Florida Senator Lemieux Backs Rubio

Charlie Crist's former campaign manager and chief of staff, Sen. George Lemieux, will not support him:

I am saddened that my friend, Governor Crist, has decided to leave the Republican Party. Our friendship runs deep, but my commitment to the principles of the Republican Party runs deeper. I cannot walk down the path he has chosen.

Now more than ever, our nation’s future depends on our ability to uphold the core Republican ideals of fiscal restraint, peace through strength, individual liberty, personal responsibility and smaller government.

I will support our Republican nominee and will continue to do everything I can both in Florida and across the country to increase the number of Republicans in the United States Senate.

Lemieux is believed to have aspirations to run against Bill Nelson in 2012, and his future in the GOP would have been finished if he stuck with Crist.