CRIST ON THURSDAY – AT 7:37 P.M. ET:  Republican Governor Charlie Crist of Florida will make a major political announcement on Thursday.  Crist is in a losing primary race for a U.S. Senate nomination against Marco Rubio.  There's been talk that Crist may pull out and run indy.  From The Politico:

The suspense swirling around Florida GOP Gov. Charlie Crist’s political future will culminate in an announcement Thursday.

Crist told his cabinet Tuesday morning that’s the day he’ll make clear whether he will stay in the Senate race as a Republican, run as an independent or drop out altogether.

“I’d like to go ahead and get that concluded then look forward to the last day of session,” Crist said, as reported by The Palm Beach Post.

Crist said he hasn’t made up his mind yet, but most political observers believe he’s likely to leave the GOP.

Friday is the deadline for federal candidates to file for office in Florida.

Many Republicans are betting that he’ll bolt the party.

“The clock is making him decide now. I just don’t see a path for him to stay in the Republican primary,” said David Johnson, a GOP consultant and former executive director of the party.

COMMENT:  Crist would be wiser to drop out graciously, but stay in the Republican Party.  Then he'll have some chits, will keep powerful allies, and has a future.  If he runs as an independent and loses, he's got no one. 

Senator Joe Lieberman did run as an "independent Democrat" after his own party knifed him and denied him renomination.  The difference is that Joe was the incumbent, with a huge popularity base.  He won as an independent and kept his committee chairmanship in the Senate.

April 27, 2010