Will Democratic Backing Carry Crist?

The Florida Senate race has muddled party allegiances, with Marco Rubio's Tea Party support prompting Charlie Crist to run as an independent, thus casting doubt on Democratic front-runner Kendrick Meek's shot at a three-way election. Crist has hired a former strategist for Mike Bloomberg and is supposedly lining up big Democratic donors who've given up on Meek.

The American Prospect's Tim Fernholz, however, is skeptical:

Though a handful of Democrats seem to have switched their allegiances for the first time, the Meek campaign is pushing back by announcing the support of some 39 local officials, and the endorsement of over 250 elected Democrats in Florida. All told, Meek's fundraising has been impressive, garnering $6 million so far. The most telling information will come when the FEC releases campaign finance disclosures for the last quarter on July 10.

Meek supporters also note their national backing, with figures like former President Bill Clinton, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Robert Menendez and President Barack Obama expressing their support for Meek.

Read the full story at The American Prospect.