By: Jonathan Martin

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist used his after-dinner speech last night at the RGA to outline his own brand of post-partisan politics, urging Republicans to put results before ideology.

He told fellow governors and other GOP officials what amounts to his Florida Story — a place where progress has been made by Republicans and Democrats working together and putting the people’s interest first.

He singled out his efforts to extend health insurance and save the state’s treasured Everglades. 

"The people of our states have entrusted us to do what is right — not for just the benefit of Republicans but for all the people we serve," he said.  

Aside from pragmatism, Crist also highlighted another approach to politics he has found great success in and feels passionate about — reaching out to non-traditional demographics.

”This party can no longer hope to reach Hispanics, African Americans and other minority groups — we need to just do it,” Crist said. “Embracing cultures and lifestyles will make us a better party and better leaders.”

With this, Crist closed by telling the story of his Greek immigrant grandfather, an only-in-America tale aimed at the heart (literally — in the prepared text shared with reporters there was a notation assumedly meant for the candidate that said "point to heart")

It was an address that seemed to have the makings of a future presidential stump speech, a mix of the personal and the political with Crist’s governing philosphy weaved in.

Absent, though, was any mention of the cultural issues on the basis of which many voters cast their ballots for Republicans.   It is those same topics — abortion and gay rights, for example — that also tend to become litmus tests in GOP presidential primaries.

Crist has a mixed record on these issues, but he makes no bones about downplaying them and focusing instead on what he portrays as more pressing matters.

"Those issues are very important, but there are a lot of issues people care deeply about that affect their lives in a real way every single day," Crist told reporters after the speech.   

And, perhaps looking ahead, he added: "If you’re going to be successful in this business, you have to win a majority — not just a majority of Republicans, it’s not just a majority of Democrats, it’s a majority of the people."

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