Club for Growth doubles down for Rubio

Club for Growth political action committee endorsed Marco Rubio last fall for U.S. Senate.

Now an affiliated group called Club for Growth Action is blasting Rubio's primary foe, Gov. Charlie Crist, with a radio ad beaming across the I-4 Corridor.

The spot hammers Crist over his U.S. Sugar-Everglades deal, likening it to the "disastrous bailouts coming from Washington." It urges Floridians to Tell Charlie Crist that taxpayers need his help more than U.S. Sugar.

A Club for Growth Action spokesman, who declined to divulge the group's finances or directors, said Floridians should stay tuned for more where that came from.

In 2008, the Club for Growth PAC supported Rep. Tom Feeney's re-election bid in the 24th Congressional District. Feeney was defeated by Democrat Suzanne Kosmas.

Club for Growth, which claims to have 40,000 members, was sued in 2005 by the Federal Elections Commission for failing to register as a political action committee in the 2000, 2002 and 2004 congressional elections. The group agreed to pay $350,000 in civil penalties.