Posted on 11/06/2010 4:44:28 AM PDT by markomalley
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist says he has no regrets about quitting the Republican Party, despite his decisive defeat on Tuesday.
In a phone interview with The Hill, Crist said he is proud of his Senate campaign and doesn’t regret his decision to challenge former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) as an independent candidate.
The decision to bolt the GOP initially moved Crist past Rubio in the polls. That lead quickly eroded, however, and on Tuesday, Rubio crushed Crist and Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) with 49 percent of the vote, compared with 30 percent for Crist and 20 percent for Meek.
“I’m very proud of the campaign we ran, even if I’m disappointed at the outcome,” Crist said. “The last thing I am ever is bitter. I’m just not made that way or wired like that. I’m grateful to the people of my state for the honor of serving them. … I’m the opposite of bitter.”
Crist will leave the governor’s mansion in January after nearly 20 years in the Florida government. He was elected a state senator in 1992, state education commissioner in 2000, attorney general in 2002 and governor in 2006.
Crist said he hasn’t decided on his future and will wait to “evaluate” his next career move in January. He was a lawyer before entering politics, but won’t say if he is leaning toward a return to the private sector.
If Crist opted to stay in politics, he could mount a challenge to veteran lawmaker Rep. Bill Young (R), who has served in the House since 1970. Young represents Pinellas County, Crist’s home base; the governor won the county narrowly over Rubio on Tuesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
I doubt the beard will be satisfied with Charlie being just a state rep.
My only regret is that we did not kick him out.
Good riddance, con-man. Now you are truly “independent”. Separation of elected representatives and deceitful con-men. Great job Floridians! WOOOOHOOOOO!
Charlie is the worst of the worst......a bitter vitriolic loser.’
Maybe he can go to Alaska & help Lisa count votes....the ones she didn’t get.
Crist isn’t a Republican or a Democrat. He belongs to the Crist Party whose only campaign platform is to promote Charlie Crist as a career politician on the public teat.
Sorry, Charlie, we don’t buy dead fish that smell like a stinking mackrell in the moonlight.
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