Going independent for Crist’s sake

Doesn’t the Republican establishment look foolish now? The NRSC’s original candidate now bolts out of the GOP, with their money, to run as an independent just to stay in to fight for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat. Conservatives-backed Marco Rubio (R) leads double digits in recent polls against Crist, and the Republican Party has asked Crist to drop out of the race, but the governor isn’t going away. Well, he did go away but is still around to annoy Republicans as an independent candidate.

Former governor Jeb Bush and candidate Rubio have responded — and it doesn’t look pretty.

Will Crist’s opportunism help or hurt his campaign? My guess is that it’s a lost cause. After the switch he’ll no doubt lose some major donors and staff members, and turn off some voters. Perhaps he’ll gain some supporters for his “independence,” but the harm’s already done to his campaign — it ran slow previously, but now it’s officially limping. He’s going to be seen as a political opportunist, much like the Democrats in Washington who are running the country to the ground.

The Republican Party should ignore him like a toddler with bad behavior. No need to give him any more publicity. Steadfastly focus on getting Marco Rubio elected!

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