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Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) told The Hill Monday that he is not thinking about being Sen. John McCain’s (Ariz.) running mate, even as he rattled off talking points touting the presumptive GOP nominee as if already on the stump.
In an hour-long interview, Crist repeatedly said he is too busy with the affairs of his state to entertain chatter about his potential as a vice presidential candidate. But he sometimes sounded as if he were auditioning for a vice presidential role, highlighting the importance of McCain’s experience in national security matters, defending him from charges contained in a controversial New York Times story last week, and questioning the bona fides of Democratic front-runner Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.).
With former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee standing as McCain’s only remaining opponent, Crist declined to suggest whether Huckabee should withdraw. But he added that he thought former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s (R) decision to get out of the race was “statesmanlike” and “admirable.”
The popular governor’s last-minute endorsement of McCain in Florida’s primary last month was regarded by many as the final push that helped the Arizona senator get past Romney, essentially ensuring him the nomination.
The endorsement, as well McCain’s subsequent victory, stoked speculation that Crist could be a future vice presidential candidate.
But on Monday, Crist consistently said he has “a full plate” and is not in a position to offer McCain any advice. He does, however, speak to him on a weekly basis.
Crist was in Washington for the National Governors Association’s winter meeting and hosted a fundraiser for the Florida Republican Party with a suggested minimum contribution of $5,000. Meanwhile, McCain was the keynote speaker at Saturday night’s Republican Governors Association dinner, where three of the Republican governors in attendance were potential picks to join McCain on the ticket: Crist, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
When asked whether he was comparing notes with Sanford and Pawlenty, Crist joked that he has talked to them a lot, “but not about that.”
Crist also offered a strong defense of McCain in the wake of last week’s New York Times story that questioned the Arizona senator’s past dealings with lobbyists.
The Florida governor said he has no doubt that McCain has never been influenced by “any external, inappropriate factor whatsoever.”
“I don’t know that I’ve met a more honorable person in my life than Sen. John McCain other than my father and my mother, of course,” Crist said. “I think his integrity is beyond reproach.”
Crist said the Times story worked in McCain’s favor, creating a “rallying” point for conservatives who might not have supported the Arizonan.
“In a weird way, I think it ended up helping Sen. McCain,” Crist said.
The governor also dismissed the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) recent charges that McCain is violating Federal Election Commission rules regarding public financing, and called the story “inside baseball” that average voters don’t care about.
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