Rubio Picks up Endorsements

Adam Guillette has a nice piece in the Washington Times today about Marco Rubio.

"Viewed by many as the heir-apparent to Jeb Bush, Mr. Rubio will be the candidate-of-choice for conservative Floridians. Mr. Rubio was even recently endorsed by Jeb Bush Jr., son of the former governor, as well as social-conservative-favorite Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor. Standing in his way is primary opponent Mr. Crist.

Fortunately, conservatives are beginning to realize they need more leaders like Mr. Rubio. No one can look at Mr. Crist and view him as the future of the party. He's an 'old white guy' and a populist. Mr. Rubio is a stark contrast - young, Hispanic and principled."

Be sure to read the whole thing.

Rubio has picked up the endorsement this week of Dennis Baxley, the former state Speaker Pro Tempore and outgoing head of the state Christian Coalition. Rubio has already been endorsed by Jeb Bush, Jr. and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Meanwhile, Charlie Crist is making some unpopular moves in Florida. From the St. Petersburg Times yesterday:

"In the defining moment of his career Monday, Gov. Charlie Crist sold the state of Florida right down the river. He did it in a gutless fashion, too, waiting until the close of business to send out a brief announcement that he was signing Senate Bill 360. Look. If you're going to destroy your state to get elected to the U.S. Senate, be proud of it. Do it at a news conference. Surround yourself with bulldozers and smiling developers. Order a cake.

"But apparently he couldn't quite fit this one in with all those other bill-signing ceremonies he's been racking up: The battle for Florida is finished now. It's over."

Ouch. Again, it seems that Sen. Cornyn and the NRSC should have waiting before their preemptive endorsement of Crist. Things may not be looking so rosy for him by 2010.

Oh, and if you missed Marco Rubio on the Ed Morrissey Show here is the link!