TALLAHASSEE — John McCain on Wednesday became the fifth Republican U.S. senator to endorse Gov. Charlie Crist and his bid to join them in Washington. But some Florida Re publicans are wondering whether the move will backfire on the governor.

An endorsement from GOP leaders in Washington is not necessarily a plus, Palm Beach County Republican Party Chairman Sid Dinerstein said.

“They are negatives,” Dinerstein said. “These are the men who brought the party down.”

Crist is facing a primary challenge from former state House Speaker Marco Rubio. That election is not until Aug. 24, 2010.

But in the eight days since Crist announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate, he has lined up support from several GOP senators: McCain, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, John Cornyn of Texas and Florida’s Mel Martinez.

Crist endorsed Martinez in the 2004 Republican primary with Bill McCollum.

“This race is not going to be decided in Tallahassee or Washington, D.C.,” Rubio spokesman Brian Seitchik said. “Voters are going to have a clear choice for the future of the Republican Party.”

Crist and McCain have traded endorsements for the past several years.

McCain supported Crist in his 2006 campaign for governor and Crist returned the favor last year, when McCain was on his way to winning the party’s presidential nomination. Mc-Cain is the last Republican to win a statewide primary in Florida.

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“I was proud to have had Charlie’s support in my campaign, and I am proud to support him in his campaign,” McCain said. “I am proud to call him my friend and look forward to calling him my colleague.”

McCain won Florida’s presidential primary after beating several candidates, like Mitt Romney, whom conservatives seemed to have an easier time supporting. But McCain won anyway, with many Republicans citing him as their best chance to win a general election.

Crist, meanwhile, is facing a challenge from arch-conservative Marco Rubio. The popular governor is miles ahead of Rubio right now.

But watch see if/when the “electability” arguments starts circulating among the Crist supporters.

Tags: Charlie Crist, endorsements, John McCain, Marco Rubio

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