Crist vows to run as a Republican
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/08/art.crist0408.gi.jpg caption=" A spokesman for Gov. Crist said Thursday that Crist is 'proud to be a member of the Party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan.'"]
Washington (CNN) – Charlie Crist's Senate campaign sought to squash rumors Thursday that he is considering running as an independent and accused GOP opponent Marco Rubio of promoting the idea.
"The Governor is proud of his conservative credentials and stands firmly behind the principles of limited government and more personal freedom, the bedrock values of the Republican Party," Crist campaign manager Eric Eikenberg said in a statement. "He is proud to be a member of the Party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan.
"This should completely and utterly put to rest any of the unfounded rumors coming from the Rubio campaign that Governor Crist would run as anything other than the Republican that he is," Eikenberg added.
Crist, the current Florida governor and one-time frontrunner, is now in a battle for the Republican Senate nomination with Rubio, a former Florida House speaker. A Mason-Dixon poll conducted in March showed that Rubio had an 11-point lead over Crist.
Eikenberg claimed that Rubio's campaign was shopping the story in order to draw attention away from "the Speaker's lengthy legislative record."
"Speaker Rubio and his campaign have spent this entire race trying to distract voters from learning about his actual record, whether it be his votes for tax increases, support for cap and trade and a carbon tax, his flip flop on immigration reform, or his questionable financial dealings," Eikenberg said. "The fact of the matter is, Speaker Rubio double billed taxpayers for flights, charged everything from his family reunion to car repairs to the Republican Party, and used political committees as his personal slush fund – so it should come as no surprise that he and his campaign will try whatever methods possible to change the subject as voters begin scrutinizing his record."
Earlier in the day, Rubio's campaign e-mailed around a St. Petersburg Times article about speculation that Crist may be thinking of running as an independent.
And then later in the day, Rubio's campaign responded to Eikenberg's statement accusing Crist of having no one to blame but himself for the rumor.
"Charlie Crist has flip-flopped on so many issues it's hard to keep track: on being a Jeb Bush Republican, promising not to raise taxes, supporting cap and trade, appointing liberal judges and endorsing the stimulus," Rubio spokesman Alex Burgos said in a statement. "Regardless, we look forward to continuing to debate Charlie Crist's record of standing with President Obama and his big government agenda."
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And Kay Baily Hutchinson said she would resign "to spend time with her family"..
You are both cons and only give a fleeting nod to the truth.
". . . firmly behind the principles of limited government and more personal freedom . . ."
What all y'all say and what all y'all do are two entirely different things.
Crist is abandoning his current job as Gov. of FL to run off to DC b/c of the fact that he will have have to raise taxes. They are proposing a penny sales tax hike here to pay firefighters and police. What the heck is property taxes for? If he does not want to handle the tough job of being a Governor then how can we trust him to handle the cushy job of a Senator?
Not to mention his record is horrible even his predecessor who endorsed Crist 4 yrs ago refuse to endorse him for Senator.
We need to vote all these incumbants out!!
He is proud to be a member of the Party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Reagan? Really? He was the second worst president this country has ever had. Followed only by W. Anyone who slightly aligns himself with "Ronald McDonald" is not fit for office.
If Crist is a Conservative I am the Pope. Goodness...
Limited government – that is why Crist so strongly embraced the Stimulus Plan disaster.
Right.....
Crist can run under whatever banner he selects – he is just not a conservative!
Crist is honest Rubio is a crook.
WE THE PEOPLE WERE THE RICH, THE MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES WILL HELP THE PEOPLE IN NEED. Thank you About the Mr.President
In 2010, the Obama administration says it intends to relieve the job shortage by creating New jobs, We will help.
We Will CREATE JOBS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED. THERE IS NO NEED FOR JOBS SHORTAGE
you watch, can't trust crist for any thing, reminds me of palin
keep changing their mind, typical politicians
As a democrat, I still think Crist is one of the very few decent and reasonable conservatives. Rubio is a man with absolutely no principles...and continues to serve the crazies on the Right.
Too bad. I am an Independent who won't vote for Rubio. I was a republican and switched during the Bush years, Voted for Crist as a Democrat and now only want center faced candidates and wish Christ would move to Independent. I can't stand the righjt or the left and the wackos are way too much.
That'll make sure he doesn't win.
Crist stands for all constuents and Rubio is a myth who will make himself rich along with his family off taxpayer dollars. UGH
Can't believe that nutjobs like Rubio and Hayworth are new wave of Republican leaders.
Christ, you need to leave the DARK SIDE and come to the side of the FUTURE.
RINO to be exact......like Aaaaanold. 😉
He's running as a Rino.
The GOP is like a cancer feedinng off of itself.
Funny christ invoking Lincoln, who certainly would never associate himself with today's repubicons, and ran on a different party ticket for his second term, and Teddy Roosevelt who was kicked out of his party in 1912 for being what todays tea bagging radicals would calla RINO, and reagan, who would also be drummed out as a RINO for his desire to end nuclear weapons, and his twice raising taxes, and his moderate social stnaces on many issues.
So, who is the Democrat who will win because o the party split?
Of course Crist is a Republican. The only problem he has with his party is that he (unlike most) is an honorable Republican with a sense of morality and of duty to his country and constituents: ALL of them, not only the mega-wealthy.
charlie crist has been one of the biggest "do-nothing" politicians to represent Florida!! he's done nothing good for the future of Florida, and in fact has allowed the future of Florida, especially that of our children and grandchildren, be negatively affected for many, many years... Good riddance!!!
Come over the the Force. Leave the Dark side. The Dark side is powerful and dangerous. The Force believes in the unity of all things. Join us.