DROP ONE REPUBLICAN NAME FROM THE 2006 GOVERNOR'S RACE!

Palm Beach Post political columnist Brian Crowley is reporting in today's edition that Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings has decided not to run for the state's top job next year.

Ms. Jennings has reportedly begun telling close friends this week of her decision, saying that she does not feel that a run for governor is the direction that she wants to take her political career at this point.

Last month, Jeb! started spreading the word that he favoured Jennings, who he appointed to the post two years ago after her predecessor, Frank Brogan, resigned to accept the presidency of Florida Atlantic University.

At this point, Jennings' decision leaves two primary candidates for the Republican nomination for governor: Attorney General Charlie Crisp and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.

UPDATE / Sunday, 13 March: Some of the Lieutenant Governor's supporters, including Governor Bush, are disputing the Palm Beach Post article mentioned above.

The St. Petersburg Times quotes Jeb! along with Jennings' former press secretary Edie Ousley (who said she is authorized to speak for Jennings) and lobbyist friend Bill Pfeiffer as saying that the Lieutenant Governor has not decided to pull out of the race. Pfeiffer even says that it is her intention to run.