PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – Florida governor Charlie Crist announced an independent bid for the US Senate yesterday, breaking ranks with his Republican Party and setting the stage for a close race in the battleground state.
Mr Crist (53) announced his widely expected bid at a rally in his hometown of St Petersburg.
Accused by conservative Republicans of being too moderate, the first-term governor has lagged far behind conservative rival Marco Rubio in the race for the Republican nomination.
Mr Rubio (38) is a darling of Republican Party hardliners and Tea Party activists, whose noisy militancy is shaking up the Republican Party establishment. The race is already seen by some as part of a broader clash between arch-conservatives and moderates for control of the Republican Party, following its defeat in the 2008 presidential election.
Mr Crist had enjoyed wide support in the fourth most populous US state and was once seen as a potential running mate to defeated 2008 Republican presidential contender John McCain.
But a recent opinion poll showed Mr Crist more than 20 points behind Mr Rubio in the Republican primary race. Analysts say Mr Crist is now setting the stage for a hard-fought campaign.
A recent poll showed the Florida governor could narrowly win a three-way race pitting him against Mr Rubio and the Democratic frontrunner Kendrick Meek. – (Reuters)