Gallagher has a track record of effectiveness on hurricane damage (highly praised after Andrew and has been working diligently on the current crisis). But the main thing is that he's trustworthy. He doesn't say one thing one day and another the next. That's one problem with Crist.
Tom has been gaining support as more people get to know him. He leads Davis in hypotheticals.
Were he to win the primary, which he won't, Davis would stomp him in the general over this issue.
If Gallagher wasn't such a whore he would be embarassed to show his face in public, much less run for Governor.