TAMPA BAY AREA GOP ACTIVISTS CHOOSING SIDES EARLY IN GOVERNOR'S RACE

The Weekly Planet's own "Political Whore" (hey, that's the name of his column) Wayne Garcia focuses this week on how the wide-open Republican gubernatorial primary is forcing many of the region's GOP heavy hitters to get on the bandwagon early.

Seems as though Attorney General Charlie Crist and CFO Tom Gallagher both enjoy support in the Tampa business community, while Crist finds big support in Pinellas County...where he's from. Gallagher is getting support from conservatives in East Hillsborough and North Pinellas, and is following the Bush playbook by actively campaigning in the outlying counties such as Polk, Hernando, and Citrus.

Garcia also notes lots of notable names have already weighed in on the race.