California Conservative

After reading this article and after following this race closely for the last 6 months, it’s time to make a statement about the Florida Senate race.

It’s time for Gov. Crist to do the honorable thing and drop out of the race entirely. Running as an independent won’t help Gov. Crist win. It will only burn the bridges he’s built within the Republican Party of Florida.

Yes, I know about the poll showing Crist with a tiny, inside-the-margin lead in a 3-way race between Gov. Crist. Marco Rubio and Democrat Kendrick Meek. As Gov. Crist knows, that lead is misleading because it’s a sample of registered voters, not likely voters.

Gov. Crist knows firsthand that there’s a huge intensity gap between Marco Rubio, Gov. Crist and Kendrick Meek and that that enthusiasm gap strongly favors Marco Rubio.

If Gov. Crist opts for running as an independent, the NRSC will support Marco Rubio:

The toughest assessment came from the arm of the national Republican Party that had clamored to endorse Crist and shove aside rival Republican Marco Rubio nearly one year ago, when their positions in the polls were reversed.

“We believe there is zero chance Gov. Crist continues running in the Republican primary,” said Rob Jesmer, executive director of the National Republican Senate Committee, in a memo. “It is our view that if Gov. Crist believes he cannot win a primary, then the proper course of action is he drop out of the race and wait for another day.”

The memo added that Texas Sen. John Cornyn, NRSC chairman, would have delivered the advice personally, if Crist had returned his phone call.

Gov. Crist knows that this is his high-water mark in a three-way race. After this, the GOP endorsements will go to Marco Rubio. Eric Cantor’s endorsement of Mr. Rubio this morning is proof of that: (more…)