For months I’ve remarked to friends and associates about this year’s campaign being the least energetic that I can ever remember in a Florida gubernatorial election year – al least until the last 3 weeks or so.  Anyway, my picks (based on worldview, not predictions):

Governor:  Tom Gallagher is the clear outspoken leader on pro-life issues – an endorsement for Crist by Gov. Jeb notwithstanding.  I have not researched two dark-horse candidates (Vernon Palmer and Mike St. Jean).

US Senator:  Either Katherine Harris or her strongest opponent, Will McBride, will be an underdog against Bill Nelson in November.  Between those two I have to go with McBride, mainly because…I KNOW HIM!  He was in grade school when I first attended his church in the early 1980s (Hillsdale Baptist).  His dad was the Spanish Pastor at the time.  Recent developments with Harris (i.e. the contoversial campaign contributions) also raise the question of vulnerability to political pressure in the Senate. 

Chief Financial Officer: Between Tom Lee and Randy Johnson, the latter carries the day with me, again notwithstanding a Bush endorsement of Lee for his “contrarian and proud of it” posturing.  Commendable, yes, but Johnson seems to have a better handle on the fundamental problem with excessive government regulation being the true cause of the “insurance crisis” (See my earlier post on this topic).  Regrettably, deregulation would likely have very painful short-term (maybe longer) consequences for many homeowners, as companies “red-lined” properties they considered too risky to insure, leaving many unable to obtain insurance.  However, at least in a truly free market, there will always be companies willing to insure at least some properties  – when companies are allowed to do business in the state in the first place!