Crist Proud to Meet President Obama at Airport

TAMPA (2009-12-28) - Gov. Charlie Crist made no apology for not attending President Obama’s town hall meeting Thursday at the University of Tampa, even though he was in town for the Board of Governors’ meeting at the University of South Florida.

The Republican governor took a lot of political heat for literally embracing President Obama and taking federal stimulus money last spring.

This time, Crist did not appear on stage with the President but he did greet his plane on the tarmac at MacDill Air Force Base.

“I was with him today, the only Republican to be with him and I was proud to be there because it was the right thing to do,” Crist said.

“It’s important for us to work together for the betterment of our people and I’ll do it every single day.”

Crist handed the president a letter making Florida’s case for the Race to the Top education grant and the need for more bipartisanship.

He also spoke to him about the high-speed rail grant.