GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES GAINING BIG-NAME SUPPORT

Looking at the St. Petersburg Times' political blog The Buzz, it looks as though the Democratic candidates for governor have gained some support from the state's heavyweight politicos.

It was announced Monday in Tallahassee that former Attorney General Robert A. "Bob" Butterworth will serve as a co-chair for the campaign of State Senator Rod Smith (D - Alachua) with former Governor Wayne Mixson (he served all of three days, ascending to the top spot when Bob Graham resigned to enter the U.S. Senate). Butterworth is now dean of the St. Thomas University College of Law in Miami.

Speaking of Graham, he's supporting Smith's opponent, Congressman Jim Davis (D - Tampa).

The Democratic candidates are obviously attempting to gain attention among the Dade/Broward county electorate, which is where much of the state's Democratic base is located. But many feel this race will eventually be won in North Florida, which has tended to vote Republican and is generally much more conservative.