TAMPA -- Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is speaking at the convention after all -- the Democratic convention.
Crist,
the Republican-turned-independent who endorsed President Obama over the
weekend, has a speech slot at next week's Democratic National
Convention, officials said.
Democrats are likely to promote
Crist's appearance as an example of Obama's bipartisan appeal -- an old
trick at political conventions.
This week's Republican confab in Tampa features a fairly prominent former Democrat, ex-Rep. Artur Davis.
In a recent op-ed for the Tampa Bay Times,
Crist wrote that he applauds Obama's "vision of a future built by a
strong and confident middle class in an economy that gives us the
opportunity to reap prosperity through hard work and personal
responsibility."
Elected governor as a Republican, Crist turned
independent to seek a U.S. Senate seat after it appeared he would lose
the GOP primary to Marco Rubio, who went on to win a three-way race
in 2010.
Crist's speaking assignment at the Democratic convention
won't enhance his standing with Florida Republicans who regard him as a
turncoat.
Lenny Curry, chairman of the Florida Republican Party,
described Crist's endorsement of Obama as "a repugnant display from a
self-centered, career politician."
USA Today