Florida Republicans are none too sad – or surprised – by former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist’s announcement over the weekend that he is changing parties to become a Democrat, says
Wall Street Journal editorial board member Stephen Moore.
“The Republican leaders I talked to in Florida in recent days had one universal derisive response: ‘good riddance. The Democrats can have him,’” Moore writes.
“Many Republican leaders and conservative activists never forgave Mr. Crist for vetoing a bill that would have stripped teachers of tenure and imposed merit pay based on student performance and test scores.”
Then-Republican Crist followed Jeb Bush as governor in 2007. In 2010, he ran for Senate, but when it became clear he would lose in the GOP primary to Marco Rubio, Crist changed to independent. Rubio trounced him in the general election.
Now Crist hopes for a comeback. Asked if he will run for governor again, Crist told the Associated Press, "I will consider it, and I will think about it."
Republicans are chomping at the bit in anticipation that current GOP Gov. Rick Scott may be able to run his 2014 re-election campaign against Crist. “Running against Mr. Crist could energize conservatives, and many are hoping the Democrats nominate him,” Moore writes.
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