Breaking News Florida Gov. Crist to Endorse McCain

 
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist plans to endorse John McCain for the GOP presidential nomination.

Crist is expected to back the Arizona senator at a dinner in St. Petersburg, Fla., Saturday evening ahead of the state’s competitive primary Tuesday, where McCain and Mitt Romney have been butting heads over everything from leadership credentials to their positions on the Iraq war.

“He’s a patriot, a true hero and the best person to lead this country,” Crist’s office said of McCain in a written statement.

But the endorsement would be a blow to Rudy Giuliani, who had recently met with Crist. Giuliani has swiftly dropped from first to third in the Florida polls, as he’s skipped other high-profile early primaries and caucuses.
McCain met with Crist Saturday afternoon, according to a source in the governor’s office.