The Republican Party of Florida isn’t going to let up on former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist as his appearance at the Democratic National Convention approaches.

And they are admitting that legendary actor Clint Eastwood’s monologue last week, with an empty chair representing President Obama on the final night of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, may have been more than slightly eccentric.

The state party, of which Crist was once a staunch defender as he moved from office to office, has released a TV ad statewide on cable titled “How Conservative Are You, Charlie?”

"If many Democrats thought Clint Eastwood's speech was a bit odd,  wait till they see Charlie Crist -- a man who has built his career  bashing virtually everything President Obama and the Democrats stand for,  including the president's spending programs and Obamacare -- debate himself," RPOF Chairman Lenny Curry stated in a release.   

The TV spot comes in the wake of last week’s online spot that the RPOF put together of what Curry believes the public may hear from the Republican-turned-independent Crist at the Democrat’s convention in Charlotte, N.C.

"Charlie Crist may try to use the Democrats' national convention as his latest attempt to shed his political skin, but the RPOF intends to make sure the people of Florida and the nation remember his words and record," Curry continued.

Speculation is high that Crist will register with the Democratic Party and challenge Florida Gov. Rick Scott in 2014.

Crist told MSNBC last week that he doesn't think he'll challenge Scott because he's "enjoying the private sector very much."



Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.