NEXT STOP...SECOND DISTRICT CIRCUIT COURT

As expected, the 13th Congressional District race is heading to the Second District Circuit Court in Tallahassee.

Almost immediately after the Florida Elections Canvassing Commission officially certified Republican Vern Buchanan the winner by 369 votes early Monday, Democratic challenger Christine Jennings filed a lawsuit asking a judge to toss out the results, allow an independent computer expert to examine the touch screen voting machines used in Sarasota County along with their software and source code, and ultimately to order a special election.

Jennings carried Sarasota County, one of five counties that are included in the 13th District, in last Tuesday's general election. At issue is the highly unusual 15 percent undervote in the Jennings - Buchanan contest, as many voters complained that either they were unable to view the candidate's names at all to cast their vote, or that the machines noted unintended votes in favour of Buchanan.

Republican Party of Florida Chairwoman Carole Jean Jordan charged in a Monday statement that Jennings "is once again allowing her own personal ambitions and the radical political agendas of liberal third-party groups to hijack the democratic process." Friends, we all know that if the tables were turned, Buchanan and the RPOF would be doing the exact same thing.

Personally, I don't believe that any judge will go so far as to order a revote. This case will eventually be decided by the House of Representatives, which constitutionally has the final say in such matters. Don't ask me how that will turn out...