Charlie Crist

Republicans at Arms
When Republican Senator Mel Martinez decided in December 2008 to not seek re-election, Marco Rubio (right) was the first to seek the Republican nomination. However, his prospects seemed slim once Crist threw his name into contention. Backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and a slew of other Republicans, the popular governor of Florida was the veritable frontrunner for both the nomination and the election, with Rubio an afterhought.