AND THE RACE IS ON...

Although they didn't make any specific mentions of the upcoming gubernatorial campaign, it was clearly in the air at the Manatee County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday evening. Three of the probable Republican candidates for the state's top elective office were present --- Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings, Attorney General Charlie Crist, and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.

According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune's political writer Jeremy Wallace, all three clearly worked to position themselves with the party faithful during their speeches. Jennings and Gallagher both focused on education issues and didn't shy from mentioning Governor Bush's name, while Crist concentrated on crime issues and his sponsorship of doing away with allowing prisoners from earning "good behaviour" time toward early release.

But I'm looking for the gloves to come off, starting after the legislative session.