Crist got word from McCain in 9 a.m. phone call

Gov. Charlie Crist said he got a phone call from Sen. John McCain at 9 a.m. Friday with word that the Arizona senator had chosen someone else to be his running mate. "He was very gracious," Crist said. "He let me know he was going in another direction, but I was both flattered and honored to have been considered."

Crist was discussed among pundits as an early favorite for the VP slot because his eleventh-hour endorsement of McCain is widely seen as the reason McCain won Florida's primary. Not only is Crist popular, but he directed a potent get-out-the-vote effort that drove up a moderate turn-out that helped McCain tremendously. Winning Florida on Jan. 29 launched McCain into the lead in the delegate race, and he never trailed again.

Referring to the choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Crist said, "He made a great choice in Gov. Palin, she is a great campaigner. She will be great on the ticket and will certainly fight hard, as will I."

Is he disappointed? "To be governor of the fourth-largest state in the country? Shame on me if I have any disappointment about anything, any day."

Steve Bousquet