It doesn't seem to matter whether or not Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R) decides to abandon the Republican party and continue his run for US Senate as an Independent. Down by over 20 points in the GOP primary match up versus State House Speaker Marco Rubio, a new poll out today has Mr. Rubio up 37% to 30% over an Independent Crist in a three-way race with Democrat Kendrick Meek in third place at 22%. (source)

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And there's more good news for Mr. Rubio: An endorsement from former Vice President Dick Cheney who called the presumptive Republican nominee a strong conservative leader and said, “Washington is broken and Congress is already overflowing with politicians who need pollsters to tell them what to think. It certainly doesn't need another one. Now more than ever America needs leaders with the strength of conviction. That is why I am proud to endorse Marco Rubio. Charlie Crist has shown time and again that he cannot be trusted in Washington to take on the Obama agenda because on issue after issue he actually supports that agenda." (source)

Meanwhile, the governor continues to hedge and hint about an Independent run further proving he is guided by his own political fortunes, not any particular stand on the issues facing his state or his country. The allegedly Republican Mr. Crist supported the Obama stimulus bill to the point of making a joint appearance with the president to sing the bill's praises. He recently he earned the praise of state and local teachers unions by vetoing an education bill that would have eliminated tenure for new teachers and required merit-pay plans linking salaries to student learning progress. But if he believes these appeasements to the left will win him victory as an Independent, the polls show he's mistaken. Instead of appearing to be a reasonably moderate compromise candidate, he will be seen for what he is: a desperate politician with no core principals of his own willing to embrace and then abandon any ally, party or special interest to further his own career.