The powerful anti-tax group the Club for Growth on Monday endorsed former state House Speaker Marco Rubio in Florida's Senate Republican primary, setting up a marquee showdown with national party leaders, who have already backed Gov. Charlie Crist.
The endorsement came just days after the group announced it would release a television ad attacking Crist for endorsing President Barack Obama¹s economic stimulus plan earlier this year.
Crist has the backing of by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. But Florida is an expansive state where campaigns have to buy ads in multiple markets, so the Club for Growth commitment could make the primary battle much more competitive.
The group is coming off a high profile battle with the National Republican Congressional Committee in the special election in New York's 23rd District.
In that race, the Club was instrumental in helping to undermine the candidacy of moderate who was backed by the national Republican Party, and the Democratic nominee, Bill Owens, won the election.
The group's president, Chris Chocola, said the Club for Growth PAC is certain a Republican will win the Senate seat, and "The only question now is what kind of Republican will Florida send to Washington next year: a pro-growth Republican with a record of fiscal conservatism or a big-government Republican with a record of tax increases?"
In response Crist campaign manager Eric Eikenberg said, "The governor shares many of the same views as the Club for Growth and he looks to working with them as Florida¹s next senator."
CQ Politics rates the Senate race in Florida "Likely Republican."
To follow all the 2010 Senate races, check out the CQ Politics election map.
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