Charlie Crist Will Run As An Independent
Charlie Crist, after weeks of speculation, will run independently for the U.S. Senate. No one is surprised at this point, and anyone that was going to get payday loans for extra donations to his opponents they already did it. (Maybe they will?) Crist has a long service record in the state of Florida in several capacities, and the name recognition is expected to give him an advantage over his Democrat and Republican opponents.
Charlie Crist and the Republicans have broken up
Some Republicans are asking Charlie Crist give any campaign funds he previously received from the GOP back. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) made pleas in the press for Crist to return any funds from the PAC (Political Action Committee) that were given for his potential Senate campaign, and any requested funds back to donors, according to USA Today.
Running independent can be risky
Running as an independent can go several ways. Name recognition is the biggest asset Charlie Crist has, according to the New York Times. The other two candidates aren’t as well known. His Republican opponent, Marco Rubio, has popularity among tea party types, but is thought to be a bit moderate for their taste. He also allegedly used party funds for personal expenses. (A Tea Party person heavily ignoring the rules to fill his pockets? Never!)
Independents aren’t favorites
Historically, independents don’t fare well. There are two current independent Senators, Bernie Sanders and Joe Liberman. There have been only three completely independent governors (Jesse Ventura not included) and curiously, one President. (There was no party affiliation of George Washington.) Third parties and independents don’t always fare that well. What does fare well is branding – and Charlie Crist is a fairly solid brand in Florida. This will be worth watching.
Sources
USA Today
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/04/cornyn-to-crist-give-back-gop-campaign-cash-/1
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/us/politics/29cristcaucus.html