One of National GOP's big picks Charlie Crist officially becomes a Democrat, gets fist bump from Obama at White House Christmas reception

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12/8/12, "Charlie Crist signs papers to become a Democrat," Tampa Bay Times

"It was just a matter of time
. Charlie Crist is becoming a Democrat.Crist — Florida's former Republican governor...on Friday evening signed papers changing his party from independent to Democrat.

He did so during a Christmas reception at the White House, where President Barack Obama greeted the news with a fist bump for the man who had a higher profile campaigning for Obama's re-election this year than any Florida Democrat....

"I've had friends for years tell me, 'You know Charlie, you're a Democrat and you don't know it,' " Crist, a career-long populist, recounted Friday night from Washington, D.C.

 Crist has been registered with no party affiliation since the spring of 2010, when his Republican candidacy for U.S. Senate was fizzling against
Republican upstart Marco Rubio. Since losing that race, he has been steadily inching toward the Democratic Party, first when his wife, Carole, switched her affiliation to Democrat and later when he threw himself into Obama's re-election campaign, earning a prominent speaking slot during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.."...

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5/3/2009, "NRSC endorses Crist," Politico

"The National Republican Senatorial Committee will be endorsing Crist, according to a senior Hill operative, marking the first time it has taken sides (for a non-incumbent) in a competitive GOP primary this election cycle.

NRSC chairman John Cornyn made the endorsement official this morning, casting Crist as the most electable candidate to hold the seat for the GOP.

"While I believe Marco Rubio has a very bright future within the Republican Party, Charlie Crist is the best candidate in 2010 to ensure that we maintain the checks and balances that Floridians deserve in the United States Senate," Cornyn said in a statement....

The committee’s decision will make it tougher for former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio to raise money against Crist, given that the party has given the governor its stamp of approval. Rubio has won support from Florida conservatives and has a base in the Cuban-American community, but will need to raise a significant amount of money to credibly compete against Crist in the primary."...

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5/3/2009, "In shift, John Cornyn endorses Charlie Crist," Politico

"A week after saying he wasn’t taking sides in the high-profile GOP primary in the Sunshine State, Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, endorsed Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. Retiring Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) is also backing Crist.

In an interview with POLITICO, Cornyn acknowledged his change of thinking and said it was driven by the political reality that Crist is the strongest Republican nominee to keep the seat in GOP hands.

Crist is facing a primary challenge from former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, who is running as a conservative alternative to the governor.

“I think it’s fair to say there was a consolidation of support both within the state and here,” Cornyn said. “Charlie Crist is the candidate with the best chance to win.”"...

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Mitt Romney and the GOP Governors gave Crist $1 million in 2006:

8/27/12, "Charlie Crist to speak at Democratic National Convention," AP via Tampa Bay online

"In 2006, Romney, then the Massachusetts governor, gave Crist a $1 million check from the Republican Governors Association to help Crist's gubernatorial campaign."... 

 









Obama hugs Crist in 2009 in Ft. Myers, Fla., at a time when the GOP was pouring all its resources into Crist's campaign. The GOP establishment wanted Crist over Marco Rubio. Which is fine. Everyone including Obama knows the national GOP is just a branch of the democrat party.

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