From Stu Rothenberg in Roll Call:
In less than a month, we will know whether Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is absolutely committed to running for the Senate this year as a Republican. Crist, of course, says the matter is closed – that he is in the GOP race to stay. But some observers won’t be convinced until the filing deadline passes at noon on April 30.
Crist, who faces the conservative Marco Rubio in the Republican primary, seems to be left without any good options. In a three-way race, some polls suggest that he comes in third, and Rothenberg thinks they might be overstating his support in such a contest:
Insiders seem to agree that a Crist Independent bid would damage the governor’s credibility and rob him of much of the Republican and Democratic support he currently has in hypothetical ballot tests, certainly putting him at great risk of a third-place finish.
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Running as an Independent would confirm the line of attack that Crist’s critics have leveled at him — that he is an opportunist who will do or say anything that he needs to in order to further his personal goals. And that would peel Republican and Democratic supporters away from him quickly.
