McCain weighs in on Florida GOP race
Washington (CNN) - Sen. John McCain on Sunday joined a cast of former presidential candidates and high-ranking Republicans to weigh in on Florida's August GOP senatorial primary between Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio.
"I hope that Charlie Crist will remain a Republican," McCain said.
Crist has remained vehement that he would not bow out of the Republican primary race and run as an Independent, despite trailing Rubio by as many as 23 points in a recent Quinnipiac University poll. Crist has until April 30 to decide which party's nomination he will seek.
Crist threw his support to McCain in Florida's 2008 presidential primary. McCain won the primary and Rudy Giuliani dropped out of the presidential race the next day.
McCain's comments come days after Mitt Romney announced his support for Rubio. On State of the Union with Candy Crowley this morning, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that Crist would "lose all Republican support if he were to run as an independent."
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So what if our good govenor doesn't have republican support..to me, that is a plus not a negative.
The right wing nut cases out there in the Party of No have created this mess and one can only hope it will end with a split vote and the ruin of the right. I hope and pray that they will pay for the mess they are creating and the hate that they fill the air waves with. When the first militia group takes action, Shades of Oklahoma City, we will all know who to blame!
The Republicans will take their "toys" and go home if Crist turns Independent. Crist needs to run as an Independent and not allow the Republicans to threaten him, they don't support him anyway. These Republicans are nothing but bullying little rich boys on their own little private playground.
Crist should have been thrown out of the Republican party for backing McCain.
What exactly is the threat? Crist doesn’t have Republican support now which is why he’s considering a run as Independent. Crist lost Republican support the day he openly accepted Stimulus funds (as opposed to the hypocrites by nationally calling it a failure while locally taking credit for the bucks) and hugged the POTUS. Something you would think every American could do with good conscience.
Don’t worry Crist, the party of NO also said it would ruin any future chances of bipartisanship if the Democrats passed HCR. One day it’ll dawn on them, it’s really hard to miss something you never had to begin with.
Who cares if he remains or not. If we elect democrats or RINOs, it is the same. Anyone who is supportive of growing government will continue to be a steward over American decline. We are so broke, and the American middle class will evaporate as the taxman devours what is left of our ability to provide for ourselves. So sad...
Mc Cain is more concerned with party than a soultion regardless what the party.
Kendrick Meek, the Dem candidate for Senate in FL, has more integrity than the entire GOP combined, Crist included. Give him a chance. When the pathetic media finally gives him some press he is going to be tough to beat. I strongly encourage Dems and Indies to check him out, check out his story and positions, and support him over Crist.
Support Rubio because he shares the same philosophy as McConnell, Boehner, and the remaining Southern Republican Senators. Do nothing and wait until the Democrats are "swept out of power."
Meanwhile the electorate must suffer and wait to have changes for the better. The Republicans are little lemmings following their leadership into the ocean.
Charlie Crist is a person who thinks things through and then moves on what he believes would be the best idea. He is not afraid to "buck" the party if his constituents would be better off. It is really a shame taht those in Florida are not supporting the best governor they have had in years in favor of a very conservative congressman with limited experience. The Republicans coming into Florida to campaign for Rubio are afraid of the right wing and the TEA party. They refuse to think for themselves. It is just too hard.
Good luck Governor Crist. Whatever happens you must know you did the right thing with courage and conviction.
I hope McCain remains a Republican too because then he won't be back to the Senate for sure- you betcha!
What's McCain doing in FL, he lost FL. John McCain is going to get beat in his home state in the primary. Crist would be better served "without" John McCain. People is AZ a tired of McCain with his lying, out of date, warmongering views.
McCain is a thing of the past and should retire from politic's. He has been part of a party which favors wall street over main street. November is coming to rid our government of all those wall street protectors.
Gov Crist has my vote when he runs as an Independent.
Some times when a party moves so far away from your values and makes you feel unwanted you have no choice. I think Crist should run as an independent. If it is ok for the tea party to have candidates why shouldn't everyone else.