The big question in the 2010 Florida Senate race, where moderate Republican Gov. Charlie Crist has just declared his candidacy for his open GOP-held seat, is just how much of a frontrunner he is — and whether the GOP primary could get messy.
For example, the conservative blog RedState.com is already telling readers to not give any support to the NRSC because of their immediate endorsement of Crist: “We can disagree with the NRSC on many things, but this one is a bridge too far.” And the Club For Growth is calling on Crist to reject a state budget plan that includes tax and fee increases.
A Florida Democratic source confidently predicted to me that Crist, who supported the stimulus bill and has taken other moderate positions, will face a divisive primary against former state House speaker Marco Rubio, running on the right. “It’s already happening,” the Dem source said. “Before he [Crist] was even in the race, his last campaign manager and former chief of staff was already taking shots at Rubio, and Rubio obviously took a lot of shots at him yesterday. So it’s already ugly. They’re not even waiting.”
A Florida GOP source begged to differ, saying that the primary would likely work out pretty smoothly — and Crist is the clear frontrunner.
The GOP source pointed out that while the Florida GOP has not officially endorsed Crist at this juncture, state party chairman Jim Greer is a longtime friend and supporter of Crist’s. “So there’s no question as to where the allegiance of our chairman is personally,” the source said. “And if you look at the endorsements the governor has received from the national Republicans, those things speak for themselves. And I think down the road if there is a need for the state party to step in, that’s a possibility.”
For now, however, the source doesn’t see official state party intervention as necessary — though it’s not out of the question: “The need may arise for the chairman and the party to step in and make an endorsement. But at this point I think the facts are speaking for themselves, and the governor is the frontrunner.”
NRSC spokesperson Amber Wilkerson reiterated the NRSC’s confidence in the Crist endorsement. “Sen. Cornyn’s been very clear in ensuring that we find candidates who fit their state,” said Wilkerson. “Charlie Crist is a proven leader in Florida, who continues to have extremely high approval ratings in the state, and we’re confident that he is the candidate to win in Florida in 2010.”
Calls and e-mails to the Crist and Rubio campaigns were not returned.
