Charlie Crist plans to leave GOP, run for Senate as independent [View All]

[oberliner]

Source: Washington Post

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist plans to announce he will run for the Senate as an independent tomorrow, leaving the Republican party and setting up a three-way fight in the fall, according to several sources briefed on his decision.

Crist is expected to make the announcement, which had been rumored for weeks, tomorrow afternoon in St. Petersburg.

Crist denied to the Associated Press today that he had told anyone of his decision. And, sources close to the governor warned that he could change his mind at the last minute -- and has shown a propensity for doing just that -- but that as of today he was set on an independent run. Sources close to Crist also described him as comfortable with his decision and not terribly conflicted, however, a state of mind that suggests there is less likelihood that he would change his mind.

His switch comes as former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) -- once considered the longest of shots to defeat the popular governor -- has rode a wave of adoration from conservatives nationally to not only catch but pass Crist in polling.



Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/charlie-crist-to-switch-partie.html?wprss=thefix