Rove's Exit May Open Door For Crist's Stances.

Byline: William March

Aug. 14--TAMPA -- The resignation of White House political guru Karl Rove is part of a change of leadership in the Republican Party, a change in which Florida Gov. Charlie Crist wants to play an important part.

For more than a decade, Rove has been the principal political architect behind the George W. Bush era in politics, an era that is now ending.

Crist is one of a group of newer faces on the Republican scene seeking to change the direction of the party, in Florida and nationwide.

"Every governor or president wants to put their own direction on the party," said University of South Florida political scientist Darryl Paulson. "Crist is one of those who look at what's happened in the party and sees the only way it's going to be competitive is to change."

Since his campaign for governor, Crist has …