Charlie Crist backs the president and stokes rumors of a political comeback

TAMPA - After Charlie Crist left Tallahassee and the Republican party only to lose his run for senate as an Independent, he became a pitchman for a law firm.  "Morgan and Morgan - for the people," intones the former Governor in heavily-run TV commercials.

Now the charismatic Crist is 'for the  President' and took the stage in Charlotte on Thursday night to argue for Barack Obama's second term.  In doing so, Crist has fueled speculation that he will run for Governor as a Democrat.
 
"What  better time to run than against a guy like Rick Scott  who is the least popular governor in the US? asks Creative Loafing columnist, Scott Farrell.
 
"The Democrats are so far down in Florida, they have no bench. They're so desperate to win, they'd run anybody and Charlie is "about anybody," says Farrell.

But Crist remains popular in Florida, especially with the independent voters that Barack Obama needs to win over in November.
 
It was Crist's support of the president's stimulus plan in 2009 that led the GOP to reject him in the first place.

"Kind of like a bad breakup.  They didn't really want to stay together with him, but they don't like him dating someone else, says Florida State Senator Paula Dockery about Crist's split from the GOP.

Dockery believes Crist has no chance of reclaiming the Governor's mansion as a Republican and a slim chance as a Democrat.
 
"The first thing is can he even win if he switches parties and even if he runs for Governor, can he even win the primary? said Dockery.

Crist would have to get past people like Alex Sink who may take a second shot at the job.  But Democratic delegate Ella Coffee of Tampa says the big tent party will gladly welcome Crist on the convention stage.
 
"If Governor Crist says Obama is the number one choice with him and he lays a foundation for that, then he will be received quite well."