A SMITH - JONES TICKET POSSIBLE? AN INTERESTING POSSIBILITY

The St. Petersburg Times political blog The Buzz is reporting today that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rod Smith can look for an endorsement from former State Senator and 2002 gubernatorial candidate Daryl Jones of Miami today when the "Rod Squad" bus tour stops in Delray Beach.

Jones was well respected during his tenure in the Legislature, joining the House in 1990 and elected to the Senate two years later. He is considered a moderate by most political watchers, and the former fighter pilot was nominated by then-President Bill Clinton to be Secretary of the Air Force.

IMHO, a Smith - Jones ticket would be formidable. Any effort by the Crist or Gallagher camp to put them into the "radical liberal" catagory would be seen for the fallacy it would be; both men are well known for their moderate stances, their ability to work well with the other side, and such a ticket would attact support throughout Florida. With Smith being from North Florida, a generally more conservative area, and Jones an African-American from the heavily Democratic Miami-Fort Lauderdale region, it would be the closest to a perfect team one could hope for among Democrats.

I've had the chance to meet Jones while he was running for the 2000 Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and was very impressed with his presence and presentation.