GOP suggests Crist will run for Senate

The Florida governor who’s a target of a new movie outing conservative gay politicians is expected to announce that he will run for a Senate seat being vacated in 2010.

Charlie Crist, who’s “outed” in the independent documentary “Outrage” that launched last week, will announce his political plans for 2010 on Tuesday. Crist had held off announcing his decision on the Senate seat until Florida’s legislative session wrapped up Friday.

Crist had been outed before by a Florida newspaper, a claim the then gubernatorial candidate’s spokespeople adamantly denied. But he got married last year (to a woman) in the run-up to the 2008 presidential election, when he was seen as a possible front-runner as Sen. John McCain’s running mate.

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer told the Associated Press Sunday evening he believes Crist has “concluded that the problems and issues that Floridians are facing — high unemployment and the economy — can’t be solved in Tallahassee, they need to be solved in Washington, and I believe that’s what he’s going to do.”

Sen. Mel Martinez, who’s announced he will not seek reelection in 2010 and is the chair of the National Senate Republican Conference, has also suggested Crist will probably run. If he runs, he’ll face conservative former Florida House speaker Mario Rubio in the Republican primary.

AP for those who can’t see the above story:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The head of the state Republican Party says Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will announce his 2010 political plans Tuesday and hinted that the U.S. Senate is his target.

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer says he believes Crist has “concluded that the problems and issues that Floridians are facing — high unemployment and the economy — can’t be solved in Tallahassee, they need to be solved in Washington, and I believe that’s what he’s going to do.”

The Senate seat he may be seeking is held by Republican Mel Martinez, who is leaving office after one term.

Crist, elected in 2006, sought the same Senate seat in 1998, losing to Democratic incumbent Bob Graham.

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