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The eyes of the nation are once again on a Florida election. Governor Charlie Crist’s decision to run as an independent will focus almost as much attention on the November election as did the aftermath of the 2000 election. And as Mike Vasilinda tells us, Republicans are wasting no time moving on.

An oil-painting of Charlie Crist has been removed from state Republican headquarters. The painting used to hang on the wall overlooking Marco Rubio’s bumper stickers.

Literature with Crist proclaiming to be a proud Republican has been put away.

The next stop for this GOP-owned oil-painting of the governor is eBay.

The GOP paid 75-hundred dollars for the painting and another of former party chairman Jim Greer.  The new chairman says it makes sense to try and recover some of the expense.

“I don’t need the picture and it was paid for by party money,” Chairman John Thrasher said. “He’s no longer a Republican, so it’s logical to me that we try to see if we can get some money for it.”

Reporter: how much do you think its worth?

Thrasher: “I don’t know. I wouldn’t speculate on that.”

Crist staff filed his loyalty oath listing him as an independent, and he wrote a 6900 dollar check to qualify.

Most of the staff resigned and calls to the campaign office went unanswered. Long time observers believe the Governor’s biggest problem besides raising money will be finding experienced staff.

“When I was trained, we organized down to the grassroots,” former state Senator Ken Plante said. “Today, the campaign managers count on the party to do that stuff and they just raise money and spend it.”

And at noon qualifying for Federal offices ended, beginning what will be the most watched campaign in the nation.

Crist’s appointee to the US Senate, George LeMieux and Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, both say they will support the Republican Nominee, not Crist.