From the Associated Press:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Republican Gov. Charlie Crist probably wasn't worried that literally embracing President Barack Obama back in February and strongly supporting the $787 billion federal stimulus package would hurt his U.S. Senate campaign.
Sure, the hardcore party base wasn't happy, but the appearance was an opportunity to win over Democrats, independents and moderate Republicans who voted for Obama. The president's approval ratings were high, and any Republican thinking about running for an open seat in 2010 stopped thinking about it when Crist signaled interest.
All except former House Speaker Marco Rubio. Political insiders said it wasn't logical to challenge an incumbent governor who had high approval ratings and could raise gobs of money. However, Rubio said it didn't make sense for the highest-profile Republican in Florida to embrace a Democratic president and a plan that would raise the federal deficit.
Now Rubio is gaining momentum as he reminds Republican voters of Crist's hug. And the same political insiders who downplayed Rubio are starting to think the unthinkable: Crist's campaign might be threatened by another Republican.
If the GOP is serious about ever coming back from the dead and restoring its squandered credibility with conservatives, it had better ditch the Crists and embrace the Rubios out there. It's time for the Republican Party to get real about what it believes and stands for. Rubio channels Reagan and is the future of the Party. Crist channels McCain and represents the past.
Learn more about Marco Rubio here.
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