The GOP Wants Crist

Sen. John Cornyn (TX), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), has endorsed Florida Gov. Charlie Crist in his newly announced 2010 Senate bid, picking a favorite before the state's August 31 primary. Crist is expected to win the GOP nomination easily, and, in fact, he's the GOP's highest-profile candidate to emerge so far. While Cornyn gave a nod to opponent Marco Rubio in his endorsement, the NRSC is calling attention to an early bright spot in what could be a difficult recruiting cycle for the party, promoting a race in which they're instantly competitive, if not heavily favored (early polling showed Crist with 2-1 leads over potential Democratic opponents).