My home state of Florida is in a recession and the Democrats couldn't be more tickled. "Gas prices are shooting up. Home and condo sales are down about 30% in the past year. Violent crime is on the rise, and unemployment has increased almost 50% in the last year."

This gleeful assessment comes from Congresswoman Karen Thurman, also chair of the Florida Democratic Party. Besides bashing the Republican-controlled state legislature in general, Thurman and the Florida Dems are going hard after Gov. Charlie Crist, rumored to be on the short list for John McCain's VP pick.

Thus the FLDEMS have launched a nifty website called Empty Chair Charlie, "which is dedicated to holding Crist accountable for his blatant absence during the state's most dire economic times in 16 years," according to the press release. Crist himself handed his rival party the ammunition because he used a nearly identical strategy against his gubernatorial rival, Jim Davis.

But as the Dems note, "what a difference 16 months (and a shot at being VP) make." The personable, moderate, and popular governor had quite a honeymoon in this state. Everybody was just so relieved to be over the era of the autocratic, privatizing Jeb Bush.

Even being a confirmed bachelor persistently dogged by rumors that he's secretly gay had zero effect on Crist's popularity. (Every time those rumors swirl, Crist is seen in public with a girlfriend, or someone claims to be his love child.)

But this has been a hell of a year, as the state's main industry of real estate has taken major hits. Add to that, voters have demanded lower property taxes, which means the state is struggling to make huge cuts in the budget guaranteed to rile unions, the elderly, and parents. That pain has yet to be felt by the average resident, but it won't be long.

So it's not gonna be fun to be governor here for the next couple of years. Making the leap to the national stage would be par for the course for nimble Charlie. Whether he makes it or not, his next few months in Florida will prove just how good he is at being everybody's friend.