THE FLORIDA COMPLICATION – AT 7:07 P.M. ET:  Is Charlie Crist about to pull a Joe Lieberman in Florida?  He says he's not planning it, but, you know, the English language is flexible, especially when employed by politicians.

Crist, a popular Republican governor, generally considered moderate, is being beaten badly for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination by Marco Rubio, a rising conservative star.  However, Quinnipiac reports that Crist might do better by taking a different course:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Gov. Charlie Crist has fallen far behind in Florida's Republican primary contest for the U.S. Senate, but he could capture a three-way race in November, a poll released Thursday suggests.

Crist must decide by April 30 whether to remain in the GOP primary where former state House Speaker Marco Rubio is favored or pursue an independent bid. He has refused to shut the door on speculation he might bolt the party that helped him win races as Florida's attorney general and education commissioner before he became governor in 2006.

If the general election were held now, 32 percent of voters would favor Crist, compared with 30 percent for Rubio and 24 percent for the Democratic hopeful, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, according to a survey of 1,250 registered voters taken April 8-13 by Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.

"The biggest threat to Crist's political career is the Republican primary," said Peter Brown, Quinnipiac's assistant polling director. "People overall think he is doing a good job as governor, but that doesn't mean Republicans think that he should be their U.S. senator."

COMMENT:  Crist's strong showing stems from his popularity among independents and some Democrats.  It shows once again the value of expanding the base, not resting on it.

Florida is far from settled.  We lean Rubio here, but Crist should not be written off.

April 15