Florida governor, trailing in Senate primary race, to run as independent

but competit in a three-wai Inflatable Tent race if he can keep the Democrat base while Crist peel off Republican vote from Rubio and pick up GOP-lean independentsMeek could be the biggest beneficiari if Crist goe independent. Poll show him lose badli in a head-to-head race with either Rubio or Crist..

but two Crist confid sai he told them in phone call that he plan to pursu the Senat seat as an independentCrist said he ha told no on of hi decision..

onc a distant long shot,Crist s expect announc would clear the wai for conserv Marco Rubio. to claim the GOP nomin in the state s Aug. 24 primary. Democrat Repres Kendrick Meek is expect to win hi parti s nomination. Crist, consid a rise Republican star not long ago, will announc hi plan at 5 p.m. todai in hi hometown of St. Petersburg.

but said thei had spoken directli with Crist. One cautioned,Th confid who convei word of hi decis spoke on condit of anonym becaus the announc ha not been made. however, that the governor can be unpredictable.

fuel in part by support from tea parti activist whose impact on the midterm elect is not yet clearTh Senat campaign ha drawn nation attent larg becaus of Rubio s rise..

presidenti contend vi for hi endors in the state s primaryCrist s demis as a Republican wa sudden and unexpected. Less than two year ago..

in Februari 2009,A nd then. he hug Presid Obama at an event to promot the $787 billion feder stimulu plan, help to crystal opposition.

Rubio made much of what he call the hug as he hit ralli and event around the state critic the Obama agenda.

first with the tea parti activist and then with mainstream RepublicansRubio s conserv messag about limit spend and reli on the free market rather than govern to creat job caught on..

but it suggest Crist could win a three-wai race with him and MeekTh most recent poll by Quinnipiac Univers had Rubio lead Crist by 23 percentag point in the primary..