NRSC: 'Zero chance' Crist stays in GOP primary

The National Republican Senatorial Committee now believes there's "zero chance" Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) will stay in the GOP Senate primary. It's calling on his supporters to urge him to "drop out of the race and wait for another day."

"We have communicated this message indirectly and would have given it to the Governor directly had he returned Senator Cornyn’s phone call," Rob Jesmer, the committee's executive director wrote in an email that the committee leaked Monday. "If any of you have influence with Governor Crist, we hope you will call his campaign and encourage him to do the right thing."

The committee will throw its full backing behind former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) if Crist launches an independent bid. "[I]f the Governor decides to run independent, regardless of any public commitments he makes regarding organization, we will support Marco Rubio in any way possible," Jesmer said.