Yeah, his campaign’s response sounds like a pretty resounding “no”.

Did Rep. Kendrick Meek and Gov. Charlie Crist plot Monday to join forces?

No, says Team Meek. “Let me check into it,” says Team Crist.

In other words, there’s still no straight answer to the question haunting Florida’s Senate election: What would happen if either Meek or Crist dropped out of the race and endorsed his fellow? Republican candidate Marco Rubio leads both men in the polls. Were their powers combined, Rubio might find himself in a dead heat with Kendrick Crist, or Charlie Meek…

“We know the Crist campaign has pushed the rumor that [Meek] is dropping out. Those rumors were bought and paid for by Charlie Crist U.S. Senate,” the staffer said.

“Today on the radio [Meek] gave a very strong, impassioned speech about why he’s going to be the next senator from Florida. His debate performances have always been of a passionate engaged candidate who’s running to win. From our standpoint, since this began, has anything changed in this campaign?”

You don’t use that sort of harsh rhetoric towards an individual your candidate is about to endorse. And Meek himself hasn’t relented in his criticisms of Crist in recent appearances and debates. “He sucked last week but I’m backing him this week,” is a tough sell with less than a week before polls close.

Besides, there’s not real motivation for Meek to drop out. His name will remain second on the ballot, with Crist’s name coming in at number nine. There will be supporters of Meek’s who will vote for him anyway based on party affiliation, lack of knowledge that he dropped out, or as a symbolic gesture.

Then factor in lefty voters who will become disaffected by the development and stay home. Think about the imagery. You have the young black Democratic nominee dropping out to make way for an older white former Republican who was advocating for Republican policies just a few years ago. Not really a motivator.

The point is this: Crist isn’t going to win against Rubio, even if Meek drops out and endorses Crist. Meek has no real motivation to help Crist lose by a smaller margin.