FL-Sen/Gov: Crist Will Announce Plans on Tuesday, Appears Set to Run for Senate

http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/4934/flsengov-crist-will-announce-plans-on-tuesday

Gov. Charlie Crist will announce his political plans on Tuesday and it very likely means he's running for U.S. Senate, Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer said tonight.
"Charlie Crist is going to be the next U.S. senator from Florida," Greer told the Buzz a few minutes ago. Crist has said he would make a decision after the legislative session but the precise day was first reported this evening by The Associated Press. <...>

Greer strongly indicated Crist will run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez. "It's my opinion he has come to the conclusion that he needs to fight for Floridians on the issues coming out of Washington, D.C., and he needs to be there first-hand," Greer said.

If Crist does indeed go for the Senate seat, as it seems likely, the ripple effect in Florida politics will be massive -- and one that could give Democrats a decent shot at picking up a pair of open statewide seats (Governor and AG). Also worth watching will be the response of former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, who has already declared his candidacy for the Senate seat as the true conservative option in the GOP primary. Will Rubio follow through with the scorched-earth campaign necessary to have a shot at poisoning the well for Crist? Or will he bail in order to run for one of the aforementioned open statewide offices, instead?

UPDATE: A "source close to the governor" tells the Politico that Crist has decided to run for Senate.

Rubio vs Crist Primary battle...

If Rubio wins. We have a shot at the seat.

If Crist wins....I do not think we have a shot but it does open up important statewide races as we close in on reapportionment,