Bill Clinton Tried to Lure Democrat Kendrick Meek Out of Florida Senate Race

(FoxNews.com) - Former President Bill Clinton tried last week to get Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek to quit the U.S. Senate race in Florida and endorse Gov. Charlie Crist's independent bid, Politico reported Thursday, adding that the effort nearly succeeded.

Politico reported that during Clinton's trip to Florida, Meek agreed twice to drop out of the race to help Democrats defeat the Republican nominee, Tea Party loyalist Marco Rubio, but Meek eventually changed his mind.

The premise was that if Meek's followers threw their support behind Crist, the former Republican likely would defeat Rubio.