Florida U.S. Senate Race: Crist Cuts Ties with GOP, Leaving Rubio as Frontrunner

Florida's GOP are mad as hatters over Governor Charlie Crist's departure from the Republican party to run for U.S. Senator as an Independent. Adding insult to injury, Crist will not be returning GOP campaign money, which accounts for some of over $7 million he's collected toward his run.

Crist, who just March 4 of this year told the National Review Online he was a "true-blue Reaganite Republican," declared himself free of the party this past week. He changed his voter ID card to Independent on Wednesday, May 12, while here in the Tampa Bay area-ironically, the same day Tampa was selected for the 2012 GOP National Convention.

This leaves Marco Rubio (R) as the main Republican hope for the Senate seat. Rubio was elected to the Florida House in 2000 to represent Miami's 111th District. He served as House Speaker for the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions.

Rubio has championed property tax reform and resourced the citizens of the state for better ideas on how to revitalize Florida for his book, 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future.

Some say Crist departed the Republican race because Rubio was taking over the lead in the polls. Not according to most recent surveys. The May 3 Rasmussen Report showed Crist at 38 percent to Rubio's 34 percent; while the Mason-Dixon Poll for the same date showed Crist at 38 percent to Rubio's 32 percent. The Mason-Dixon report, prior to Crist's defection, already showed that he was favored over Rubio by independent voters.

GOP heavy-hitters support Rubio:
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has thrown his endorsement behind Rubio. Retiring Sen. George LeMieux (R), who currently holds the seat in question, is a friend and ex-employee of Crist. But after failed attempts to persuade Crist to stay with the party, LeMieux has also confirmed his support for Rubio as the GOP nominee.

How do Florida voters feel about Crist's party switch?
It's not a question of being Republican, Democratic or Independent. It's a question of trust.

Many Floridians, whether they donated to the GOP for Crist's Senate campaign or not, feel that although it's legal for him to keep the money, it's unethical.

Among the Republicans, we feel this isn't the first time Crist has shown himself to be unfaithful to the people who elected him as a Republican Governor.

We've already seen he couldn't be trusted when he said he opposed gambling expansion. The gambling expansion happened this year with Crist's blessing and signature, against the judgment of many in the Florida legislature.

Plus, Florida's now had to put some of that gambling money which was going to "help the economy" toward a state-funded gambling addiction counseling center (Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG). Their own website acknowledges that compulsive gambling is already a rampant problem, causing disruptions in every area of a person's life - family, psychological, physical, social, and vocational.

The economy has floundered under Crist's half-hearted governorship, since he's put his efforts behind becoming a Senator almost from the beginning of his term.

As an Independent, Crist now needs Democratic votes, so he's supporting President Obama's ultra-liberal Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan, who is said to be too liberal even for some moderate liberals...another betrayal of Florida Republicans.

The Democrats are expected to vote for their frontrunner, Kendrick Meek (D), who's been representing Florida's 17th district in the U.S. House of Reps since 2003. Unless they decide Meek poses too close a split between Crist and Rubio. Then they'll go for Crist on the basis of his widespread name recognition alone.

Sources:
-"Crist: Rubio campaign the 'greatest fraud perpetrated on people'," Robert Costa, Nat'l Review Online, The Corner 3/4/10.
-Rasmussen Report, Florida Senate Poll, week of 5/3/10.
-Mason-Dixon "Poll: Charlie Crist holds lead..." Beth Reinhard, Miami Herald, 5/7/10.
-"LeMieux Says He Urged Crist to Stay in Republican Party", Roll Call (David M. Drucker), 5/4/10.
-Marco Rubio website
-Kendrick Meek website