Just as I was finishing up a column on prominent Republicans eager to see Republican St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker jump into the governor's race, Baker calls to say that over the weekend he and his family decided against a statewide campaign.

"I only haver a few years left with my kids at home, and I just want to be with them,'' Baker said. "It's really not a question of whether I think I could win, it's really personal reasons. You start thinking about an 18-month campaign."

Adam Smith, Times Political Editor