House Speaker-designate Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, wasted no time Monday in jumping on former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist’s endorsement of President Obama.

Weatherford, opening the “Fresh From Florida” breakfast at the Innisbrook Resort and Spa on Monday, made reference to the stimulus hug that has haunted Crist since 2009.

“I didn’t know a hug could be that powerful,” Weatherford cracked, invoking the image of Crist’s embrace of Obama now that Crist is also slated to speak at the Democratic National Convention next week in Charlotte, N.C.

The image hug was replayed often as Crist eventually moved from the GOP to continue his 2010 failed bid for U.S. Senate as an independent.

The campaign for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, portrayed the hug as more than a courtesy greeting, painting the embrace as support for the $767
billion in deficit spending.

Weatherford's comment continues an early theme in Tampa as officials and delegates gather for the Republican National Convention.

GOP leaders want Floridians to remember Charlie Crist as the pro-gun, pro-traditional marriage Republican he was when he so often was busy running for office in the past.

They say it’s best not to give him the satisfaction of tagging a liberal label on him because that’s what he wants if the now-independent Crist’s ultimate goal is to campaign for the office in 2014 as a Democrat.

“Bless his heart,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam told Republican Party of Florida executive committee members as they met Sunday at the Innisbrook Resort and Spa in Palm Harbor.

“He’s so desperate to be in somebody’s parade, he’ll wear any costume to get there.”

On Sunday, the eve of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Crist penned an op-ed piece for the Tampa Bay Times declaring his newfound love for President Barack Obama.

In the piece titled “Former Gov. Charlie Crist: Here's why I'm backing Barack Obama,” Crist argues that “only one candidate in this race has proven a willingness to navigate a realistic path to prosperity.”

The RPOF has issued talking points to members, reminding them to point out Crist’s desires to reinvent himself after years of being pro-guns, pro-life, against civil unions and opposed to gay marriage.

Lenny Curry, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, said the intended audience for their talking points is Democratic.

“We just want to make sure the Democrats understand what they're getting,” Curry said.

“This must be a historic moment: someone who has self-identified as a Ronald Reagan and Jeb Bush Republican endorses not only a Democratic president but one that is viewed by many as so far left,” said Curry.

“This is, how much media attention can Charlie Crist get out of whatever it is he’s going for? How many steps from point A to point B? And it’s crass, there is a tropical storm out there.”

Crist, a Republican who forwent running for a second term as governor in order to run for U.S. Senate, became an independent in 2010 to avoid a primary with Marco Rubio, R-Miami.

Crist's wife registered as a Democrat earlier this year.



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