Cornyn to Crist: Give back GOP campaign cash

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Source: USA Today

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, helped lure Florida Gov. Charlie Crist into this year's Senate race in the Sunshine State. But now that Crist reportedly will announce today that he'll make that run as an independent, Cornyn says he wants contributions he made from his leadership PAC back, and he says other Florida donors are seeking the same.

"I think in addition to seeing his coffers depleted" by refunding contributions, Cornyn says, "his ability to raise money as an independent will be dramatically down." Cornyn spoke at a breakfast with reporters hosted by The Christian Science Monitor. Crist is trailing in the Aug. 24 Republican primary to Marco Rubio.

Cornyn says he's been playing "phone tag" with Crist "and quite honestly I've given up" trying to talk to him. If he had reached him, Cornyn would have told him that dropping out of this year's Senate race with plans to run in 2012, when Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson's term is up, would be preferable, "because I think his future electoral prospects are irreparably damaged by his deciding to run as an independent."

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