Crist announces run as Independent

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist decried a broken political system
Thursday in announcing his expected run as an Independent.

The
former Republican billed himself as a pragmatic problem solver during the press
conference in St. Petersburg, and said he had always worked for the benefit of
his state and its people, and not for a party.

“I
haven’t supported an idea because it’s a Republican idea or it’s a Democratic
idea. I support ideas that I believe are good ideas for the people,” he said
Thursday.

{mosads}“Frankly
for me, it’s always been that simple,” said Crist, who billed himself as a
servant of the people. 

He
said he would need help from his supporters in Florida now more than ever
because he is in “uncharted territory” without the help of either party.

“I’m
counting on you,” he said. “And I’ll be with you forever.” 

His
supporters broke into chants of “Charlie, Charlie, Charlie” during the speech. “I
love ya,” Crist said.

The
governor noted he could have stayed in the GOP primary, but he didn’t want a
“club” to decide his political fate.

“I
could have chosen to stay in the primary, but frankly for me it’s your
decision. It’s not one club’s decision or another — or even a club within that
club,” he said.

Republican
National Committee Chairman Michael Steele called Crist’s departure from the
primary “disappointing.”

“To
be sure, he left this party,” Steele said in a statement. “This party did not
leave him. His decision will in no way impede our path to victory in Florida.”

The
governor’s widely anticipated switch makes the race a toss-up between Crist,
Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Kendrick Meek.

It
allows Crist to avoid what was predicted to be a humiliating defeat at the
hands of Rubio, the former state House Speaker, who was far ahead of the
governor in polls of GOP voters. 

Rubio
immediately sought to link Crist with Meek.

“I
now look forward to debating issues and ideas with Governor Crist and Congressman
Meek, who share the same unhealthy appetite for more government, more spending
and higher taxes,” the former state House speaker said in a statement.

Meanwhile,
Meek noted he was now up against two Republicans.

“Our
two Republican opponents are architects of Florida’s failed economy, both favor
more tax breaks for the wealthy and corporate special interests as their only
economic proposal, and both are involved in the same income tax evasion
scandal,” he said in a statement.

Crist’s
move will cost him the support of his party’s infrastructure, and possibly that
of his staff and consultants.

The
head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee said Thursday it plans to
fully support Rubio. Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) said Crist’s withdrawal from the
primary “will end our support and we will throw our support enthusiastically
behind the Republican nominee, Marco Rubio.”

Cornyn
also said he would ask Crist to return the $10,000 his leadership PAC donated
to the governor’s campaign — likely the first of many such refund requests.

Still,
polls suggest Crist has a chance in a three-man race, and the governor seemed
eager for the challenge.

“It
is a decision for all the people of Florida to be able to make. And so that’s
why we go straight to November. We give you the chance to make that decision,”
Crist told supporters. “It’s the right thing for Florida.”

GOP
leaders were initially enthusiastic about Crist’s Senate run.

The
national party endorsed him early in the process in order to avoid spending
money on a costly Senate race. Crist led in the polls, raised millions and was
on track to be crowned the Republican nominee.

But
as Rubio, a favorite of the Tea Party movement, gained traction in the polls
and started bringing in the money, the national party began to shift its
support.

This story was posted at 5:53 p.m. and updated 6:53 p.m.