Lawton “Bud” Chiles is officially dropping out of the Florida governor’s race according to the St. Petersburg Times blog The Buzz, and Chiles has announced he will endorse Democrat Alex Sink, largely because he doesn’t want to see Republican Rick Scott become governor.

The Miami Herald said Chiles was polling 9 percent among Democrats, and that his withdrawal will benefit Sink considerably. Sunshine State News says that according to one pollster this may not mean a complete sweep for Sink; many of Chiles’ supporters are upset with President Barack Obama and favored John McCain for president.