Crist plays word game in first campaign ad

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist today released the first television ad for his general election campaign for the U.S. Senate.

In the ad, Crist visually rejects both the Republicans and the Democrats to reveal who he vows he will represent if elected.

Senate hopeful Meek campaigns in Bradenton today

U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek this afternoon will tour a Bradenton nursing home and speak with union workers during a stop on his "Real Dem Express" bus tour across the state.

Meek, a U.S. representative from Miami, is seeking the Democratic nomination for a seat in the U.S. Senate. His chief rival is businessman Jeff Greene.

Early voting is currently underway for the Aug. 24 primary. The winner will face presumptive Republican nominee Marco Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running as an independent, in the Nov. 2 general election.

Meek is set to arrive at 2:45 p.m. at the Casa Mora Rehabilitation & Extended Care center, 1902 59th St. W., Bradenton, at 2:45 p.m. He will tour the center, as well as meet with local members of the United Food and Commercial Workers union.

Rubio, Meek 'tweet' about their airborne meet

Politicians are increasingly using Facebook and other social media to keep tabs on their supporters and to provide almost constant information about their whereabouts and happenings, to the most minute level.

For example, about 4:45 p.m. today, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami - who is running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate and was in Tampa earlier today for President Barack Obama's town hall - updated his Facebook status with this tidbit:

(O)n a Southwest flight from Tampa to Ft. Lauderdale. I'm in seat 12A. Who's in seat 9A? Marco Rubio! Exchanged a few laughs. Keeping an eye on him :)
(emoticon included)

The identical message was posted on Meek's Twitter page.

For those not following him on Facebook or Twitter, Rubio is the former Florida House speaker running for the Republican nomination for the same U.S. Senate seat.

Rubio also Tweeted about the airborne encounter with his possible future rival:

On same SW Flight from Tampa as Kendrick Meek and (U.S. Rep. Debbie) Wasserman Schultz. Wonder what they where doing in Tampa today? LOL
(Internet lingo included)

And to think, if Florida already had high-speed train service, this type of encounter between political leaders might never had happened and been recorded for posterity.