Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who bolted the Republican primary for Senate yesterday to run for Senate, has now made it clear that he is an independent, not a Republican — and he’s not exactly being clear on which party he would caucus with if he makes it to the Senate.
Crist told the St. Petersburg Times that he will not keep his Republican registration, and he will instead change to independent. “Why not? If you’re going to do it, do it. Let’s go!,” said Crist.
Which party would he caucus with, the paper asked? “The people of Florida,” said Crist. “I’ll caucus with anybody who will help the people of Florida.”
Meanwhile, Sen. George LeMieux (R-FL), a longtime Crist aide who was appointed by Crist to the Senate when GOP Sen. Mel Martinez resigned his term early, has made it clear that he is not supporting Crist anymore. LeMieux will support the Republican nominee, who will presumably be Crist’s conservative GOP nemesis Marco Rubio.
“I am saddened that my friend, Governor Crist, has decided to leave the Republican Party,” said LeMieux. “Our friendship runs deep, but my commitment to the principles of the Republican Party runs deeper. I cannot walk down the path he has chosen.”
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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