Republican Gov. Crist introduces Obama in Florida

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- After months of standing in front of crowds chanting "Drill, baby, drill," Gov. Charlie Crist stepped in front of a microphone Tuesday to shouts of "Yes We Can."

Crist, who campaigned often for Republican presidential nominee John McCain last year, brought his reputation as a bipartisan politician to a new level when he introduced President Barack Obama at a campaign-style event to promote a stimulus package that isn't supported in Congress by a single Florida Republican.

"It's important that we pass the stimulus package," Crist said. "Mr. President, we need to do it in a bipartisan way. Helping our country is about helping our country. This is not about partisan politics, this is about rising above that, helping America and reigniting our economy."

Working with Democrats is not new for Crist, who has also stood alongside former President Bill Clinton on climate change issues. He has built a reputation in Tallahassee for listening to members of both parties.

Obama praised Crist for that attitude.

"Gov. Crist shares my conviction that creating jobs and turning this economy around is a mission that transcends party," Obama said. "And when the town is burning, you don't check party labels, everybody needs to grab a hose. And that's what Charlie Crist is doing."

Crist in 2006 declined an invitation to campaign with then-President George W. Bush. He said before Tuesday's event that he wasn't concerned about standing with the leader of the opposite party.

"He's the president of my country and he's coming to our state and he's trying to put together a plan that will help our state an awful lot, so I think it makes perfect sense," Crist said. "I think it makes common sense and that's what we need -- to make sure we work together to help the people."

And his decision went over well with many of the people who attended Tuesday.

"He seems like he cares more about what is happening to Florida than being a Republican," said Tom Prather, 71, a Democrat who didn't vote for Crist. "It was a risk for him to come and do what he did today, and it shows that he too cares about what's going on. I thought it was a great nonpartisan act."

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer acknowledged that Florida's GOP House members and Republican Sen. Mel Martinez are on the opposite side of Crist on the stimulus bill.

"The governor has a different role and responsibility than members of Congress," Greer said. "Florida is facing budgetary and economic challenges which require Gov. Crist to seek help. Partisan politics is never going to stand in the way of Charlie Crist working to find solutions to the challenges Floridians face."

After introducing Obama, Crist took a seat among nine Democratic House members and Democratic Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. The governor was praised for standing up with the president.

"This isn't politics as usual. Some people are stuck in politics of the past, this is different. This is so critical. People are losing their homes, their health care, their jobs," said Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa. "When you stand up for the average Florida family and business owner, politics will take care of itself."

Even Rep. Robert Wexler, a self-proclaimed fire-breathing liberal from South Florida, called Crist "a class act."

"Barack Obama and Charlie Crist personify the new age of politics," Wexler said. "This is vintage Gov. Crist. ... It's authentic, it's credible. This isn't a last-minute conversion, this is the kind of politics that Gov. Crist has practiced for so long. Today he had an opportunity to do it on the highest level with the president of the United States and I think people will respect that enormously."

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)