Gov. Crist loses another

Rep. Tom Grady, R-Naples, has resigned from his position as regional chairman of the Charlie Crist for Senate campaign, citing a gap in ideologies that appears to be widening.

“We have always disagreed on some important issues (market-based insurance, claims of climate change, judicial appointments),” Grady wrote in an e-mail addressed to Gov. Crist, “but the list appears to be growing (education excellence, ending entitlements, rail).”

Grady also mentions a change to the governor's website that suggests Crist is prepared to completely drop his affiliation with the GOP. “Your website has eliminated all references to our Republican Party,” he notes.

Grady's name is just the latest to be added to a growing list of Republicans that are withdrawing their support of Crist's Senate campaign. Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Naples, have all recently dropped their support of Crist.

Plus, business groups across the state have abandoned Crist, particularly after he vetoed the teacher merit pay bill that the unions opposed.