Florida Election Results: Charlie Crist Uses Obama Win to Recast Himself as a Democrat

Impact

With President Barack Obama's official win in Florida, key surrogates — such as former Republican-turned-independent governor Charlie Crist — are now trying to jump on the 2012 Obama bandwagon.

In an MSNBC interview, Crist — who ran an unsuccessful 2010 Senate bid against now junior senator and Tea Party darling Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — said he is "very pleased" with the result that put the Sunshine State's 29 Electoral College votes in Obama's column. "It was wonderful to have it happen," Crist said. 

Crist spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention and campaigned along President Obama and former President Bill Clinton after losing — as a sitting governor — to Rubio during the 2010 Tea Party takeover. 

And now, the former Republican is trying to recast himself into Florida — and perhaps — national politics with speculation about a potential run as a governor in 2014 against current governor Rick Scott. 

"I'm not ruling anything in or anything out," said Crist when asked by MSNBC about the possibility. "What I'm focused on is being pleased for President Obama, that Florida came home for him," he added.