Gov. Crist Suffers Setback As Club For Growth Endorses Rival

November 9, 2009 2:06 p.m. EST

Tallahassee, FL (AHN) - The Club for Growth endorsed former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio on Monday, joining a slew of conservative groups and politicians who have bucked the GOP and refused to support the party nominee for next year's Senate race, Gov. Charlie Crist.

In a statement, Club for Growth President Chris Chocola called Rubio a "proven champion of economic liberty," and Crist "the wrong direction for our economy and our nation."

Either Rubio and Crist would easily win a general election against the leading Democratic contender in the race, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Chocola added, but the "question now is what kind of Republican will Florida send to Washington next year: a pro-growth Republican with a record of fiscal conservatism or a big-government Republican with a record of tax increases."

The announcement comes as the governor pushes back against heightened criticism of his support for President Barack Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus. Crist told CNN last week he never endorsed the plan, and that he was being "pragmatic" in a February rally when he welcomed the President and called for a "bipartisan" stimulus.

The Club for Growth, however, has hit back with a TV ad showing footage of the rally and instructing voters, "Tell Gov. Crist to work on fixing Florida's economy, not passing debt to our children."

A moderate, the 53-year-old Crist has had a relatively high job approval rating, faring above the 60 percent mark on average in the past year. But critics have made sure his apparent support for the administration's recovery package has come back to hound him, and his approval rating is showing a gradual decline, with his average approval now at 53 percent.

Rubio, meanwhile, has received endorsements from top conservatives such as Sens. Jim DeMint (R-SC), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Last week, he nabbed the backing of the Family Research Council.

Rubio, 38, was not chosen as the party nominee because he did not offer the best chance for victory, the National Republican Senatorial Committee said earlier this year. But the conservative has fought back vigorously despite trailing in the money race and in polls, launching a website last week that aimed to remind voters about the governor's support for the stimulus.

Crist still leads 50 percent to Rubio's 28 percent in the latest survey, conducted by St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald/Bay News 9. Before that a Quinnipiac University poll had the governor leading 50 percent to 35 percent.

The governor reported raising $2.4 million for the third quarter, while Rubio raised $1 million during the same period.

Crist and Rubio are seeking the seat of former Sen. Mel Martinez, who chose not to complete his term. Apart from Meek, former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre is the only other Democrat in the race.