Video: Charlie Crist Introduces Obama at Campaign Rally

Days after speaking at the Democratic National Convention, former Republican Florida Gov. Charlie Crist brought his high-profile support for the Democratic president to St. Pete College's Seminole campus.

Crist, who ran as an independent in the 2012 Florida Senate race, has yet to declare himself a Democrat. However, Crist's recent endorsement of President Barack Obama for president and his criticisms of GOP challeneger Mitt Romney is drawing attention.

Crist's support of Obama first was publicized during the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Then last week, Crist spoke at the DNC in Charlotte. On Saturday, Crist was back in Florida, campaigning for Obama at the St. Pete College rally.

"He is working hard for the middle class, he is working hard for Florida and he is working hard for America," Crist said, as he introduced Obama to a crowd of 11,000 people.

"(When) I served as a Republican governor — I’m not in that party anymore, they left me — but even when I was still a Republican, we had an oil spill and we needed help for our teachers, our police and our firefighters, President Barack Obama was there for us. And now it’s time for us to be there with him again."

Sen. Nelson Speaks

Prior to Crist introducing Obama, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, made a brief speech Saturday. He emphasized the importance of Tampa Bay, Pinellas County and the I-4 corridor in the 2012 presidential election. 

Nelson said if Obama wins Florida's 29 electoral votes, "That's the election."

On Saturday, Nelson also said that on Tuesday, Sept. 11, he would be introducing a bill that would create a job corps for veterans and soldiers returning home from war. 

The corps, Nelson said, would put veterans to work in the country’s parks as police officers, firefighters and emergency responders. 

"They are so well-trained and have specialties," Nelson said. "Why couldn’t we take all of the training, education so that when they come back home as a civilian put that to work for the good use of our country as a whole?”