Surrounded by a media horde at the Republican Governors' Association meeting in Miami, Charlie Crist said his party lost the election because Barack Obama was such a great candidate and the sour economy was a terrible drag on Republicans.

That prompted a reporter to remind Crist that Florida leads the nation in job losses, and to ask him if the economy would hurt him if he runs for re-election in 2010.

"I don't think so. I think that people are pretty satisfied, but we've got to work harder to improve it. And we will," Crist said. Pressed for solutions on how to help people get jobs, Crist invited them to go to  www.employflorida.com. "There are jobs available. There are opportunities. And we're trying to do more."

As for those anonymously leaked and vicious attacks on Sarah Palin, Crist said: "I think it's unfortunate to have any of it at all. My preference is to look forward to the future."

Is the Republican Party united, or divided between conservatives and moderates? "I think we have a unified party. We just need to grow it," Crist said.

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