It’s been less than 24 hours since Republican Sen. Paula Dockery filed her papers to challenge Attorney General Bill McCollum in the gubernatorial primary, but the fireworks have already begun.

The state Republican Party blasted out an email today on McCollum’s behalf reiterating the firm support he has from influential Republicans. Meanwhile, Marion Hammer, past president of the National Rifle Association of Florida who lobbies for the gun group in Tallahassee, heartily endorsed Dockery.

“Sen. Dockery’s commitment and dedication to the Second Amendment and strong record of support is unequaled in this race,” Hammer said in an email re-circulated by Dockery’s fledgling campaign.

Dockery also released a statement of her own, in response to the RPOF email. Here’s an excerpt from Dockery’s retort (update: see RPOF response to Dockery here):

“Just today, the controversial and embattled head of Florida’s Republican Party told the Orlando Sentinel that the state party would spend no money to help my opponent in the gubernatorial primary.

“Hours later, he used the party’s resources to send out an email of support for my opponent, Attorney General Bill McCollum.

“This is exactly the kind of double-speak that, under Greer’s leadership, has disenfranchised grassroots Republicans from the state party.

“Party bosses shouldn’t tell the people what to do. That didn’t work for the Politburo and it won’t work for the Republican Party of Florida.

“Rather than work against fellow Republicans, the party should trust voters to make up their own minds. The so-called ‘party elders’ need to understand that the winds of change are blowing.

“The conservative-leaning editorial board of The Tampa Tribune said it best today in noting that ‘the competition will be good for the Republican rank and file.’”

Stacy Frank has filed to run for the District 57 state House seat currently held by Republican Faye Culp.

She joins a Democratic primary against Clifford Somers. But Frank will be the best-known of the two candidates—she’s a long-time lawyer and the daughter of Clerk of Court and long-time prominent political figure Pat Frank and retired appeals court Judge Richard Frank.

In a news release, Frank announced endorsements from several prominent Democrats including Rep. Kathy Castor, county Commissioner Kevin Beckner, Public Defender Julianne Holt, Tampa City Council members Chairman Thomas Scott, Linda Saul-Sena, Gwen Miller, and Charlie Miranda, and former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman. 

Frank, 55, has lived in Tampa since childhood. She’s a graduate of Georgetown University and the Florida State University law school.

She also runs a business in developing wireless communications facilities, which has led her into some controversy regarding a proposal to locate cell phone towers on public school property.

In her announcement news release, Frank said, “Our legislature needs to act responsibly, with an emphasis on lightening the taxpayer’s burden while preserving essential services. We can make fiscally responsible decisions that do not mortgage Florida’s future while preserving what we love about our state.” 

Culp is leaving the seat due to term limits. There’s already a crowded primary on the Republican side to replace her, including Dan Molloy, Todd Marks, A.J. Matthews and Dana Young.

The district covers South Tampa and parts of Town ‘N Country and Westchase. Local political insiders say the district can vote either Democratic or Republican, and the race is likely to be one of the more hard-fought local state legislative races.

The Charlie Crist U.S. Senate campaign has announced, as expected, that Crist’s former governor’s office chief of staff Eric Eikenberg is taking over as manager of the campaign.

Eric Eikenberg, 33, previously was deputy executive director of the Florida Republican Party and campaign manager and chief of staff for former U.S. Representative Clay Shaw.

Paula Dockery or no Paula Dockery, Attorney General Bill McCollum says that as far as he’s concerned, the race for governor is between him and CFO Alex Sink.

With Dockery, R-Lakeland, filing papers to challenge McCollum in the GOP primary, reporters quizzed McCollum at a press conference this morning about the implications for his campaign.

Dockery’s challenge is not unexpected, he said, and it’s a free country; anyone can run who wants to. But he’s firmly focused, he said, on running against Sink.

Last month, McCollum spoke candidly about the prospect of a primary challenge—noting the obvious, which is, no candidate wants one.

Today, the AG wouldn’t delve into a comparative analysis of his qualifications versus Dockery’s. “I will tell you that as your Attorney General, and as a candidate for governor, I believe that the next governor of Florida needs to be somebody who has the leadership qualities to lead this state through a very difficult time, that Florida needs to be a better state in the future and that, in order to do that, we need to create an economic climate that allows the state to lure business, grow business and create jobs. I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think I had the qualifications to do that job—by experience, and by example.”

McCollum predicted that Sink will eventually face a primary challenge as well. “But it seems to me that it’s apparent to everybody that the two leading contenders ... are, and will remain, myself on the Republican side, and Alex Sink on the Democrats’ side.”

Does the existence of Republican primaries in the races for U.S. Senate, governor and Cabinet positions indicate a dangerous rift in the party? No, McCollum said. “We’re having a great discussion within our party.”

What’s McCollum’s level of confidence in GOP Chairman Jim Greer? McCollum offered this perfunctory response: “Jim Greer’s my party chairman. I’m not going to describe it other than saying I work with him every day, and I have a good relationship with him.”

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