FL: Independent Crist's "Centrist Strategy Working" Say Observers

From the Herald Tribune:

earlier in his administration, when Crist's voter approval ratings were near 70 percent, the governor was never fully embraced by the strongest Republican voters. His high approval ratings were based on his ability to attract Republicans as well as a sizable share of Democrats and independents, said Peter Brown, who helps run Quinnipiac University's polling institute.

"He was not as popular among Republicans as Jeb Bush," Brown said. "But he was much more popular among Democrats and independents than someone like Bush was."

But as a politician who began his career with the moniker "Chain Gang Charlie" because of his tough on crime stances, Crist has made "a rather remarkable transformation" to find himself in the position of seeking support from largely Democratic-leaning unions, Brown said.