Ex-Florida Gov. Crist Announces Run for Governor

In front of a crowd of a couple of hundred people on the waterfront in his hometown, former Florida Republican Gov. Charlie Crist announced Monday he is running for governor as a Democrat “and the reason is to put you back in charge because you deserve a governor that wakes up every day thinking about you, who you can trust to govern honestly, in our collective best interest.”

Crist, accompanied on stage by his wife, Carole, and Democratic officials, said, “Tallahassee is out of control. ... The voice of the people has been silenced by the financial bullies and the special interests. ... You really have no advocate there anymore.”

Crist attacked Gov. Rick Scott for campaigning in 2010 as an outsider but not keeping with it.

“He went from taking over Tallahassee to becoming the example of what’s wrong with the place,” Crist said. “The more I watched Rick Scott govern ... and the more I heard from you the people, I knew it was time to take Florida in a better direction. So today, I announce that I am running for governor of Florida.”