Former Sen. Connie Mack withdraws as Crist's campaign chairman

Veto moves Crist campaign chief to resign

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Charlie Crist's political mentor, former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, resigned Thursday as Crist's campaign chairman in his race for the U.S. Senate.

Mack wrote a terse, two-paragraph letter to his one-time protege that said Crist was wrong to veto a bill, SB 6, that would have made it easier to fire teachers and tie their pay to student test scores.

"As you know, I strongly disagree with your veto," Mack wrote his fellow Republican. "Your veto I believe undermines our education system in Florida and the principles for which I have always stood."

Mack went on to say that Crist's decision to veto was "unsupportable and wrong."

"As you can understand, I can no longer serve as chairman for your campaign for the United States Senate," Mack wrote.

Mack, who retired in early 2001 after a dozen years in the U.S. Senate, addressed the letter to "Charlie" and said he valued their long friendship.