Does Meek have a chance? Maybe

MIAMI — He trails so badly in the polls that everyone forgets that there is a candidate not named Crist or Rubio running for Senate. Yes, Kendrick Meek, the likely Democratic candidate, is still running for Senate, and despite his lack of visibiity on the campaign trail, he does have realistic shot at winning the seat, says Time magazine's Michael Grunwald.

But who's side is Rudy really on?

NEW YORK — Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani is to appear with Marco Rubio next week in Miami. Talking Points Memo is playing this as Rudy's revenge on Crist for siding with John McCain during the 2008 Republican presidential primary. If you recall, Rudy essentially bet his entire campaign on getting Crist's endorsement and doing well in Florida. In the end, he flopped, which brought his presidential aspirations to an ugly end. Given that, however, it makes us wonder which side Rudy is really on? Would you really want Rudy's endorsement if you were a Republican?

Doc says he won't turn anyone away but ...

MOUNT DORA — The sign outside the office of Dr. Jack Cassell is pretty clear: "If you voted for Obama ... seek urologic health care elsewhere." Cassell, however, says won't turn anyone away for his political views. That would be unethical. The point of the sign is just to express his political point of view.

"But if they read the sign and turn the other way, so be it," Cassell told the Orlando Sentinel.

Embattled ex-GOP party chair Greer strikes back

TALLAHASSEE — Jim Greer, the GOP of Florida party chair ousted back in February and now under criminal investigation, says he's going to sue the Republican Party for breach of contract over a severance deal he says he signed with party officials. Greer is under investigation for allegedly profiting from party fundaising activities by hiring a firm in which he allegedly had a secret interest.

Former Florida GOP chair under criminal investigation

TALLAHASSEE — Jim Greer, the former Republican Party of Florida chair and key ally of Charlie Crist, is under investigation for allegedly profiting from party fundraising efforts, the Associated Press reports. The investigation is the result of an audit ordered when John Thrasher replaced Greer as party chair last month.

Marco Rubio centrist?

TALLAHASSEE — He's against the stimulus package, health care reform and favors allowing workers to pack heat on employer property. He's the darling of the ultra conservative Club for Growth, and has been endorsed by none other than Karl Rove. But to at least some true believers among the Tea Partiers, Marco Rubio is a centrist. Oh, and they're not happy he's ignored their efforts to "vet" him.

"There's been a little bit of frustration that he's become more centrist," South Florida Tea Party Patriot leader Everett Wilkinson said. "He used to reach out to us, but now his staff won't get back."

McCollum's suit to stop health care reform could back fire

TALLAHASSEE — Attorney-General Bill McCollum's legal challenge to the newly passed health care reform package might seem like a slam-dunk with the voters, given the public's general opposition to the bill. But it might not be that simple, especially as new polls indicate a shifting attitude toward the new law.

Would you like marmelade on your Crist?

TALLAHASSEE — Public Policy Polling has Marco Rubio up 60 to 28 over Gov. Charlie Crist in the race for the Republican Senate nomination. "Polls like this reflect the mood of the electorate, and the electorate is in a bad mood," said Andrea Saul, communications director for the Crist campaign. By election day, Saul said, "Charle Crist will win this race and win it decisively."

Meanwhile, Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn said the GOP's Senate campaign committee will continue to endorse Crist, saying it was "honor-bound" to do so. Cornyn chairs the committee, which endorsed Crist before Rubio became the darling of the conservative movement.

Sorry Charlie, you're in the wrong political party

DELRAY BEACH — Not that long ago, Gov. Charlies Crist was a prohibitive favorite to win the Republican nomination for the Senate, and likely the election itself. Now, well, he's probably popular enough to win a general election, but his chances of winning the nomination to get there are increasingly dicey. Rasmussen's latest poll has him tied with former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the conservative darling. In the race for governor, Attorney General Bill McCollum leads Comptroller Alex Sink 43-38.

Bill Young refuses to endorse constituent named Crist

ST. PETERSBURG — The St. Petersburg Times caught up with U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-St. Petersburg, at a Marco Rubio rally and asked him about the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. He refused to endorse Crist, who lives in his district. Young said he doesn't pick sides in primaries. His wife, however, didn't feel so constrained. Rubio, meanwhile, showed his Miami roots when compared President Barack Obama to Fidel Castro. Hitler, Stalin and now Castro!

Florida's TEA Party Party

TALLAHASSEE — To date, the TEA Party goers have been a loosely organized confederation of tax protesters. Not any more. At least not in Florida. The TEA Party has filed with the Secretary of State and is now an officially recognized political party. The party has a P.O. Box in Windermere; its chair and treasurer is one Frederic O'neal.

Charlie Crist: Conservatives next target?

Fresh off their "success" in electing the first Democrat to represent New York's District 23, conservative Republicans are looking for another moderate to devour. Increasingly it looks like our very own Charlie Crist is on the menu as he takes on Marco Rubio for his party's nomination for the Senate. Meanwhile the Club for Growth has released an anti-Crist TV ad, although it has not yet endorsed Rubio. Under normal circumstances, Crist would likely waltz his way to Washington, but these ain't normal circumstances.