It's an election year and campaign attacks are already flying in the governor's race.

Former Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to win the Democratic primary race in the gubernatorial contest. Crist is already facing attacks from current Gov. Rick Scott. Now an outside group, Progressive Choice Florida, is joining in.

The group sent out a flier that appeared in Florida mailboxes last month, attacking Crist's history as a GOP member, saying "Conservative Republican Charlie Crist is no friend of progressive Democrats." It lists examples such as this:

    "Charlie Crist's record proves he is ... Pro-life, NRA A+ rated, 'Chain Gang Charlie', implemented Jeb Bush's A+ Plan, signed petition banning gay marriage."

PolitiFact focused on the claim that Crist, "implemented Jeb Bush's A+ Plan." Reporter Joshua Gillin says it rates TRUE. Gillin said the real question is who is behind the outside group Progressive Choice Florida.

"Progressive Choice is kind of a mysterious group that's started running attack ads against Charlie Crist ahead of the Democratic primary," Gillin said. "They claim that they're a group of fair-minded, forward-thinking individuals and groups. But beyond that, we really don't know. "

There has been some speculation that Progressive Choice is a GOP front funded to draw Democratic voters away from Crist, particularly in the upcoming primary against Nan Rich. The group isn't listed with the Federal Election Commission or the Florida Division of Elections, so contributions so far are untraceable.

When it comes to former Gov. Jeb Bush's A+ plan, Gillin said there's no doubt Crist implemented the policy.

"From 2001-2003, Crist was education commissioner for the state of Florida. Now, in 1999, the Legislature adopted Jeb Bush's plan for education to test schools and to rate them, as we all know now, using the FCAT and attendance rates," Gillin said.

One of Crist's duties in office was to follow the education agenda set by Bush and the Legislature. A spokesperson for Progressive Choice says Crist also vocally supported the plan, citing a newspaper article from 2000.

Crist is quoted in the article saying, "I am an ardent supporter of Gov. Jeb Bush's A+ plan, which provides for an even balance of testing and accountability and has proven to improve performance in our public schools."

Gillin said because of these things, the claim by Progressive Choice Florida rates TRUE.

SOURCES: CRIST'S EDUCATION RECORD ATTACKED