It's Gov. Kottkamp as Crist goes under knife

Gov. Charlie Crist briefly relinquished his power on Wednesday, as he underwent a knee operation that required light general anesthesia, according to Crist's press office.

Crist filled out a letter that handed over power to Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp during the operation, which lasted from 12:30 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. Here's the letter: Download Certificate.pdf

According to Crist's office, the governor underwent operative arthroscopy on his left knee to remove tears in both his medial and lateral meniscus. The operation was performed by Dr. William Lowry in St. Petersburg. The surgery was recommended to "address the aggravation of an old injury." The governor's office also said that  "Dr. Lowry expects an expeditious recovery for Governor Crist, who is now resting comfortably and is in good spirits."

Crist played football in high school, and briefly in college and has said in the past that he hurt his knee, which forced him to swim to stay in shape.

Drilling pushback: Sansom and Buchanan oppose it

The first sign of GOP pushback to Gov. Charlie Crist and John McCain's call for oil drilling off the Florida coast: Incoming House Speaker Ray Sansom and U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan say they oppose it.

Both should care. Geologists speculate the mother lode of natural gas lies beyond Sansom's House district in his coastal, development-dependent Panhandle region and others say that the only oil in the eastern gulf off Florida may be medium to heavy grade somewhere near Sarasota, near Buchanan's voters.

On Wednesday, Sansom, a Fort Walton Beach Republican, said he understands why the governor has changed his tune and now supports drilling off Florida's coast -- at least to determine what lies below. But Sansom is not ready to do the same. "I don't shift my views on these issues quickly,'' he told reporters. "At this point, I don't support drilling for oil off state waters.''

Buchanan, a Longboat Key Republican, told reporters that he, too, is concerned about the environmental impact coastal drilling would have on the state.

Sansom acknowledges that public opinion may be more open to domestic oil drilling and "gas prices could change the way people perceive this, but I still think there are other places in the country where the resources are more available."

Nonetheless, Sansom believes the debate will continue long beyond November and, if it does, he will create a committee to "take a very thorough review of what does this really mean and if exploring for oil off the coast of Florida will really lower the price of fuel."

Sansom predicts this much: "This will be a very, very defining moment for Florida, depending on what position we take."

Graham joins Dem pile on McCain over drilling

Barack Obama and the Democratic party apparently think they've got a winning issue in Florida, with Republicans like John McCain coming out in support of offshore drilling.

In a call with reporters arranged by Obama's campaign, former Gov. Bob Graham said, "The disappointing aspect of this issue is that it has been bi-partisan in my state, where two-thirds of the members of Congress are Republican, there has been strong support for the principle that our coastline should be protected. John McCain was part of that coalition until yesterday."

He also called McCain's proposal that states could veto offshore drilling a "bogeyman" because the area at stake is under federal control.

Bush: Let's drill

President Bush is making his pitch to open the coast to drilling from the Rose Garden, saying his administration has raised fuel efficiency standards and made other efforts...but "in the short run" the economy needs oil.

"Congress must face a hard reality, unless members are willing to accept gras prices at today's painful levels....we should expand American oil production by increasing access to the Outer Continental Shelf," he said.

John McCain has sought to distance himself from Bush; but his call for opening the OCS comes the day after McCain proposed the same thing. They do differ on drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. Bush is pro; McCain is con.

He accused Democratic opposition to drilling to driving up gas prices. Most reports have faulted speculation in the markets.

"Americans will rightly ask how high gas prices will go before the Democratic-controlled Congress will do something about it," he said.

Joe Garcia, Raul Martinez get the nod from national Dems

Democrats Joe Garcia and Raul Martinez -- who are challenging Republican Reps. Mario and Lincoln Diaz-Balart -- made the cut to participate in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's vaunted Red to Blue program -- giving them headliner status as the party tries to pick up more seats in the House.

It also means more fundraising help and technical campaign support from the national party.

The DCCC says the 14 candidates qualified by "surpassing demanding fundraising goals and skillfully demonstrating to voters that they stand for change and will represent new priorities when elected to Congress."

DCCC chairman Rep. Chris Van Hollen said the 14 are "running strong campaigns" and that with less than 5 months to go before the election, "the Red to Blue program will give these candidates the financial and structural edge to be even more competitive in November."

The DCCC also tagged Annette Taddeo's challenge against Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, as an "emerging race," which could qualify for the Red to Blue program.

