Perhaps that's jumping the gun

Just a lil' bit.

I realize Charlie is six hundred thousand four hundred ninety eight points ahead of his Democratic challenger, Jim Davis. But perhaps the Pinellas County GOP Chair is a little bit ahead of the game -- booking rooms for January's inauguration in Tallahassee.

On the other hand, it's a durn good free press stunt.

Crist supporters book rooms

By WILL VAN SANT, Times Staff Writer
Published October 18, 2006

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PINELLAS GOP READY TO PARTY: With their man Charlie Crist awash in donations and continually besting Democrat Jim Davis in the polls, the Pinellas Republican Party is already planning the inauguration bash. Party chairman Tony DiMatteo has booked 50 rooms at the Holiday Inn Select in Tallahassee, where he and other party members plan to celebrate Crist's inauguration as governor on Jan. 2.

"We are being proactive," DiMatteo said. "We are very optimistic that Charlie Crist will win."

In the unlikely event of an upset on Nov. 7, DiMatteo said he would cancel the reservations or offer the rooms to Democrats, at a premium price.