We may not get to enjoy the spectacle of a Toomey-Ridge battle-for-the-soul-of-the-GOP in Pennsylvania next year, but as a consolation prize, we’ll get to see a similar fight play out in Florida. Eric highlighted this in the Morning Roundup, but it’s worth reiterating. Governor Charlie Crist will announce tomorrow that he intends to run for Senate in 2010 against conservative Marco Rubio.
Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to announce Tuesday that he is running for the U.S. Senate, setting off a high-stakes game of musical chairs that will completely overhaul the top echelon of state government in 2010.
Crist’s former chief-of-staff, George LeMieux, confirmed late Sunday that the governor will make an announcement at a ”low-key” event Tuesday in Tallahassee.
LeMieux and Jim Greer, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, have been dropping hints about Crist’s decision for the past week.
Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) is retiring at the end of his term, and the popular Crist will surely be the front runner, both in the (closed) primary and in the general election. Crist has been criticized on the right for, among other things, joining the majority of Floridians in support of the President’s stimulus bill.
