Which Democratic presidential hopeful has the strongest backbone? When it comes to the "pledge" the Democrats have signed to boycott Florida's Jan. 29 primary, Hillary Clinton so far is the one standing up strongest for Florida Democrats.

Yes, the Democratic front-runner is avoiding overt campaigning in Florida. But she's also the only Democrat willing to test the limits of that pledge to the Democratic chairs in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada not to campaign in any other state with a primary sooner than Feb. 5.  The latest example comes Oct. 21, when Bill Clinton headlines a Clinton fundraiser in Miami, in which students, teachers, Democratic executive committee members and union members can get in for $25. More here

Meanwhile, St. Pete Times editor of editorials Phil Gailey argues Florida Democrats should "close their checkbooks and use the primary to send a message to their national party and its candidates. They would write in the name of Al Gore (he now has a Nobel prize to go with his Oscar) or Bob Graham, either of whom would make a fine president. After all, why should we give our votes to candidates who have taken a pledge to not even ask for them? The state's delegates would boycott the national convention, which is all show business anyway, even if the Democratic nominee offered to seat them."