, 37, a Miami lawyer and son of Cuban immigrants, posted a YouTube video showing Crist welcoming President Obama to Florida.
The image in the video is from an appearance Crist made with Obama to promote the $787 billion federal stimulus package, which was opposed by all congressional Republicans except three.
"Borrowed money from China and the Middle East, mountains of debt for our children and a terrible threat to a fragile economy. Today, too many politicians embrace Washington's same old broken ways," an announcer says on the Rubio video. "Let the debate begin."
In an interview on Fox News Channel, Rubio said his party needs to "choose what we want 'Republican' to mean." He said he likes Crist but "his view of Republicanism is different than mine."
