Governor Charlie Crist announced on Thursday that he would run for the U.S. Senate without any party affiliation, putting to rest weeks of speculation and turning the upcoming race into a 3-way contest.
“My decision to run without party affiliation says more about our system.” Crist said. “Our system is broken.”
In making the announcement, Crist said that as a public servant, he has always put the needs of the state and people first. Crist said that he has always supported good ideas and that he hadn’t supported an idea because it’s a Republican or Democratic idea.
A new tone is needed in Washington and people want someone to stand up for them rather than for special interest or party, Crist said.
“People look at Washington and don’t like what they see from politicians, don’t like what they see from bureaucrats and don’t like what they see from the gridlock,” he said.
Crist acknowledged that because he has chosen to run without party affiliation he is now in “unchartered territory” and would need the help of Floridians to organize and support his campaign. He reaffirmed that running without party affiliation is the right thing to do for Florida and Floridians.
“I need you. You can believe in me. And I will be with you forever,” Crist said.
Crist more than one year ago, had a 30-point lead over his Republican rival, Marco Rubio. But, all that changed following his embrace of President Obama and his acceptance of stimulus dollars which angered conservatives. More recently, when Crist veoted the contentious Teacher Merit Pay bill, this sealed his fate with members of the Republican party who supported the legislation.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll shows Crist narrowly edging both Rubio and presumptive Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek in a three-way general election contest, with the governor running as a candidate with “no party affiliation.”
