Attorney General Charlie Crist is defeating Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher in the Republican Primary for Governor by an overwhelming 117,616 (64%) to 62,575 (34%) in early results.

Crist's victory was big where it needed to be in large metro counties such as Orange (Orlando) where he was ahead 2-1. Gallagher's last minute endorsement by conservative Orlando State Senator Dan Webster did not seem to be helping Gallagher there. Even in Gallagher's home county of Miami-Dade, Crist lead by 3-2 in early returns.

Gallagher was behind in all but two of the 15 counties which reported to the FL Elections Division. He was ahead slightly in only two conservative rural counties near the state prison at Raiford (Bradford and Union). In fact, the born again conservative, once moderate Gallagher seemed to be running best in those counties where Katherine Harris was winning the most votes in smaller, more conservative N and Central Florida counties like Marion (Ocala).

This may indicate that Gallagher's attacks against Crist for supporting gay civil unions and being too moderate on key social conservative issues like abortion may have won him some support but definitely not enough in key suburban and urban counties where most Republicans live.