Speculation is rife in political circles that former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will endorse President Barack Obama in November’s election. And comments by Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod in a Tampa Bay Times interview Friday did little to dampen the talk.
Crist formerly switched from Republican to independent when he realized he couldn’t beat conservative Marco Rubio in the 2010 GOP Senate primary. Crist was subsequently defeated in the general election.
“The president has a very high regard for Gov. Crist,” Axelrod said. “He made a really courageous decision back in 2009 and there's no doubt that he made it because he thought it was what was best for the state of Florida.”
Axelrod was referring to Crist’s support of Obama’s stimulus plan, which nearly all Republicans opposed. Axelrod went on to offer more compliments. “He understood the politics were difficult, and he made it nonetheless,” the Obama aide said.
“He deserves enormous credit for that and the courage he showed. You know we all talk about that we want public officials who are willing to put the next generation ahead of the next election, and he was willing to make a decision like that. So we admire him.”
© 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved.