TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is hitting the airwaves with his first campaign commercial since leaving the Republican Party.

The ad airing Tuesday, called "Best of Both," plays off Crist's decision to leave the Republican Party and run as an independent. In the ad, Crist says he'll "take the best ideas of Democrats and Republicans to get things done."

Also Tuesday, Democrat Kendrick Meek began airing an ad called "Only One" pointing out issues where he's different than Crist and Republican Marco Rubio, including being opposed to offshore drilling before and after the BP oil spill.

Rubio began airing his first general election ad two weeks ago, focusing on his parents leaving Cuba for America and working hard to give their children opportunities.