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Report: Crist To Campaign With Obama Saturday

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Former Governor Charlie Crist made his long awaited debut at the Democratic National Convention Thursday and lauded President Barack Obama for saving the Sunshine State with the stimulus package, among other programs.

Now, Crist may be willing to take it a step further. According to Bay News 9 in Tampa, Crist said he plans to hit the campaign trail with President Obama this weekend. Obama is scheduled to make two stops in Florida, including one in West Palm Beach.

Crist's speech on Thursday night at the DNC was the latest move by the former Republican, turned independent, in what many believe will eventually be a full conversion to becoming a Democrat.

In his Thursday speech, Crist said that he didn't leave the Republican Party, but rather the party left him. The implication being the party turned too conservative for the more moderate Crist. He made the switch after seeing he would lose a Senate primary to Marco Rubio.

It's believed that Crist would like to return to politics, possibly as early as 2014. It's expected that if he does complete a party switch, he will again run for governor. In early polling, a Crist vs. Scott matchup with Crist as a Democrat gives the perpetually tanned former governor a 3-point lead.

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