Charlie Crist calls himself a "happier warrior" on the campaign trail. But he made clear Monday that when it comes to U.S. Senate rival Marco Rubio, he will also be one tough warrior.

Addressing a hometown crowd at a Pinellas Republican Party meeting Monday night, the governor, facing a tougher-than-expected U.S. Senate primary, cast former House Speaker Rubio as someone whose conservative boasts should not be trusted.

"When you hear people out there on the campaign trail talking about what they're going to do, look at what they've already done,'' said Crist, going on to cast Rubio as a big-spending, tax-raiser. "Let's make sure the words meet the facts. I don't believe in raising taxes. I'm running against someone who wanted to,'' said Crist, apparently referring to Rubio's support of a plan to raise sales taxes while cutting property taxes.

But Crist never mentioned that he signed a budget this year that includes more than $2-billion in new taxes and fees. In fact, several times Crist made claims about his record that have been widely debunked or undercut by reality: (Story here)