Former Florida state House Speaker Marco Rubio, who is running a conservative insurgent campaign for U.S. Senate in the Republican primary against moderate Gov. Charlie Crist, just picked up an endorsement from Florida Congressman Jeff Miller.
The GOP establishment, from the national party in Washington to most of the major elected officials in Florida, have all lined up behind Crist. The governor has a big lead in all the polls and is viewed as a more electable candidate, but some conservatives are trying to mobilize support for a more right-wing choice — particularly in light of Crist’s endorsement of the stimulus bill, and moderation on other issues.
“This race has tremendous implications for the future of Florida and the very foundation of conservatism in America,” Miller said in a statement — making it clear that this race will pit a GOP establishment that hopes to field more electable candidates, as they perceive it, against some in the party base who want to take a harder and harder line.
