Club For Growth endorses Marco Rubio, signals trouble for Crist

November 9, 1:06 PMTampa Political Buzz ExaminerKyle Sennett

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Florida Gov. Charlie Crist speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009, in Tallahassee
(AP Photo/Phil Coale)

The conservative group The Club For Growth has endorsed Rep. candidate Marco Rubio in his Florida primary campaign against Gov. Charlie Crist. Rubio is seen as Crist's main challenger, whose fund raising has surged over the summer. The former Speaker of the Florida House, Rubio, is much more conservative than the governor, who is running for the Senate in 2010, and has already sought to associate Crist with President Obama and liberal policies. Sparks flew recently when Gov. Crist accepted a dinner invitation from the President rather than attending a state GOP function. Crist has also supported stimulus funding, and has been cast as a "defector." Rubio recently appeared on the cover of the National Review with the headline, "Yes He Can," and has earned endorsement from key Conservatives. The Club For Growth most recently endorsed NY23's third-party candidate Doug Hoffman, who ultimately lost. Backing Rubio, although a Republican, is still risky for the Club's political capital, as Charlie Crist remains the favorite to win. Recent polls show Gov. Crist leading in the GOP race, although his lead has narrowed over the summer from 20 points to as little as 5 points in some results.