In the latest Quinnipiac poll, Former State House Speaker Marco Rubio holds a virtually insurmountable 23 point lead (56% to 33%) over Governor Charlie Crist in Florida's US Senate Republican primary. That should be the whole story but there are whispers about Governor Crist dropping out of the GOP race to run as an Independent. According to that same poll, Governor Crist could win in a three way contest against Mr. Rubio and Democratic US Representative Kendrick Meek. (source)

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While both Crist and Rubio lead Meek in a one-on-one general election matchup (48% to 34% and 42% to 38% respectively), a three way race would give Crist 32%, Rubio 30% and Meek 24% if the election were held today.

In an April 8 statement from the Crist campaign, the idea of the governor running as an Independent seemed to be put to rest. The statement read in part, "Governor Crist is running for the United States Senate as a Republican. He will not run as an Independent or as a No Party Affiliation." The statement also indicated that it was the Rubio campaign that had initiated the rumors of an Independent run. (source) But according to the Wall Street Jounrnal, it is the governor's own advisers and supporters who are encouraging the Independent bid. Adding fuel to the speculation, Crist campaign manager Eric Eikenberg said recently that Mr. Crist would "qualify for office'' but declined to affirm he would qualify for the ballot as a GOP candidate. (source)

Seen as too liberal by most Republicans in his state, Governor Crist made national news as a Republican willing to appear with President Obama last year to publicly promote the $838 billion stimulus package. (source) Capitalizing on that association, Mr. Rubio said to the governor in a recent joint appearance on Fox News Sunday, "You just don't get it. This campaign is not about you and it's not about me. It's about the people watching this program, that are watching their country being fundamentally redefined by this administration and this Congress." (source)

Recent Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts election results, Tea Party rallies being held across the country and poll after poll prove Mr. Rubio's point. The American people are dissatisfied with tax and spend Democrats, spineless Independents and Republicans-In-Name-Only like Governor Crist. The answer is not vote-splitting Independent candidacies. The answer is fiscally conservative, common sense government.