Now Charlie Crist Has Stepped In It: Dick Cheney Endorses Rubio, Blasts Crist

Oh Charlie, you've made a very powerful enemy.

"Washington is broken and Congress is already overflowing with politicians who need pollsters to tell them what to think. It certainly doesn't need another one. Now more than ever America needs leaders with the strength of conviction. That is why I am proud to endorse Marco Rubio," Cheney said in a statement.

"Charlie Crist has shown time and again that he cannot be trusted in Washington to take on the Obama agenda because on issue after issue he actually supports that agenda," Cheney said.

Rubio was once trailing Crist in polls, but now Rubio has taken the lead -- also clinching the endorsement of other big name Republicans including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former 2008 presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

There's also a swirl of rumors if Crist should or will run as an independent, although Crist so far has stayed course as a GOP candidate. He has until April 30 to decide.

"Lately it seems Charlie Crist cannot be trusted even to remain a Republican. I strongly urge him to either stay in the Republican Primary or drop out of the race. The only winners from an independent bid by Crist would be Barack Obama and Harry Reid," Cheney added.

Rubio still leads in a 3 way race but the gab is narrowing according to the Devil's official pollster.

If Florida Governor Charlie Crist leaves the Republican Party and enters the U.S. Senate race as an independent candidate, he will begin the campaign in second place.

The latest Rasmussen Reports poll of Florida voters finds that 37% would vote for GOP frontrunner Marco Rubio, 30% for Crist and 22% for the likely Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek. That’s much closer than a month ago when Rubio had a 17-point advantage and Crist was in third place.

In a two-way race, both Rubio and Crist hold solid leads over Meek.

As Ace said yesterday, Crist's best day of polling will likely be on the day before he announces he's going independent. At the latest that day will be a week from today (April 30th is the deadline for Crist to drop out of the Republican primary and run as an independent).

Crist's biggest problem, aside form the lack of support, is the rationale for his campaign seems to be "But I want to be a Senator!". Rubio has a narrative, personal and policy, that is clearly more in tune with Republicans and the mood of the country overall. It's a bad year to be a careerist "go along, get along" hack.

posted by DrewM. at 11:41 AM

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