Dick Cheney endorses Rubio in Florida Senate race

2 hrs 39 mins ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday endorsed Republican Marco Rubio in Florida's U.S. Senate race and coupled his announcement with sharp criticism of Rubio's competitor, Governor Charlie Crist.
As conservative favorite Rubio picks up momentum before the August 31 primary, support for Crist has been dropping in the Republican Party to the extent that the Florida governor has been contemplating whether to run as an independent.
Cheney, in a statement issued by the Rubio campaign, said Crist has shown "time and again that he cannot be trusted in Washington to take on the Obama agenda because on issue after issue he actually supports that agenda."
"Lately it seems Charlie Crist cannot be trusted even to remain a Republican. I strongly urge him to either stay in the Republican primary or drop out of the race. The only winners from an independent bid by Crist would be (President) Barack Obama and (Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid," Cheney said.
A Rasmussen poll last week said Rubio leads Crist among likely Republican voters by 57 percent to 28 percent.
Crist was once considered the establishment candidate and front-runner for the Republican nomination to face the likely Democratic nominee, Kendrick Meek. Rubio's challenge was driven by strong support from the party's conservative wing.
More than a third of the Senate's 100 seats are up for grabs in November congressional elections in which Republicans hope to reduce the Democrats' strong majorities in the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rubio also picked up the endorsement this week of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who is weighing a bid to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Doina Chiacu)