Free Republic

Multiple sources are reporting that Gov. Charlie Crist, Florida Republican, will announce Thursday that he will pursue his state’s open Senate seat as an Independent, leaving the Republican Party. According to the Miami Herald and FOX News, campaign insiders have confirmed that Crist will make a public statement at a 5 p.m. event in St. Petersburg, Fla. For months, Crist has battled plummeting poll numbers as Republican rival Marco Rubio has surged due to support from conservatives and Tea Partiers. Though Crist initially denied reports that he would leave the GOP, he appeared to reverse course in recent weeks as...

Republican Backlash Brews TALLAHASSEE -- A Republican backlash is brewing against the state and national party as they anoint Gov. Charlie Crist's U.S. Senate campaign -- thereby dissing that of his rival, former state House Speaker Marco Rubio. From South Florida to Tampa Bay, a few county Republican parties are discussing or passing resolutions telling the state party to butt out of the Senate race or any other primary. If the state party presses forward, Crist's election could be rockier than expected and his hand-picked Republican Party of Florida chairman, Jim Greer, could find it tougher to hold on to...

The GOP needs more Charlie Crists, fewer Rush Limbaughs, Dick Cheneys and Sarah Palins as it seeks, phoenix-like, to rise from the funeral pyre. Crist has agreed to do the party a major favor and run for the Senate, instead of for reelection as Florida governor. As CNN reports: The Senator from Texas and chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee on Tuesday reeled in a big catch as popular Republican Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announced he'll forgo a re-election bid and instead run for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Mel Martinez. Crist is a moderate, a...