Running out of time in his bid to become Florida's next senator, Charlie Crist was in Gainesville today making his second visit to the area as Governor.
He stopped by Gainesville High School this afternoon and although this wasn't officially a campaign stop, he might have won a few votes anyway.
When Governor Crist arrived at GHS this afternoon, the principal, president of the school board and members of the press were there to greet him.
But it was the students who were most excited by the visit.
Freshman Jordan Clemens said, "I know something that's going on my facebook wall tonight."
Governor Crist met and took pictures with students and teachers while touring the school...taking time to talk to three classes about what it's like being governor and giving students a chance to ask him questions.
Principal Dr. Wiley Dixon, "There's a couple of questions he got from the students on, how do like being governor? and how did you prepare yourself to be governor? Those kind of questions. So I'm hoping it will inspire some kids."
The faculty and many students I spoke with were honored that Crist chose to visit GHS out of all the schools in town.
Clemens said, "So for the Governor to take the time out of his schedule to come see how the schools are run down here, then that's great."
Crist said he was very impressed by the quality of education at GHS and in Gainesville in general. He said, "So I was impressed not only with the great teachers I met here today, uh and the principal, and the Chairman of the School Board, but also the students. And you know you can just see the curiosity in their mind and as long as that continues to be the case, our country has a very bright future ahead."
Although Crist wasn't officially campaigning today, he made an impression on a few young voters.
Senior and first time voter, Timothy Mccray, said, "I think that someone who's a very hands on person that would come in and see what, what real world people are...I think that right there, that is the deciding factor for me as a voter."
Governor Crist is still trailing Marco Rubio in the polls, but he said that he feels liberated running as an independent for the US senate. He said despite criticism, it's visits like this that make him feel like he has doing the right thing.