We know how much Charlie Crist and his Department of Education want the nearly $1 billion they've applied for in Race to the Top funds from the Obama administration.

But Fordham Foundation blogger Mike Petrilli astutely notes that "sometimes it's possible to lose by winning."

Already, our governor has felt the heat from the right for his embrace of the Democratic president. That's certainly not helping him in his race for U.S. Senate against Marco Rubio, the Tea Party darling. Petrilli ponders:

"So if Florida and Louisiana make it through to the champions’ round (as most pundits expect), how will these governors react? Will Crist celebrate bringing home the bacon, or be forced to tread lightly? Will Jindal fly to Washington to help make the pitch for the Bayou State, even though he’s 'against' the stimulus?"

The finalist announcement is expected as early as this week. Stay tuned.