GALLAGHER NOT GIVING UP; GETS ENDORSEMENT IN POLK

Florida's Chief Financial Officer and Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Gallagher came to Polk County Tuesday as part of a tour along the important I-4 corridor which included stops in Poinciana and Lakeland.

The Lakeland Ledger reports that at the Poinciana stop Gallagher received an endorsement from Polk County Commissioner Paul Senft, who is also the GOP's National Committeeman for Florida. While in Lakeland he toured the police headquarters and visited the Lakeland Rifle andn Pistol Club, where he met with members and took a few practice shots.

Although Gallagher remains well behind primary opponent Attorney General Charlie Crist in the polls, he still believes he will win the Republican nomination in September. He also focused comments on what he says is Crist's refusal to a series of six issue-specific debates. Crist and Gallagher have agreed to two televised debates before the primary, but the CFO believes that the format and time constraints will not allow a comprehensive discussion of issues such as insurance, education, and the enviroment.

Gallagher officially qualified as a candidate Tuesday as his staff filed the necessary paperwork in Tallahassee.

Democratic candidate and State Senator Rod Smith will be in the area today as part of his statewide bus tour, making a brief stop in Lakeland at the New Bethel AME Church, 2122 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive (Google map), just off U.S. 98. Smith is scheduled to be there at 8:00 PM.