Gov. Charlie Crist, who broke ranks with Republican leaders to support President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan, received a standing ovation Wednesday from about 250 people at a town hall-style meeting in Fort Lauderdale.

He heard from a 50-year-old woman with an Ivy League education who is unemployed, a waterfront condominium owner interested in solar power and a taxpayer concerned about the largest government spending plan in U.S. history. Later, the governor met with West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel, who handed him a wish list of city upgrades totaling more than $119 million.

SPENDING, TAX CUTS

The federal legislation amounts to $787 billion in federal spending and tax cuts. Florida could receive as much as $12.2 billion for healthcare, education and roads.

''I'm enormously grateful that it passed, and I know it's going to help our fellow Floridians in a substantial way,'' Crist said. ``It could not have come at a better time.''

In response to a question from Broward School Board Chairwoman Maureen Dinnen about school funding, Crist said Florida could receive $3.5 billion. One possible hitch, however, is that states that have cut school spending will have to get waivers from the government to get additional money.

`VOTED FOR HIM'

''We've helped this administration a little bit get this package passed, and Florida voted for him, so our asking for a waiver, I think, will be looked on favorably by the administration,'' Crist said.

Many Republicans say the legislation was rushed through Congress with wasteful spending that will not create jobs. A few GOP governors are even considering refusing the money.

Although elected officials typically flock to appearances with the popular governor, state Sen. Jeff Atwater and state Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff -- Republicans who represent the neighborhood that hosted the meeting -- did not attend.

They were in Tallahassee, where their leadership jobs allowed them to avoid the potentially awkward situation of being asked to join Crist at the meeting even though they are critical of the spending plan.

''The questions I have are about what strings are attached to the money and whether we'll meet the criteria,'' Bogdanoff said.

``I don't think it will be as much money as people think.''

DEFYING PARTY

Crist defended his decision to defy his party's leadership in Washington. Referring to his appearance last week with Obama, Crist said, ``I campaigned for the other guy . . . but this is my president now, and I'm an American first.''

Crist remains popular among both Democrats and Republicans in Florida, receiving approval from 67 percent of those polled in a Quinnipiac University survey released Wednesday.

''I think the stimulus plan is just a lot of wasted money and should have had more tax cuts, but I still love our governor,'' said Rose Guttman, who described herself as a ''staunch Republican'' at the meeting. ``I think he did what he thought was the right thing to do.''

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