Florida Senate race

The race for Florida’s open Senate seat may come down to the Republican primary on Aug. 24, as the likely Democratic candidate, Rep. Kendrick Meek, is trailing the two Republican hopefuls by double digits. The main GOP contenders are Gov. Charlie Crist and former state House speaker Marco Rubio. Crist, a moderate with a record of protecting the environment and fighting climate change, has been toning down his green rhetoric as he does battle with Rubio, a conservative who has the backing of many Tea Partiers. Enviros say Rubio has flip-flopped on cap-and-trade, but he claims he’s always been opposed. In December, Rubio said there’s “a significant scientific dispute” over whether climate change is human-caused.  In August 2009, Crist had a lead of 30 points in the polls, but now Rubio is up by 12 points. Can a moderate, greenish Republican beat back a Tea Party icon?  The whole country will be watching the Sunshine State to find out.