PolitiFact fans know we’re big on O-meters around here. Today we unveil the highly scientific (not) Crist-O-Meter measuring the likelihood of Charlie Crist running for U.S. Senate instead of a second term as governor. To hear the political conventional wisdom around Florida and Washington lately, the meter should be pushed almost all the way toward Washington, though we’re still not so convinced. Nonetheless, the Crist-O-Meter got a nudge toward the senate thanks to the state Republican Party.

The Florida GOP suddenly last week launched a series of e-mails attacking Democratic Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, over her questioning of a no-bid contract awarded by Attorney General Bill McCollum and over Sink talking about investing public money in toxic assets. State GOP Chairman Jim Greer may or may not know Crist’s plans, but he certainly seems to have decided it’s wise to start softening up the Democrats’ strongest contender for an open gubernatorial seat.