A LITTLE EARLY TO BE CAMPAIGNING, EH?

In most cases, now would be the time for candidates seeking election or reelection to begin beating the bushes for votes, or at least signatures on cards to qualify for a place on the ballot. But the Republican Party of Florida decided to begin in one case really early.

Lakeland Ledger political writer Bill Rufty reports that the RPF paid for some slick, high profile mailings which were sent to voters in the district of State Senator J.D. Alexander of Lake Wales touting his achievements in the Legislature, especially in the area of education.

Some would believe that it's a bit early, since Alexander is not up for reelection until 2008. But the senator told Rufty that he had been under attack recently from telephone calls made to constitutents in his district and requested some help, thus the early mailing.

The calls criticized his vote last year over telephone rates, which critics say allowed telecommunications companies to sharply increase customer rates. But Alexander believes there may be more than that involved.

Alexander has been at or near the centre of the controveresy this legislative session regarding who will become Senate President in 2008. He was reportedly one of the main parties in the move to switch support from State Senator J. Alex Villalobos of Miami to Senator Jeffery H. Atwater of North Palm Beach.

And speaking of Rufty's piece this morning, check out his other bit on the same page about Congressman Adam Putnam (R - Bartow) and the recent fight he had fishing in the Gulf of Mexico off Boca Grande.