Washington (CNN) – Marco Rubio's campaign asked former Vice President Dick Cheney to endorse the former Florida House Speaker as part of a concerted effort to put pressure on Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and isolate him from fellow Republicans, a Rubio campaign source tells CNN.
On Thursday, Cheney became the latest prominent Republican to line up behind Rubio's Senate campaign in Florida, following recent endorsements by House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, ex-Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City mayor and 2008 GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani. The source says more high profile endorsements are expected.
While one Republican strategist questioned whether Cheney will "get you any votes in Florida," the Rubio camp says the former vice president will help in the long term with conservative independent voters. But the source added that "no one is suggesting we are going to be on a bus tour with Dick Cheney in the last two weeks of the campaign."
The source also says the Rubio campaign is actively wooing Crist contributors, and donors are being strongly encouraged to warn the Florida governor that if he runs for the Senate as an independent, he loses their money and support, and any endorsements for any future political bids.
One Republican strategist cautions Republicans believe that Crist cannot win as an independent, and that he's only "a spoiler" in a hypothetical three-way race for the Senate, which would also include Rep. Kendrick Meek, the likely Democratic nominee in the contest.
If he runs as an independent, this GOP strategist adds, "then he's really done. He's a man without a country."
From CNN Politics
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If Cheney is for him I wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pole. Nothing Cheney says or does would make me vote for him. He is a creep who should be behind bars for what he has done to this country.
Wow! Rubio is on the fringe. Vote for" Bush/Cheney/Rubio"
Well Whoopy Do....If it isn't the fake heart attack man on the scene again. Cheney when will you have the big one so we all can get off our knees ! Rubio give this evil kin of yours one of those Cuban Cigars too help his heart speed up a little faster pretty please!
Why would Rubio want Cheney's endorsement, should of gone with Colin Powell, Candoleeza Rice, even GWB but Cheney, kiss of death. Tell Rubio if he thinks he will gain the brown vote meaning hispanics, not going to happen I don't care what his ethnicity is (hispanic he is) the majority are Dems. Rubio needs to understand that the GOP forced McCain to have Sarah as vp nominee to gain the female voters and that was a disaster, so what do they do elect a token black man to the RNC to gain voters from the black community and that won't work.
Darth Vader – this could be tthe 'kiss of death' for Marco
Only a so-called 'GOP strategist' would make such an arrogant remark – Independents are without a country? Independents BUILT this country, bub...
Rubio is playing by the same old Bush/Cheney and Karl Rove playbook and Florida needs to wakeup and pay attention.
Well, if that doesn't tell you everything you neeed to know about Rubio, his priorities and his judgment - nothing does. Unfortunately, it doesn't tell us anything good.
On Thursday, Cheney became the latest prominent Republican to line up behind Rubio's Senate campaign in Florida, following recent endorsements by House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, ex-Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City mayor and 2008 GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani. The source says more high profile endorsements are expected.
Prominent endorsements, more like the bottom of the barrel filth.....just look at the list, really laughable
Rep. Meek all the way.....we are done with these repulsives
Having Chenys endorsement should be the kiss of death for him.
DEAR CHARLIE CRIST,
This is a blessing in disguise. It is your cue to exit – - stage right. Mr. Crist all poll numbers show you will win in a 3-way race.
Stay in the party race until after primary election day. If you lose to Rubio, no problem, just run again as an Independent for November 2010 where you will win big over Meek and Rubio!
Go Crist, Go!
Wow I thought that he had a country America.Once again the GOP puts party above their country.The simply meanness of that they demonstrate is sad if he decided to run as an independent all the power to him.
Losers endorsing a loser: There are none so blind as those who refuse to see ... and the GOP is kissing up this bold faced liar, already in trouble with the IRS – before he's even elected! His hand-picked budget officers has been indicted for moving $35 million without authorization... but the GOP – he's their "great white hope" now that Ensign & Sanford & Jindal have vanished.
FIVE-DEFEREMENT CHENEY SPOKE
When a five-deferment, draft-dodging, NO WMD chicken hawk like Darth Cheney speaks, , , , people listen. Oh really?
Who is still listening to this liar? If you listen to Cheney, stand up and acknowledge your foolish stupidity.
Cheney;s comments to support this man were attrocious. He made millions off the Iraq war and other such ventures. He insults others that are really his own actions. Why anyone would want his endorsement is amazing and very short sighted.
It's unbelievable that Floridians are poised to elect another Republican to the Senate in the person of Marco Rubio who will legislate to unprotect their IRA and Pension Funds so Wall Street supporters can help themselves to their hard earned dollars, and set the grounds for supporting another idiot like the one that was President from 2000 to 2008.
So what's the big story here? I imagine that all Repub candidates would want Cheney and every other Rep leader's backing. So why pick out this one???