On Tuesday closeted Florida Governor Charlie Crist will announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate.

From Politico:

Crist’s decision puts Republicans in strong position to hold onto the seat held by retiring Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) Crist holds high approval ratings among both Republicans and Democrats, according to statewide polling, and has forged a moderate governing style that has won him widespread support. His decision to run came as little surprise to political observers, with the governor and his allies hinting of his interest in running for Congress over the last several months. Crist starts out as the frontrunner to succeed Martinez. But he will first be facing a primary against an up-and-coming conservative challenger, former state House Speaker Marco Rubio. Many Florida conservatives have begun to rally around Rubio over dissatisfaction with Crist’s moderate positions, particularly his vigorous advocacy of President Barack Obama’s stimulus package.

The timing is curious, as Crist is also in the news as one of the primary subjects of the new film Outrage, which  exposes closeted politicians and their anti-gay policies.