Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) appointed his former chief of staff to the state's vacant Senate seat, which Sen. Mel Martinez (R) is retiring from 16 months early and Crist himself is currently running for. By choosing George LeMieux, a close friend and former adviser, Crist is assured the sitting senator will not decide to run against him. However, Crist could catch some flak among Republicans for overlooking perhaps more experienced candidates.

LeMieux is a former Broward County GOP chairman and helped run Crist's successful 2002 bid for attorney general and 2006 gubernatorial campaign.

The Florida Republican Party releeased a statement of approval from chairman Jim Greer: "Once again, Charlie Crist has demonstrated his commitment to serving Floridians, by appointing George LeMieux who is well qualified, a dedicated public servant, conservative Republican and an excellent choice.”

Democrats, meanwhile, immediately fired off statements to the press calling the move classic cronyism.

A statement from the Florida Democratic Party read: "Floridians are sick of the Republican culture of corruption and the Tallahassee back room dealings that clearly led Crist to pick LeMieux, whose only qualification is being Charlie Crist's crony."

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also unleashed a disapproving statement: "Charlie Crist came as close as he could to appointing himself to this position. At a time when so many Floridians are unemployed, and many others facing foreclosures, we have learned nothing is beyond the pale for Charlie Crist. Today marked another Charlie Crist choice that significantly impacts the state of Florida but is ultimately about promoting himself."

According to the Miami Herald, other Republicans considered for the job included: former Rep. Clay Shaw, former Secretary of State Jim Smith, former U.S. Attorney Roberto Martinez, former U.S. Reps. Mike Bilirakis and Lou Frey, state Rep. Jennifer Carroll, former state Sen. Dan Webster and University of North Florida President John Delaney.