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The Buzz: Florida politics 2005

Nascent campaigns of 2006 watch one another and wait

By Times staff writers
Published February 6, 2005

State Attorney General Charlie Crist, Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher and Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings all plan to run for governor in 2006. But in what resembles a game of "you go first," each one seems to be waiting for the others to make the first move and formally announce a candidacy or file fundraising papers.

"At the right time," Jennings said. "The right time is when the right time gets here." (With one-liners like that, she's got a real future in politics.)

"I'm working hard to be a good partner for the governor," said Jennings, who replaced Frank Brogan as lieutenant governor two years ago.

All three are traveling, gathering lists of possible supporters, considering strategists and dealing with the endless speculation of who's up or who's down, even though the race is nearly two years away.

Jennings drew attention last week after two of Gov. Jeb Bush's loyalists, former aides Sally Bradshaw and Karen Unger, made a flurry of phone calls saying that Bush, while publicly neutral, personally favors Jennings as his successor.

The big unknown involves money, and which direction a majority of the deep-pocket Bush loyalists will throw their support. In this race, that's literally the $64,000 question.

MONEY MEN: Two top Republican fundraisers - Dr. Zach Zachariah and developer Al Hoffman Jr. - dismissed speculation that they have lined up with Jennings. Hoffman said last week he intends to stay neutral through the primary, while Zachariah said he's not ready to endorse a candidate. But the South Florida cardiologist and co-chairman of the Bush-Cheney Florida campaign took the opportunity to lavish praise on the lieutenant governor: "She's a very dear friend of mine and she would make a great governor."

CFO CANDIDATE: State Rep. Dennis Ross, a Lakeland Republican and lawyer, said he'll file papers to run for chief financial officer, the powerful Cabinet post that Tom Gallagher would vacate to run for governor.

"I'm in the race," Ross said. "I've got just as much chance as anyone."

Ross, 45, is a Florida native and graduate of Auburn University and the Cumberland School of Law. A partner in a seven-member Lakeland law firm, he has been a leader in insurance and workers' compensation issues in his four years in the House, but already term limits are closing in.

"I want to be the best keeper of the state's funds that can possibly be," Ross said.

Rep. Randy Johnson, R-Celebration, also is pondering CFO, a job that chiefly involves guardianship of the public's money.

A potential wild card is House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City, a successful businessman and former banker. Bense has said he's focused on being speaker but he won't foreclose future political options.

The low-key Bense also may be reluctant to invite comparisons with the man he succeeded, Johnnie Byrd, who launched a statewide U.S. Senate campaign while also serving as speaker.

TALENT FOR HIRE: One of Florida's top Democratic strategists is moving into the private sector full time. Robin Rorapaugh, who led Bill McBride's remarkable upset over Janet Reno in the 2002 Democratic gubernatorial primary, plans to open a campaign consulting firm. She is teaming with Roy Teicher, a former journalist who served as U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch's communications director during his unsuccessful Senate bid last year. Rorapaugh-Teicher will be based in Broward County.

SPEAKER TO PROGNOSTICATOR: Former House Speaker Johnnie Byrd is scheduled to appear today on Flashpoint, WFTS-Ch. 28's public affairs show, where he offers his own prediction for the governor's race: It will be Charlie Crist vs. Betty Castor (he also lavished praise on Crist). As for his own future, Byrd demurred when asked if he might run for Mike Bilirakis' congressional seat or Tom Lee's state Senate seat: "I'm just a country lawyer," he said.

MORE POLLS: Gov. Bush's insistence that he won't run for president in 2008 hasn't stop the pollsters. A national poll of 800 voters for the Hotline, a political Web site, came out last week on a Jeb vs. Hillary contest. Forty-six percent backed Clinton, 37 percent Bush.

THE MONEY SHOT: It takes a concerted effort for members of Congress to get right on the aisle to welcome the president as he enters for his State of the Union speech. U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Palm Beach Gardens, made the effort, as he often does. He didn't get much of an exchange with Bush, but Foley did manage a televised pat on the presidential shoulder and a thumbs-up. U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Monticello, wound up in several reaction shots - not always clapping.

Staff writers Steve Bousquet, Adam C. Smith and Lucy Morgan contributed to this week's Buzz.

[Last modified February 6, 2005, 00:20:03]