Schwarzenegger endorses Crist in Florida’s Senate race

Not every Republican is running away from Charlie Crist.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced in a Twitter message Tuesday that he's endorsing Crist in Florida's closely watched Senate race. "I endorse Gov @charliecristfl for Senate," Schwarzenegger tweeted. "Great leader, works with both parties, and our country needs someone like him in DC right now."

That makes Crist the first candidate Schwarzenegger has formally endorsed in the 2010 campaign. That includes candidates in California, where Schwarzenegger has so far declined to officially weigh in on the U.S. Senate race between incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer and GOP challenger Carly Fiorina — or the showdown between Republican Meg Whitman and Democrat Jerry Brown to replace him as governor. Schwarzenegger has enjoyed close relationships with both gubernatorial candidates in the past.

It's unclear whether Schwarzenegger will campaign for Crist or if his endorsement will help the Florida governor's struggling campaign. According to the polls, the Republican-turned-independent governor has fallen anywhere from 5 to 10 points behind Republican Marco Rubio in recent weeks. To win, Crist is trying to appeal to independents and moderates from both parties — something the moderate Schwarzenegger's endorsement could potentially help him do.

While Crist has been under attack in the race as a flip-flopper, he and Schwarzenegger have worked together on climate change and other environmental issues. Both those topics, however, have fallen behind the economy as the pre-eminent concern of voters heading into Election Day.

In recent days, Crist has turned up the rhetoric in his attempts to appeal to Democrats. In an interview earlier today with the Associated Press's Brett Kallestad, Crist took aim at Democrat Kendrick Meek, who runs a distant third place in the race. Asked if he believes a vote for Meek is a vote for Rubio, Crist replied, "Regrettably, that would be the case."

At the moment, polls seem to back up Crist's argument. While a new Public Policy Polling survey finds Rubio still with a commanding lead in the race, the survey also finds that Crist and Rubio would be essentially tied at 46 percent apiece if Meek weren't in the race. On the flip side, Meek's chances would improve, but not enough to win, if Crist quit the race. According to PPP, Rubio would lead Meek, 48 percent to 41 percent.

At the moment, Crist and Meek are splitting the Democratic vote — Crist has 42 percent, compared with Meek's 41 percent. But there are signs that Crist wouldn't be able to lock up the Democratic vote even if Meek quit the race. When the race is polled between just Rubio and Crist, Rubio attracts a surprising 20 percent of the Democratic vote — more or less ensuring a deadlock in a head-to-head Crist-Rubio contest.

(Photo of Schwarzenegger and Crist in 2007: J. Pat Carter/AP)