California's Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Tuesday announced his support of Florida's embattled Governor Charlie Crist and his independent bid for the U.S. Senate.
The endorsement came in a Twitter feed from Schwarzenegger, posted on his official website.
"Great leader," Schwarzenegger wrote of Crist, his counterpart from the Sunshine State.
"Works with both parties, and our country needs someone like him in (Washington) DC right now," the Austrian-born body-builder, actor and politician said.
Crist decided to run as an independent candidate for the Senate in the upcoming Nov. 2 mid-term Congressional elections after backing away from a tough Republican Party primary challenge from former state House speaker and Tea Party favorite Marco Rubio.
Rubio has a double-digit lead over both Crist and Kendrick Meek, the Democratic Senate candidate, in a three-way race that pundits have long described as a long-shot for Crist.
Crist responded to Schwarzenegger's endorsement by heaping praise on the one-time Hollywood action star, known as the "governator."
"I'm honored to have the support of this independent leader," he said in a "media alert" from his campaign office.
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