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GOP presidential candidates gunning for important ally

By ADAM C. SMITH
Published March 18, 2007

No question that Republicans are outgunning Democrats in Florida this election cycle. You may or may not find this reassuring, but a growing number of Republican operatives in Florida are getting proficient with firearms.

Why? Partly because if you want to campaign at Florida gun shows - and what Republican doesn't? - it's a good idea to suck up to Pasco Republican chairman Bill Bunting.

Bunting is an ardent gun rights advocate who has the gun show circuit wired in Florida and can pretty much decide which candidates are welcome and which aren't. Last year, he effectively blackballed Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Gallagher from gun shows.

Last week, Russell Peck, John McCain's Florida organizational director, and Nick Hansen, Mitt Romney's Tampa Bay field director, hit the gun range with Bunting in Pasco to get certified for concealed weapons permits. They were said to be good, enthusiastic students.

"They're reaching out. They're not going to schmooze their way in, they've got to earn their way in," Bunting said of the presidential contenders, some of whom - particularly Rudy Giuliani and Romney - are seen as squishy on the Second Amendment.

"We have 6-million gun owners in the state of Florida. Gun shows are going to be very important in the next election, especially if Hillary is the Democrats' nominee.

Meanwhile, the state GOP's field operations director Pablo Diaz got certified too, as did the state party chairman's special assistant, Delmar Johnson, and Jim Brown, a staffer with the Hillsborough Republican party.

"I like them all armed - Democrat, Republican, I'm not picky," said Pasco state committeewoman Shari Kotsch, who has also had inquiries on certification from former Gallagher campaign manager Brett Doster.

Max Linn vs. Bill Young?

Millionaire former Reform Party gubernatorial candidate Max Linn called Buzz after reading in the Times how Democrats are targeting Rep. C.W. Bill Young's Pinellas congressional seat.

"I have been getting barraged, probably over 100 phone calls, by people asking me to jump in against Bill Young," said the Treasure Island resident. "I might entertain that if the Democratic Party got behind me, and I may be willing to throw in some money of my own to get someone like Bill Young out of office."

Meanwhile, County Commissioner Calvin Harris, a Democrat mentioned as a potential contender, says he's not interested and hopes the 76-year-old Young sticks around in Washington: "I'm looking forward to Congressman Young representing me for many more years. If you were to rate the members of Congress he would have to be in the top two or three."

Election Overhaul

Check out Secretary of State Kurt Browning today on Political Connections on Bay News 9, talking about the state's planned $33-million overhaul of the electronic voting system.

The former Pasco elections supervisor keeps a stack of old punch card ballots on his desk and quipped, "I look at those oftentimes and I say, you know what, I really wish we could go back to punch cards. It was just so simple then."

The taped interview airs at 11 a.m. on Bay News 9 and later can be seen on Channel 342 (Bay News 9 on Demand).

Pushing tax reform

A new political group, Floridians for Tax Reform, has been formed to pressure lawmakers to pass sweeping tax reform. From an e-mail from Republican strategist Brett Doster:

"There is a growing concern among consumers, homeowners, and small businessmen and women that the usual process for debate in Tallahassee may leave us with a property tax relief plan that does not accomplish the kind of comprehensive reform that we need to keep our economy strong."

Courting legislators

The Republican state House caucus has lined up an impressive list of speakers over the next couple months in Tallahassee: McCain on March 27, Giuliani on April 4 and Romney on April 23.

Adam C. Smith and Steve Bousquet contributed to this week's Buzz. For much more breaking political news check out blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/

[Last modified March 18, 2007, 00:24:33]