Crist running as independent for Senate

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 29 (UPI) -- Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday he is running as an independent for the U.S. Senate, severing his troubled ties with the Republican Party.

In creating a three-way race against Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Kendrick Meek, Crist acknowledged he's in "uncharted territory," The Miami Herald reported.

"The easy thing for me would have been to run for re-election as governor, but for me it's never been about doing what is easy," Crist told cheering supporters in St. Petersburg. "I haven't supported an idea because it's a Republican idea or Democratic idea. I support ideas because they are good ideas for the people."

Democratic consultant Eric Johnson told the Herald he thinks each of the three has "a very legitimate shot" at winning.

"When you're talking about winning in the 30s, all bets are off," he said.

The Meek and Rubio campaigns contend the one-term governor's foray as an independent actually helps their candidates, the Herald said. State and national Republican leaders have said they'd turn their collective back on Crist if he runs as an independent.

"To me it's not a factor," Rubio said. "I knew when I started this race that my opponents supported the Obama liberal agenda. I just didn't realize I'd have to run against both of them at the same time."

Crist said he liked the polling numbers on a three-way race showing him in a dead heat with Rubio and Meek third, the Herald said.