Thought this might interest you all.

Crist is the relative moderate in the race.

Times recommends Crist for U.S. Senate

In Print: Sunday, October 10, 2010

Frustrated voters want change in Washington and an end to gridlock in Congress. But to break through the status quo, we must dare to be different. The U.S. Senate race offers a unique opportunity to choose independence over partisanship, civility over anger and common sense over partisan orthodoxy. The Times recommends Gov. Charlie Crist, an independent candidate who best reflects those values and Florida's mainstream sensibilities. • There are more conventional choices. U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami is the long-shot Democrat with the reliably liberal voting record. Former state House Speaker Marco Rubio of Miami is the conservative Republican and darling of the tea party movement. They represent more of the same rigid thinking and polarization that is paralyzing the Senate.

Whatever his flaws, Crist offers a fresh approach and is well known to Floridians. He moves easily among Republicans and Democrats who are not party activists. He is fiscally conservative and socially moderate. He has praised Ronald Reagan and embraced Barack Obama. He respects differing opinions, adopts good ideas regardless of their source and treats everyone with uncommon decency. That is the prescription for restoring the Senate's once-proud tradition of collaboration and compromise.

Democrats attack Crist for being too conservative, and Republicans attack him for being too liberal. Both sides accuse him of shifting positions to please everyone, and there is some truth in that. But it was his willingness to stand on conviction that left Crist so at odds with the Republican Party that he had to run for the Senate as an independent.

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This Senate race presents a rare chance for Florida voters to change the political calculus, to break the partisan standoff in Washington and try a fresh approach. If we miss this opportunity, it is hard to imagine other established public servants staking out the middle ground between increasingly polarized political parties. The Times recommends Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate.

Continues @ Tampa Bay Times [In print on 10/10/10)

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Very interesting that a well read newspaper took stand in favor of the Independent candidate. Going to be an interesting race.  Let's look them up in VoteSmart - Link in my signature line below.