SOME OF THE WEEKEND'S FLORIDA POLITICAL TIDBITS

The Fort Myers News-Press' political columnist Betty Parker reported Saturday that while Attorney General Charlie Crist has not officially announced his candidacy for governor yet, he made it clear that he's in the running. He attended the Lee County Republican Party's Lincoln-Reagan Dinner, which was headlined by Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman.

In the Lakeland Ledger this morning, Bill Rufty noticed a number of current and former Polk County politicos making the trip to Tallahassee last week. Among them, former state senator Rick Dantzler of Winter Haven with millionaire cirtus/cattleman Ben Hill Griffin in tow to visit candidate and state senator Rod Smith (D - Gainesville). Dantzler has apparantly offered his support to Smith.

And in their column Sunday, Lloyd Dunkelberger and Joe Follick noted others passing in the halls. Also waiting for Smith was Betty Castor's husband, lobbyist Sam Bell.

Congressman Jim Davis (D - Tampa) touts former state House Speaker Peter Wallace of St. Petersburg as his campaign manager.

Also, in his Palm Beach Post column today, George Bennett says that the Terri Schiavo issue may fade before next year's election. I'm afraid that he may be filled with wishful thinking. The evangalical Christians and right wing zealots will keep this fire burning right up until next November.