If the Florida governor’s election were held today, then judging by the state’s editorial writers, the winner would not be Charlie Crist.

Daytona News-Journal:

It should go down as one of the more mercenary flip-flops in the state’s history. With his eyes on John McCain’s ticket as a running mate, Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday fell behind McCain’s push for ending the moratorium on oil drilling along Florida’s coastline after years of favoring the ban without conditions. McCain was himself capitulating to the oil and gas industry, having backed the ban previously.

…Drilling for oil, which can’t happen for years, isn’t likely to affect consumers’ gas prices nearly as much as it will profit oil companies’ windfalls, which is what’s powering McCain’s switch. The oil and gas industry ranks 12th among his biggest donors. (The industry doesn’t appear on Barack Obama’s top-20 biggest industry donors.)

St. Petersburg Times:

Florida suddenly seems on the verge of abandoning a firm bipartisan consensus against offshore drilling that has governed this state for decades. John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, says we ought to do it — citing, yes, gas prices and “energy independence.” The current president says so, too. So now Florida’s governor, Charlie Crist, has weakened his own long-term opposition, presto, change-o!

South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

Gov. Charlie Crist’s decision to abandon the once nearly universal, bipartisan opposition to oil and gas drilling in coastal waters off Florida has led some people to wonder whether he is attempting to kiss up to Sen. John McCain in hopes of landing a spot on the national ticket.

Prompting the frenzy of speculation: McCain’s proposal Tuesday to lift the ban on oil and gas production off Florida and other environmentally sensitive areas, which was immediately backed by Crist only a week after he had said he opposed coastal drilling.

“He seems to be willing to do anything to help the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain. He has shown that he’s willing to backtrack against his promises,” said Daniel Smith, associate professor of political science at the University of Florida…

Miami Herald:

Gov. Charlie Crist’s stunning reversal of his position on drilling for oil and gas off the Florida coastline is all about politics and political ambition…Gov. Crist announced his change of policy on Tuesday, fast on the heels of similar declarations by Sen. John McCain and President Bush. They now support lifting a federal ban on offshore oil and gas drilling along the U.S. coastline. Coincidence? Not a chance.

The president, governor and senator have made a political calculation that Americans are so upset about runaway gas prices and so fearful of what the future holds that they will buy into any scheme to bring some relief — no matter how unlikely the prospects are for meaningful change…

None of these valid concerns about offshore drilling has changed. What has changed now, though, is that Sen. McCain is looking for a vice-presidential running mate, Gov. Crist is more than flattered to be considered for the job, and President Bush is looking for anything to distract from a failed war, raging deficits and a collapsing economy.

Palm Beach Post:

When the choice is between doing what’s best for Florida and what’s best for John McCain/Charlie Crist, the governor on Tuesday let it be known that he’s going to make the call based on political ambition.

…soaring gasoline prices have given Republicans and their presidential candidate a severe image problem. The party, with two oil men at the top, is cozy with the oil giants who are earning record profits while the rest of America sweats it out at the pump…the Republican solution is to give the oil companies the plum they have been seeking so long, the right to drill in environmentally sensitive areas.

Orlando Sentinel:

Vice presidential candidate Charlie Crist, formerly Florida’s environmental governor, showed on Tuesday what drives him. Polls, he said, show that “people are much more favorably inclined” these days to expand offshore drilling to help ease their pain at the gas pump. Polls and an overwhelming desire to actually become presidential candidate John McCain’s running mate.