CRIST READING FROM HIS OWN SCRIPT…. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) apparently doesn’t have much use for the McCain campaign’s talking points.

Crist was asked about the attacks from many McCain supporters that Obama is advancing a “socialist” agenda.

“I imagine different people have different definitions. I don’t think it looks that way to me,” he said.

This comes shortly after Crist rejected McCain’s rhetoric about ACORN, Crist’s absence from McCain campaign advertising, and Crist’s noticeable reluctance to go all out in Florida in support of McCain’s campaign.

An uncharitable interpretation might lead one to wonder if Crist, who was considered for the McCain ticket, is being spiteful for having been turned down for Sarah Palin.

But there are other possible explanations for the rift, most notably Crist’s sense of which way the political winds are blowing in Florida. Something to keep an eye on.

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Follow Steve on Twitter @stevebenen. Steve Benen is a producer at MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show. He was the principal contributor to the Washington Monthly's Political Animal blog from August 2008 until January 2012.