Hotline After Dark -- You Are My Sunshine State, My Only Sunshine State

"World News" led with the Gulf Shore oil disaster. "Evening News" led with oil. "Nightly News" led with oil.

Last night, it was all about FL Gov. Charlie Crist's (R) decision to run for the Senate as an indie.

Ex-state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) appeared on "Hannity" 4/29 p.m.

Rubio, on Crist's original assertion he wouldn't run as an indie: "He wasn't telling the truth when he said that or obviously he's changed his mind because of self-preservation. As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't change the race at all. When I got in this race I got in this race because I didn't see anybody else running that would stand up to Barack Obama's agenda and offer a clear alternative. And that's still the case.:

More Rubio: "So I'm running against two candidates, Kendrick Meek and Charlie Crist, who support the Obama agenda. I didn't realize I'd be running against both of them at the same time. I thought there'd be a primary and then a general. But that's fine, too. ... We're going to win this election because we're on the right side of the issues."

Rubio, on whether "character" is now a campaign issue: "Character is always an issue. But I'll tell you why it's really problematic. The one thing that's really missing in American politics today is accountability. The ability to elect somebody who says they're going to do something and then they go to Washington and do it. And the problem ... is that the scourge of modern American politics are folk that will say or do anything to get elected. Their number one interest is climbing up the political ladder. And I think we saw an example of that today."

After the jump, more from Rubio, and comments from Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) on Crist's decision and the race in general.

More Rubio: "I think it's sad. I think it's unfortunate. But the good news is, I believe the voters of Florida are going to take care of this problem in November here in Florida."

FNC's Hannity: "What do you make of the Club for Growth and Senator John Cornyn, who through the SC, donated $10,000 to Charlie Crist campaign that they are starting a campaign, that he give back the money that people donated for this race. And then they want to give it to you. Do you that think that's appropriate and proper?"

Rubio: "I do. Because I think that they donated under false pretenses. They were told that he was a candidate for the Republican nomination. They endorsed him early on. ... People gave money to his campaign because he was running in a Republican primary. And now he's not. ... So I do think it's appropriate for people to ask for their money back. And I hope the campaign does the right thing and refund it" (FNC, 4/29).

MAYBE THE MEEK WILL INHERIT THE SENATE

Meek made the TV rounds 4/29 p.m.

Meek, on whether he's more "worried about" Crist or Rubio: "I will tell you what I'm worried about. I'm worried about 12.3 percent unemployment in Florida right now, I'm worried about that individual who does not have health care. ... I'm also worried about those veterans that are counting on a strong United States senator. The governor has been spending the last three weeks going back and forth on his political future."

More Meek: "Mr. Rubio is far right of many Floridians, and really will not grasp the reality of what's going on in everyday lives of Floridians. He's really picked up on a number of the national very conservative groups that have pushed his agenda, and they're counting on him. The people of the state of Florida [are] counting on me. I'm very excited about this race. ... I look forward to a good race."

Meek: "I believe that we will win. I believe that I'm running against two Republicans. Regardless of what the governor said today, he is still the Republican governor of the state of Florida. And I guess, his night job will be running as an independent, and I think it's going to confuse a number of voters in the state" ("Situation Room," CNN, 4/29).

Meek, on whether he's surprised to be in a "very tight now three-way race": "We feel very good about the position that we're in today, and we're going to feel just as good tomorrow. I think that the move that the governor is making is for his own political survival and not necessarily for the people of the state of Florida, and people will see through that."

Meek: "We were doing good watching both Crist and Rubio fight each other through the primary process. We feel that that will continue to happen up until November. And we're just going to continue to work hard. I mean, I am not a candidate from central casting when you look at this kind of a race, a statewide race, and I think that's going to be benefit to me and my campaign" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 4/29).