Today Florida's Governor Charlie Crist announced that he would leave the Republican Party to run for the U.S. Senate as an Independent. Crist, trailing badly in polls of statewide Republicans to right wing tea party darling Marco Rubio, realized that his own political appeal was to the political center, not among the ideologues. By running nonaligned with either party, he has put himself in the only position he could to win the Senate race. Recent polls put him essentially even in a three candidate race against Rubio and Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek.
A few days ago, I had expressed my intention to switch my party affiliation to Republican in order to vote for Crist (and against Rubio), but now this won't be necessary. Who will finally receive my vote in November? It depends on the public opinion polls. If, in late October, they show Meek ahead or in a close race with a chance to win, I'll support him. But if those polls show Meek hopelessly behind but have Crist with a reasonable chance of victory, I'm pulling for our governor instead.
Hopefully, should Charlie Crist manage to win that Senate seat, he would be a truly independent voice representing his state's best interests, as well as those of the country as a whole. The last thing we need is another stonewalling, just-say-no party hack. Which Rubio would be.
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