SMITH AIRS SECOND TV AD; GALLAGHER, HARRIS ENDORSEMENTS

State Senator and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rod Smith began airing his second television ad this week. The 30-second spot focuses on the state's continuing property insurance crisis, and is being broadcast statewide except in the Fort Myers/Venice market.

His primary opponent, Congressman Jim Davis of Tampa, has yet to purchase ad time. Davis has said that it's too early to begin hitting the airwaves, as much of the electorate are only now beginning to pay serious attention to the race.

Smith's ad, entitled "Storm", is the first to be financed by "soft money" given to the Florida Democratic Party. Click here to view the advertisment.

Meanwhile, in the contest to prove who is the most conservative among the two main Republican gubernatorial candidates, state Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher received the endorsement of Florida Right to Life on Wednesday.

From the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group's story:

[Attorney General and GOP primary opponent Charlie] Crist's moderate stances on hot-button social issues may create Gallagher's last and best opportunity to close a gap in polls as high as 30 percent before the Sept. 5 primary vote.

Crist supports the status quo on abortion laws, and has voiced mild and equivocal support for the ban on gay marriage and adoption. As to the question of gay civil unions, Crist's campaign spokeswoman Vivian Myrtetus said that like President Bush, Crist "does not oppose the right of people to enter into legal arrangements."

Gallagher's campaign lined up the state's leading Christian conservative leaders on a Wednesday afternoon conference call. Gallagher's campaign manager, Brett Doster, made their importance in Gallagher's political hopes very clear.

"We're depending on you to help us get out the vote," Doster said. "It's become very clear that there's only one candidate who can be trusted to continue Gov. Bush's social conservative agenda."

John Stemberger, an Orlando lawyer and organizer of this year's failed effort to place a constitutional ban on gay marriages on the November ballot, said Crist's support for the ban was "politically expedient" and "token."

"The fact that the front-runner in the Florida Republican primary is an unapologetic advocate for gay rights is and should be big news," Stemberger said.

Some folks may remember that Gallagher ran for governor 12 years ago touting his "pro-choice" stance, and his party-hearty lifestyle during that time.

No great surprise here, but also receiving the endorsement of FRTL: Congresswoman Katherine Harris' U.S. Senate campaign. She'll continue to be a pain in the rear of the Republican Party of Florida for the forseeable future.