Crist to back Rooney in GOP primary

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) is set to endorse attorney Tom Rooney in the GOP primary to face Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.), and one of Rooney’s opponents is crying foul.

A Florida Republican Party source confirmed local reports that Crist will endorse Rooney, and the Rooney campaign has issued a press release for an announcement by Crist at 4 p.m.

{mosads}The endorsement could be a game-changer in what is one of the more wide-open primaries of the cycle for Republicans. The district is also one of the GOP’s top targets.

But Rooney opponent Hal Valeche is lashing out at Crist and the state party for allegedly siding with Rooney because of the money Rooney’s family and its organization have sent to the state party — $700,000 since Crist took office in 2007, according to Valeche’s campaign.

“All you have to do is follow the money from the Rooney organization and the gambling industry to understand this endorsement,” Valeche campaign manager Matt Parker said in a statement. “Hal prefers to stand with the principles of Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. John McCain in strong opposition to the expansion of gambling throughout Florida and refuses to be cowed by special interest groups.”

Valeche has often tried to portray Rooney as a beneficiary of gambling money. Rooney’s father is a longtime president of the Palm Beach Kennel Club dog track.

Valeche and Rooney are competing with state Rep. Gayle Harrell for the right to face Mahoney.

Rooney has also been backed by 2006 candidate and former state Rep. Joe Negron. The state party is not officially supporting Rooney at this point.