The office of Senator Jon Kyl, R-Nev., just confirmed to the examiner that Kyl’s previous endorsement of Florida Governor Charlie Crist’s senate bid — still prominently featured of Crist’s website — no longer holds. Kyl will be issuing a statement later in the day.
Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., has also confirmed that to the Examiner that he will be issuing a statement about his Crist endorsement later today — contingent on whether Crist decides to leave the GOP and run for Senate as an independent, as has been widely reported.
UPDATE — Will Crist lose the endorsement of Senator McConnell too? It looks like he will, if he decides to run as an independent. Here’s a transcript of of the Republican Senate Minority Leader on Chris Wallace’s Fox program from Sunday:
SEN. MCCONNELL: that was over a year ago and a lot has happened since then. the governor crist says he might be running as an independent. my advice is to compete as a republican. he has been a republican all of his life. and to remain within the party. i hope he will do that.
WALLACE: are you taking back your endorsement?
SEN. MCCONNELL: not today. [ laughter ]
WALLACE: but he has to decide by next friday, right?
SEN. MCCONNELL: i think if the governor were to decide to run as an independent, he won’t have any republican support.
WALLACE: if he decided to run as a republican, would you still support him?
SEN. MCCONNELL: i year ago i said i would support the governor. at the time he wanted our support to get in the race and we were not sure we’d be competitive in florida.
WALLACE: are you troubled by what he has done?
SEN. MCCONNELL: i would be troubled if the governor decided to run as an independent. i think that would be a serious problem. and he would certainly not have any support or any republicans that i know.
