Jeff Kottkamp Backs Marco Rubio for Senate, not Charlie Crist

Despite being picked by Gov. Charlie Crist to serve as his running mate back in 2006, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp endorsed former House Speaker Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate race on Wednesday.

Rubio is running as a Republican while Crist left the GOP back in April to continue his campaign as an independent. Kottkamp is running against former Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi and former Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Holly Benson in a close battle for the Republican nomination for attorney general.

Today I announce my endorsement of Marco Rubio to be Floridas next United States senator, said Kottkamp.

Using the endorsement to reinforce his conservative credentials, Kottkamp made a pitch to Republican primary voters who remain largely undecided in the attorney general contest.

This endorsement should not be a surprise to anyone, said Kottkamp. As conservative Republicans, Marco and I share the same principals faith, family and freedom.Never before have those beliefs meant so much.

Kottkamp, who served with Rubio in the House, used the opportunity to attack Crist for backing President Barack Obama.

I cannot in good conscience support a candidate who will go to Washington and push for passage of the Obama agenda, said Kottkamp who has criticized the Obama administration on a number of issues ranging from new federal health-care laws to budget cuts to NASA . Too much is at stake in this election and Im proud to say I support Marco Rubio.