Florida Gov. Backs McCain as Race Turns Nasty

Florida's popular governor endorsed John McCain tonight, giving a major boost to the Arizona senator as his tight race with Mitt Romney took a nasty turn. Gov. Charlie Crist called McCain a "true American hero" three days ahead of the state's primary, the Miami Herald reports. The endorsement came as McCain and Romney dropped the polite act and traded serious barbs over Iraq, the Washington Post notes.

McCain struck first. "If we surrender and wave a white flag, like Senator Clinton wants to do, and withdraw, as Governor Romney wanted to do, then there will be chaos." Romney, who has said the military should consider a private timetable but not set public deadlines, angrily demanded an apology. "That's dishonest," he said. McCain responded that the only people due an apology are US soldiers, from those who would let them down. (More Florida stories.)