LEFTOVER NOTES FROM THE WEEKEND

Lakeland Ledger political columnist Bill Rufty's Monday space is filled with leftover GOP news and thoughts from the weekend:

--- He writes that the main reason that a Republican headlines like U.S. Senator John McCain (R - AZ) came to Polk County as the featured speaker of the local GOP Lincoln Day Dinner is the efforts of Polk County Commissioner Paul Senft, who happens to also be Florida's national committeeman on the Republican National Committee. That is a really big deal, and means that the man has some serious influence at the party's highest level. Combine that with Polk's prominent location along the I-4 Corridor and the increasing power of Congressman Adam Putnam (R - Bartow), who is the new chairman of the GOP Policy Committee, and you've got some heavy-duty weight. Rufty does remember that it wasn't so long ago that Polk had similar influence, except it was the Democrats in charge. I can say that we're surely getting our act back together locally, and hopefully we're working on regaining our influence in local and regional politics. There is a lot to still be done...

--- Speaking of Putnam, Rufty writes this morning that the red-headed youngun' met at the National Press Club with a group of reporters to brief them on the GOP's agenda for this year.

--- And you'll likely be hearing the name of State Representative Marsha L.(Marty) Bowen (R - Haines City) more and more in the coming couple of years. The citrus grower tells Rufty that she still plans to run for State Agriculture Commissioner in four years.