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Graham is going down with the airing of his speech (with Bill Nelson) the morning after the Dem lawyers tried to throw out military ballots including sailors on the Cole. Both of these weenies were wearing sweaters, like Dan Rather used to do, I guess trying to assure their constituents that they were likable guys, hanging around the state capitol like it was Mr. Roger's neighborhood.

So I take it Senator Graham may be on the outs this 2004? He's been in there for a while, think someone in Florida can take him? (And for that matter, how did Bill Nelson get in?)

I think Nelson got in when the networks called the race before the polls closed in the pan handle. The further north you go in Florida, the more conservative it becomes. Alot of people, driving home form work to the polls, heard that the race was over and did not vote...Bush's win would have been much larger except for this issue. Oddly enough, Katherine Harris sent a letter to all the networks before the 2000 elections,reminding them of the time zone issue. It was very close between Nelson and McCullom- a popular House impeachment manager.

Graham was more like Zell Miller as a Gov., but his years in DC have changed him. As head of the intel committee, many people here hold him directly accountable for the intel failures of 911, and his participation in the stark partisanship in the senate has left alot of Floridians with a bad taste in their mouths. Nelson on the Armed Services committee is a joke- following his antics in the sweater speech with Graham.

Who to replace Graham? In Jax, Mayor John Delaney, former Dem, now a Rep, Catholic, pro life, actually did something about drainage (a huge issue in a town that floods at high tide) ran unopposed in last elections, retiring due to term limits. Also, former Congresswoman Tillie Fowler- came in with the 94 revolution, honored her term limit pledge, theerby retaining her popularity.

Jeb's running mate Frank Brogan would have some support. Several cities have new republican mayors that are black or hispanic, a sure draw for independent and dem crossover votes. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out in 04.