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Tom Lee backs Rubio in Senate primary

Posted Mar 18, 2010 by William March

Updated Mar 18, 2010 at 01:22 PM

Former state Senate President Tom Lee of Brandon announced today he’s backing Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate primary, becoming one of the first prominent Hillsborough Republicans to side with Rubio against Gov. Charlie Crist.

Hillsborough has long been a stronghold for Crist along with his home county of Pinellas. Crist’s Hillsborough supporters include former Gov. Bob Martinez, high-level GOP fundraiser Al Austin and most of the county’s top elected Republican officeholders, from Sheriff David Gee to Republican state legislators.

Lee said his decision to back Rubio isn’t because Rubio now leads Crist in polls. He said he made the decision and told Rubio about it in January, after Rubio came to visit him at his Brandon office and he heard Rubio speak at a rally in Plant City. It was the Rubio campaign’s decision to wait until now to publicize the endorsement, he said.

“I’ve heard a lot of politicians come and go, but this guy is the real deal,” said Lee, who runs his family’s homebuilding business and has a family history of political involvement.

“He can inspire conservatives and connect with people. I think he’s the real conservative in this primary.”

Lee said his backing of Rubio is not about dislike or dissatisfaction with Crist, but he listed some areas where Rubio and Crist disagree, and where he agrees with Rubio – Rubio’s stated opposition to expansion of gambling in Florida; Florida Supreme Court appointments by Crist that displeased some conservatives; and automatic felon rights restoration, which Crist favors and Rubio opposes.

As a member of the state Senate leadership and Senate president from 2004-06, Lee at one time was the county’s most influential voice in state government. When his term limits expired, he ran unsuccessfully for state chief financial officer against Alex Sink in 2006, often campaigning alongside Crist, who was then running for governor.

Lee said it was difficult for him to break ranks with other prominent Republicans backing Crist, but that he’s not happy with “the direction our party has taken in the last couple of years.”

“It’s one of the biggest dilemmas I’ve faced,” he said. “The list is as long as my arm of Crist supporters I’m close to.”