ANOTHER SPECIAL GUEST FOR THE DEMOCRATIC J-J GALA

The Florida Democratic Party's annual Jefferson - Jackson gala, scheduled this year for the weekend of July 22 - 23, should be an interesting event. It will be held at the Broward County Convention Centre in Fort Lauderdale, and will be highlighted Saturday night by a debate between gubernatorial candidates Congressman Jim Davis of Tampa and State Senator Rod Smith of Alachua to be followed by featured speaker Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, currently serving as Chairman of the National Governors' Association and one of a number of politicos being touted as possible 2008 presidential contenders.

Also on the schedule for Sunday morning's breakfast will be 2004 presidential candidate and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Wesley Clark.

Considering the comments of this week (see post below), the Davis - Smith debate could get a little testy. As for General Clark, I've had the pleasure to meet and hear him briefly during his campaign; he is a tremendously intelligent man who has on the stump much of the past two-plus years helping Democratic candidates.