Pat Dollard | Young Americans

The Caucus:

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Gov. Charlie Crist just told us that he intends to endorse Senator John McCain here tonight at the Pinellas Lincoln Day Dinner.

My colleague John Broder, who has been traveling with the senator through Florida, and I just ran into the Republican governor outside a ballroom at the Hilton here, where Mr. McCain is speaking. He said he planned to announce his endorsement at this dinner. When asked why he decided to endorse, he joked that he would explain that at the dinner.

Governor Crist is considered a moderate Republican who has been courted by several of the candidates as they’ve campaigned around the state. Mr. Crist has talked with them about issues like drilling off the Gulf Coast of Florida, the Everglades and other environmental concerns peculiar to this state. Mr. Crist’s endorsement means that Mr. McCain has received the backing of the state’s top two G.O.P. officials. Just yesterday, Senator Mel Martinez announced he would back him. (The state’s other senator, Bill Nelson, is a Democrat.)

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