FL-SEN

Florida State Senate Dem Leader Endorses Indy Charlie Crist For Senate

Eric Kleefeld | September 3, 2010, 3:48PM

Florida state Senate Minority Leader Al Lawson (D) and Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL)

Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL), the ex-Republican who left his former party to run for Senate as an independent, has received the endorsement of a top-ranking Florida Democrat: State Senate Minority Leader Al Lawson.

"Florida desperately needs an independent senator in Washington who will fight for good jobs and economic opportunity, a quality education for every child, and Social Security for all of our seniors regardless of what the political party bosses want," Lawson said in a statement. "Charlie Crist will be exactly that Senator, and I am proud to endorse his candidacy."

This is certainly a big get for Crist, on multiple levels. Obviously, snagging the support of a top state Democrat is as clear a sign as he needs for Dem voters that it's admissible to vote for him. It also feeds into the widely held narrative -- never confirmed or denied by Crist -- that he would caucus as a Democrat in Washington.

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