Democrats believe they have the best shot ever at unseating the three Miami GOP'ers. Lincoln and Mario will be the beneficiaries Friday of a Naples fundraiser hosted by President Bush, who despite tanking popularity numbers remains one of the GOP's most successful fundraisers.

Sheriff Lamberti qualifies for sheriff

Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti submitted his qualifying papers for election today surrounded by elected officials -- many of them Democrats.

Lamberti will try to do what few politicians have accomplished in recent decades in Broward: win a countywide race as a Republican. His message is simple: crime isn't a partisan issue.

"Judge my credentials,'' Lamberti said. "Not my voter's card.''

Among the city officials who are Democrats and showed up to support Lamberti: Cooper City Mayor Debby Eisinger, Weston Mayor Eric Hersh and North Lauderdale Mayor Jack Brady. Dania Beach Mayor Al Jones and Deerfield Beach Mayor Al Capellini, both Republicans, also attended. City offices are non-partisan but these officials have a stake in the sheriff's race because their cities have contracts with BSO.

In a presidential year, many Broward residents will vote a straight Democratic ticket. Also  Lamberti doesn't have the support of the rank and file because the union overwhelmingly rejected a contract in May. He is the only Republican in the race.

But Lamberti won't be the only candidate to face questions about his political party. Scott Israel, who is leading the Democratic pack in fundraising, has only been a registered Democrat since November.

Israel said he registered as a Republican while living in Long Island because his dad told him to so he could get summer jobs.

"I just kept it Republican but always voted Democratic,'' he said.

Israel said his plan to run for sheriff wasn't the reason for his party switch. He said he was disenchanted with the Republican party and concerned about the impact of budget cuts on public safety.

Israel, chief on leave from North Bay Village, and Richard Lemack, Hollywood assistant city manager on leave, have already qualified to run.

Also expected to qualify: Shak Dhanji, state human relations commissioner; Wiley Thompson, Sheriff Ken Jenne's former chief of staff; and Bruce Udolf, defense attorney.

The winner of the Aug. 26 Democratic primary will face Lamberti Nov. 4.

President Bush to lend his hand to push oil drilling

President Bush plans a renewed push to get Congress to end a long-standing ban on offshore oil and gas drilling, the Associated Press reports.

White House press secretary Dana Perino told the AP "that Bush believes Congress shouldn't waste any more time. She says that on Wednesday the president will urge lawmakers to lift the ban on offshore drilling."

So much for John McCain's push to distance himself from the president; the president's PR effort comes as McCain announces his support to open the coast to drilling. He took a different stance on drilling in 2000; of course, gas prices weren't topping $4 a gallon then.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has already panned Bush's talk, calling it "another page from the administration's energy policy that was literally written by the oil industry; give away more public resources to the very same oil companies that are sitting on 68 million acres of federal lands they've already leased."

McCain advisor: Alaska, "special;" Florida, let the state decide

Asked by a reporter how to square John McCain's opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with drilling along the coast, senior economic policy advisor Doug Holtz-Eakin said some places have such special ecological features "we should place them at the back of the line."

So is the coastline just as special? "He's certainly allowing citizens to express that view," Holtz-Eakin said, referring to McCain's proposal that any offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling would be up to the individual coastal states.

Charlie's off duty for three days

For devotees to the governor's official schedule, he's a bit of news: it will be empty for the next three days. But, unlike the example attached, it's not what you think. Download cristkottkamp_administrative_schedule_6.16.2008.htm

This time, his state schedule is empty but he's not campaigning again with John McCain or fundraising for John McCain or doing network television for John McCain. We're told he's truly taking some time off. AKA, vacation. In Southwest Florida. Probably involving a sailboat -- but we don't have that confirmed.

Martinez: "I'm kind of agreeing" with McCain on drilling

Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, once "joined at the hip" with Sen. Bill Nelson when it comes to opposing offshore oil drilling, told reporters at the Capitol today he's inclined to support John McCain's bid to lift the decades-old coastline drilling ban.

He said that if McCain's plan embraces the 2006 compromise that he and Nelson struck -- giving Florida a 125-mile buffer -- "the rest of it is something I can probably live with...I think it's about providing enough resources where the states want to do it and permit it."

McCain's stance puts him at odds with Florida Republicans' prior stances for at least the third time. McCain opposes a national catastrophe fund that Martinez and Gov. Charlie Crist back and voted against a bill that included money for Everglades restoration efforts. But when it comes to drilling, Martinez suggested the tide may be turning as gas prices rise.

"The governor seems to have agreed with him (on drilling) and I kind of agree with him so maybe things are changing in that regard," he said.