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If you’re a political junkie, you’ve probably heard a fair amount of talk about this year’s Senate race in Florida, even if you’re not from the Sunshine State.  As a Floridian, I always have mixed feelings when our state gets national attention.  On the one hand, it’s nice to be noticed.  On the other hand, it seems like we’re usually noticed for all the wrong reasons.  Hanging chads, anyone?

This time around is no exception.  We’ve got two Republican candidates for Senate bloodying each other up in the primary.  The make-up of this particular race is drawing a lot of attention because our state’s current governor, Charlie Christ, started with strong conservative credentials.  Then he was elected governor and took a wobbly veer toward center, where he tried being all things to all people.

Now he’s getting ready to make the jump from governor to senator.  Instead of a coronation, his own party is ignoring him in droves, as he faces off against a challenger with a more conservative resumé in Marco Rubio.  Now Crist and Rubio are playing a game of “I’m more conservative than he is because…” across the TV screens and radio waves all across Florida.

Sadly, the race is getting ugly early.  That means that these two politicians have time to delve even lower before the race is decided. The winner, reputation battered and muddied, will then have to go into the actual race against the Democratic nominee in the fall with all their laundry already aired and fresh grudges out in the open.

So, the nation watches this race, curiously wondering whether it is the Conservative, Tea Party-esque wing or the softer, centrist wing of the Republican Party that will carry the day.  Here’s a little hint for those of you in the other 49: Rubio is consistently 10+ points ahead in most polls and pulling away.