"Maestro" Doesn't Like Charlie's New Tune

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LeMieux's an expert on self-preservation, much like his star pupil, Crist.

​The friendship between Charlie Crist and his chief handler, Broward native George LeMieux appears to be one of the casualties of the 2010 Senate race. Today LeMieux, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Crist last August, announced that he would not support Crist's independent bid for Senate and would switch his endorsement to Crist foe Marco Rubio.

The "maestro" of Crist's 2006 gubernatorial campaign, LeMieux was Crist's chief of staff before leaving for the law firm Gunster Yoakley in 2008. But if Crist's gone rogue, it's beginning to seem that LeMieux's gone Washington. He's thought to be angling for the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012.