TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has announced that he will run for U.S. Senate in 2010, leaving an opening in the governor's office that could be filled by Attorney General Bill McCollum.

Crist, a Republican, preceded McCollum as attorney general before being elected governor in 2010. State Republicans will likely look to McCollum to replace Crist again.

A recent poll conducted by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute showed 48 percent of those polled approved of the job McCollum is doing as attorney general, with only 18 percent disapproving.

By contrast, Democrat Alex Sink, the state's chief financial officer who is thought to be a gubernatorial contender, had a 33 percent approval rating and 22 disapproval.

"Our country is facing the most profound public policy questions in our lifetime -- questions relating to the economy, taxes, health care, the environment and national security," Crist said in a statement.

"The answers to these questions will have a lasting impact on the country we love and the nation we will leave to our children and grandchildren."

From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at john@legalnewsline.com.