In advance of the Florida Democratic Party's annual confab in Orlando, former Governor Charlie Crist, who is widely expected to run in 2014, has gone live with a one-page website hinting of the campaign to come.
The long dormant CharlieCrist.com returned to life this morning with a headline message from Crist, "Only you, the people can get Florida back to common sense." Crist then asks site visitors to "share your comments with me", promising that "I'll read every last one."
Although no longer in elected office, Crist writes on the site that he works for the people. "I always have and always will," reads the website.
Crist's familiar campaign logo appears to have been gently refreshed with a second shade of blue -- perhaps a tribute to his party switch last December to the Democrats.
Many Cristologists, especially those in the traditional media, expected Crist to make some sort of announcement this weekend as the beleaguered, but hopeful Florida Democratic Party gathers for its annual state conference at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort in Orlando. And while Crist will be around this weekend, he won't say any magic words about his 2014 intentions. Instead, this longtime Crist observer, expects Charlie to announce sometime during the first week of November, after new campaign finance laws increasing the amount of individual contributions to statewide candidates take effect.
Still, this website is the clearest sign yet that Crist does intend to challenge Rick Scott in 2014.