TODAY'S NEWSPAPER ENDORSEMENTS

We start with another endorsement in the gubernatorial race, this time by the Gainesville Sun. In the Republican primary, it recommends Attorney General Charlie Crist, who now has received the endorsements of all seven newspapers who have announced their preference in this race.

The Sun also endorsed Senate President Tom Lee of Brandon in the GOP primary for State Chief Financial Officer today. We missed the Sarasota Herald Tribune's endorsement for Lee that was published last Saturday.

It's three-for-three now for retired admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr., who received the endorsement of the Tampa Tribune this morning in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. It states that current frontrunner Congresswoman Katherine Harris of Longboat Key "has become the caricature so cruelly depicted in 2000". Reading the editorial in full, it seems as through the Tribune was not supporting Collins as much as it was opposing Harris.

In the Democratic primary for Attorney General, current State Senator Walter J. "Skip" Campbell of Fort Lauderdale received the endorsement of his hometown newspaper, the South Florida Sun Sentinel, noting that "His interest and outspokenness on identity theft issues would serve Floridians well if he is elected...Identity theft is among the most serious and rampant forms of fraud in the state. He also promises to continue the AG's focus on consumer issues." We also missed his endorsement last Saturday by the Sarasota Herald Tribune, which referred to him as "an effective politician and an excellent lawyer".

Friday, the Tampa Tribune made recommendations in two area congressional primary races: Hillsborough County Commissioner Kathy Castor in the Democratic primary for the District 11 congressional seat currently filled by Democratic incumbant and gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis. And the Tribune endorsed State Representative Gus Bilirakis in his Republican primary bid to replace his father, incumbant Mike Bilirakis, in the District 9 congressional seat.

Earlier this week, the Tribune made a three endorsements for area Legislature primary races that we missed:

--- Former State Representative Sandy Murman in the GOP race for State Senate District 10 to replace Republican incumbant and current CFO candidate Tom Lee of Brandon

--- State Representative Kim Berfield of Clearwater for the Republican nomination in State Senate District 16 to fill the seat being vacated by term-limited incumbant Republican Jim Sebesta of St Petersburg,

--- Betty Reed in the Democratic primary for State House District 59 to replace current Democratic State Representative Arthenia Joyner of Tampa.

Finally, the Osceola News-Gazette began endorsing candidates today with a recommendation to readers for incumbant David Stone's reelection to the District 3 seat on the Osceola County School Board.