[JohnnyZ]

Re McCollum: And he's not as conservative as you think, in several issues dear to our hearts.

Among other things, he's in favor of "gay rights" almost as much as Foley!!!

Florida needs a real candidate.

[caltrop]

Charlie Bronson, the Commissioner of Agriculture is, IMHO, the strongest Republican candidate. He's a real conservative, former state senator and fifth generation Floridian. He draws solid support from rural Floridians and will get all the suburban Republicans' votes as well. Having said all that, I've no idea if he's interested in making the race.

[CFC__VRWC]

Florida needs a real candidate.

Amen - as dominant as the state GOP is in Florida, the lack of a viable US Senate candidate is far and away the most glaring weakness we have. McCollum had his chance - with all the strength of the Repubs coupled with the weakness of the Rats, he should have won the 2000 Senate race in a walk. Instead, he proved to be as exciting on the stump as watching paint dry, and never even made a respectable showing. McCollum needs to sit down and shut up - the last thing we need is an Al Gore knockoff.