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Florida Governor '''Charlie Crist''' (1956- ), a Republican, is a fiscal conservative and a moderate on social issues. He will run for the Senate in 2010.

'''Charlie Crist''' (1956- ), is the current Governor of the state of [[Florida]]. A [[moderate Republican]], he will run for the [[United States Senate]] in 2010.

==Career==

==Career==

Christ was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where his Greek grandparents had immigrated in 1912. His parents moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1960, where his father practiced medicine.

Crist was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where his Greek grandparents had immigrated in 1912. His parents moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1960, where his father practiced medicine.

As a public school student Crist quickly learned the value of participation, leading him to serve as class president at St. Petersburg High School and, later, as student body vice president at Florida State University. In high school Crist was the starting quarterback for his football team. He later played football at Wake Forest University before transferring and receiving his undergraduate degree from Florida State in 1978. Governor Crist then earned his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama.

As a public school student Crist quickly learned the value of participation, leading him to serve as class president at St. Petersburg High School and, later, as student body vice president at Florida State University. In high school Crist was the starting quarterback for his football team. He later played football at Wake Forest University before transferring and receiving his undergraduate degree from Florida State in 1978. Governor Crist then earned his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama.

Although Crist opposed offshore oil drilling during his gubernatorial campaign, he changed his position, saying "I mean, let's face it, the price of gas has gone through the roof, and Florida families are suffering, and my heart bleeds for them." <ref>http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91CGGV81&show_article=1</ref>  

Although Crist opposed offshore oil drilling during his gubernatorial campaign, he changed his position, saying "I mean, let's face it, the price of gas has gone through the roof, and Florida families are suffering, and my heart bleeds for them." <ref>http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91CGGV81&show_article=1</ref>  

Christ's reputation is as a fiscal conservative and a moderate on social issues. His style is folksy and he searches for bipartisanship. His handling of the great hurricanes of 2005-6 was widely praised. He appointed one moderate and two conservatives to the state supreme court. His support for [[John McCain]] helped carry the state primary and played a role in giving the 2008 GOP nomination to McCain. He cut property taxes and cut the state budget, but annoyed some conservatives by his enthusiastic support for the Obama administration's stimulus bill in spring 2009. Polls show a strong base of support from conservatives and moderates and some liberals. Christ will run for the Senate in 2010; his rival in the 2010 GOP primary will be state House Speaker [[Marco Rubio]], a conservative Cuban American.  

Crist's style is folksy and he searches for bipartisanship. His handling of the great hurricanes of 2005-6 was widely praised. He appointed one moderate and two conservatives to the state supreme court. His support for [[John McCain]] helped carry the state primary and defeated [[Mitt Romney]]. Polls show a strong base of support from conservatives and moderates and some liberals. Crist will run for the Senate in 2010; his rival in the 2010 GOP primary will be state House Speaker [[Marco Rubio]], a conservative Cuban American.  

 

==References==

==References==