Based on the fear of a Rick Scott led government and eased by Alex Sink's decidedly moderate image, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate today has released her first list of Republican elected officials who have endorsed her candidacy.
In what her campaign hopes is just the beginning, Team Sink announced a list of local city council, county commission and mayors who have formally endorsed her candidacy. None are from her home Hillsborough County area, though she is being endorsed by Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston, who says of the CFO:
"Alex Sink has shown that she will work with local elected officials and see us as partners as we work to grow our economy and remake our state. Alex understands what it's going to take to get our state back on track and I'm proud to support her."
West Palm Beach City Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell says of Sink in endorsing her:
"Alex Sink has the experience and problem-solving approach that we need in our next Governor. Sink understands the needs of Florida's business owners and will make sure the Florida's small businesses have the right support to thrive and grow."
What about that other Republican - the guy who refuses to endorse nominee Rick Scott, Bill McCollum. Might he endorse the woman he wishes he were running against?
South Florida political blogger Brian Crowley speculates on that very concept today, writing:
Does McCollum's support matter?
Frankly, no. Politics is a cold sport. Five minutes after he lost, Republican insiders were feeling their way toward Scott. And no election night party ends faster than the one of the losing candidate.
Maybe the larger question for McCollum is whether he wants to leave the stage with his dignity intact. The more he continues to question Scott's integrity, the more it sounds like sour grapes.
If he really believes that Scott can't be trusted with the governor's mansion than the right thing for him to do for the people of Florida is support Democrat Alex Sink.