Crist to back Bill Nelson in Florida Senate race

5 hours ago CNN Congressional Producer Rebecca Stewart (CNN) - Former Gov. Charlie Crist will endorse Sen. Bill Nelson in his bid for re-election at a campaign event Friday, CNN has confirmed.

Crist is expected to back Nelson at a Florida fundraiser hosted by his law firm where former President Bill Clinton will appear.

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"A prominent Orlando law firm is hosting an upcoming fund-raiser for Sen. Nelson that will feature President Clinton and will be attended by many other officials, including the former governor. We're glad to have all their support," said Marley Wilkes, deputy campaign manager.

Instead of seeking a second term as governor in 2010, then-Republican Crist opted to pursue his own seat in the U.S. Senate. After being defeated by Marco Rubio for the Republican nomination, Crist ran as an independent and lost. Though he has not formally changed his party identification, Crist will support Nelson, a Democrat, as Nelson seeks a third term.

Three independents are also running for Senate in Florida.

Nelson is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Glenn Burkett–who ran for Governor in 2010.

Clinton also played a role in Crist's ill-fated Senate bid–he reportedly urged Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek to drop out of the 2010 Senate race so that he wouldn't split the Democratic vote. Meek declined and later denied the former president was involved at all. Rubio subsequently won the seat.

Nelson will face one of a packed field of Republican Senate candidates currently led by Rep. Connie Mack. The Florida Senate primary will be held on August 14.

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