Rep. Eric Cantor, the second-ranking Republican leader in the House, this morning endorsed Marco Rubio in his insurgent bid to become the GOP Senate nominee in Florida.

Cantor, a Virginian, is the latest GOP leader to spurn Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who until just a few months ago appeared to be his party’s anointed candidate in the race for the Sunshine State’s Senate seat.

Crist had the backing of Jim Greer, the former chairman of the Florida Republican Party, and Sen. John Cornyn, head of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee.

But Rubio has the backing of “Tea Party” activists. Both the Tea Party Express and FreedomWorks, a Washington organization that has helped the Tea Party Patriots organize, have endorsed the former Florida lawmaker.

Trailing Rubio badly in the polls, Crist yesterday acknowledged that he’s considering dropping out of the GOP primary election, set for Aug. 24, to run as an independent instead.

(Posted by Kathy Kiely)