bobbyw24
04-19-2010, 04:36 AM
Two years after he was shunned by Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida during the state’s Republican presidential primary, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts endorsed Marco Rubio, Mr. Crist’s opponent in Florida’s Republican Senate primary, on Saturday.
The Rubio campaign announced the endorsement on its Web site.
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:BMdImqh61xMyNM:http://disneybear.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/mitt-romney-loser.jpg
“While I respect Governor Crist, Marco Rubio’s proven record of conservative, principled and idea-driven leadership is what Florida needs now,” Mr. Romney said in a statement posted on the Web site. “Marco Rubio will be a reliable spokesman against the Washington culture of higher spending, higher taxes and higher debt.”
Mr. Romney also said that his Free and Strong America political action committee would make the maximum $5,000 contribution to Mr. Rubio’s primary election campaign.
Mr. Romney’s decision to support Mr. Rubio comes after Mr. Crist helped end Mr. Romney’s White House aspirations by endorsing Senator John McCain of Arizona in the 2008 race for the Republican presidential nomination.
Mr. Romney is the third major Republican presidential candidate from the 2008 race to endorse Mr. Rubio, joining former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York and former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas. Mr. Giuliani, who endorsed Mr. Rubio earlier this month, was also counting on a Florida victory in the 2008 campaign and now says that Mr. Crist backed out of a promised endorsement.
Mr. Crist and Mr. Rubio each sought Mr. Romney’s endorsement, according to a Romney adviser, but Mr. Romney is said to believe that Mr. Rubio has a stronger conservative record. Mr. Romney was also disappointed that Mr. Crist vetoed a teacher merit-pay bill on Thursday that was a high priority for Republican lawmakers and former Gov. Jeb Bush.
In 2006, Mr. Romney flew to Tallahassee as head of the Republican Governors Association with a $1 million check to help Mr. Crist’s run for governor.
In 2008, Mr. Romney and Mr. McCain were in a tight battle for Florida with Mr. Romney slightly ahead in polls leading up to the primary. Mr. Crist endorsed Mr. McCain just three days ahead of the election, and some political observers believe the support was enough to give Mr. McCain the primary victory, which he used to build momentum and capture the Republican presidential nomination.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/us/politics/18florida.html
The Rubio campaign announced the endorsement on its Web site.
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:BMdImqh61xMyNM:http://disneybear.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/mitt-romney-loser.jpg
“While I respect Governor Crist, Marco Rubio’s proven record of conservative, principled and idea-driven leadership is what Florida needs now,” Mr. Romney said in a statement posted on the Web site. “Marco Rubio will be a reliable spokesman against the Washington culture of higher spending, higher taxes and higher debt.”
Mr. Romney also said that his Free and Strong America political action committee would make the maximum $5,000 contribution to Mr. Rubio’s primary election campaign.
Mr. Romney’s decision to support Mr. Rubio comes after Mr. Crist helped end Mr. Romney’s White House aspirations by endorsing Senator John McCain of Arizona in the 2008 race for the Republican presidential nomination.
Mr. Romney is the third major Republican presidential candidate from the 2008 race to endorse Mr. Rubio, joining former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York and former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas. Mr. Giuliani, who endorsed Mr. Rubio earlier this month, was also counting on a Florida victory in the 2008 campaign and now says that Mr. Crist backed out of a promised endorsement.
Mr. Crist and Mr. Rubio each sought Mr. Romney’s endorsement, according to a Romney adviser, but Mr. Romney is said to believe that Mr. Rubio has a stronger conservative record. Mr. Romney was also disappointed that Mr. Crist vetoed a teacher merit-pay bill on Thursday that was a high priority for Republican lawmakers and former Gov. Jeb Bush.
In 2006, Mr. Romney flew to Tallahassee as head of the Republican Governors Association with a $1 million check to help Mr. Crist’s run for governor.
In 2008, Mr. Romney and Mr. McCain were in a tight battle for Florida with Mr. Romney slightly ahead in polls leading up to the primary. Mr. Crist endorsed Mr. McCain just three days ahead of the election, and some political observers believe the support was enough to give Mr. McCain the primary victory, which he used to build momentum and capture the Republican presidential nomination.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/us/politics/18florida.html