Independent Crist Holds Miami Beach Fundraiser
Miami-Dade mayor comes to Crist's defense on stimulus support
AP
FILE - In a Tuesday, April 27, 2010 photo, Gov. Charlie Crist speaks during a news conference in Tallahassee, Fla. Crist appears to be setting the stage to drop out of the GOP Senate primary and run as an independent for the US Senate primary. Crist will announce his plans at 5 p.m. Thursday in his hometown of St. Petersburg. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon, File)
Charlie Crist may not have a party, but he still has a few friends in Miami.
Fresh off his announcement last week that he's leaving the Republican party to run for U.S. Senate as an independent, Gov. Crist held a fundraiser Sunday night in Miami Beach.
Over 100 supporters, including Republicans, Democrats and independents, showed up for the fundraiser at the Grand Beach Hotel where Crist discussed his decision to change his affiliation and defended his famous appearance with President Barack Obama.
Crist also received a little help from Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez, who jumped to the Governor's defense concerning Crist's decision to support the federal stimulus package.
Alvarez said it would have been "flat-out wrong" not to take the stimulus money, or take it and then not campaign with Obama.
"It's kind of hypocritical to take the money and then badmouth it," Alvarez said, according to the Miami Herald.
"What would have happened to our budget without the stimulus money?" the Republican Alvarez asked the crowd. "The people who criticize it have never run anything in their lives."
Copyright Associated Press / NBC 6 Miami
