Tapped as a shortlister to replace retiring Sen. Mel Martinez, Charlie Crist
campaign brain and "maestro" George LeMieux might be the first person to use
the governor as an adjective to describe a transformative figure.

"We have to be Charlie Crist Republicans. We have to be problem solvers. We
have to have limited government, but do it in a smart way," LeMieux said, noting
he is "honored" simply to be considered for the post.

Perhaps by accident, LeMieux made his first de facto campaign speech for the
post when he chatted with the Center Right Coalition, a group of conservatives, in Tallahassee on Wednesday.
Just as he finished the speech/Q&A, Crist's press shop disclosed what has
long been speculation: that Crist wants to consider his former staff chief for
the job.

Marc Caputo, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

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