Crist Announcement Expected Today

Florida Governor Charlie Crist is expected to announce that he will be running for the Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez. According to a Politico article,

But while Crist is a brand-name recruit with sky-high approval ratings and bipartisan appeal, his path to keeping the seat of retiring Sen. Mel Martinez in GOP hands has at least one significant roadblock: Sunshine State conservatives.

Despite Crist’s widespread popularity, he faces a primary in which he will have to make his case to a restless GOP base dissatisfied with his high-profile advocacy for President Barack Obama’s stimulus and his handling of the state’s budget woes.

I have to admit that I voted for Governor Crist. I’ve been less than pleased by the results. His “moderate” stances on a myriad of issues are quite disappointing and they are not what a revitalized GOP needs.

Crist will be facing conservative opposition in the primary. Former Florida House speaker Marco Rubio has announced his run:

(h/t Gordon Cafe/@conservateacher)

More from Politico:

Florida GOP operatives believe that Rubio has the potential to be a formidable opponent, if he can raise the millions of dollars necessary to compete against a governor with a wide fundraising network in Tallahassee.They acknowledge that knocking Crist off would be very difficult, with public polls showing the governor with approval ratings in the mid-60s and support from Democrats and independents that most Republicans can only dream of.

But they also point to a growing undercurrent of mainstream conservative dissatisfaction, beginning with Crist’s decision to appear at a February rally alongside Obama to raise support for the stimulus. Over the past several months, The Wall Street Journal editorial page has railed against Crist over his plans to control property insurance premiums and his support for higher government spending.

“Crist doesn’t represent a right-wing philosophy or a left-wing philosophy. He represents no philosophy,” said Ana Navarro, a leading GOP fundraiser in Florida who has been one of Crist’s most outspoken Republican critics.

It is going to be an interesting primary. I am sure both the primary and the general election are going to attract national attention. And national money. The Dems would love to pick up this seat. Barring that they would love to see another Dem Lite Republican holding the office. That’s not what we need. It is time to stand on conservative principles. The GOP primary is going to be a battle.

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