Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has tapped his former aide and former deputy state attorney general George LeMieux to fill out the term of retiring Sen. Mel Martinez. Martinez, a Republican, announced earlier this month that he planned to leave office early, which put Crist in an awkward situation since he is planning to run to replace Martinez in 2010.

Crist, a Republican, needed a placeholder, and picked LeMieux from a list of party official and state lawmakers.