Crist's endorsement sparked furor from his former party. (Courtesy Creative Commons/ Fifth World Media)

"I'm confident that President Barack Obama is the right leader for our state and the nation," Crist said.

The ex-GOP member penned a sweeter-than-saccharine list of Obama's accomplishments, from the economy to healthcare, and referred to him as "the nation's calm through a historically turbulent storm."

The endorsement may be less a boon for Obama than the latest move in Crist's transformation from Republican governor to independent, then to, as some speculate, candidate for governor of Florida again, this time as a Democrat. Crist slammed his former party, accusing them of having "pitched so far to the extreme right on issues important to women, immigrants, seniors and students that they've proven incapable of governing for the people."

Florida Republican Party Chairman Lenny Curry derided the timing of Crist's op-ed as opportunistic and "repugnant."

"For Crist to pull this Obama stunt while Florida faces a hurricane only proves Charlie Crist cares about just one thing: Charlie Crist," Curry said.

Read Crist's op-ed at the Tampa Bay Times.

Follow Neon Tommy's coverage of the 2012 presidential election.

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